According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents should not give over-the-counter cough medicines to children younger than 4. Parents can teach their 3-year-old simple steps to avoid catching cold and cough, such as hand washing and coughing into the elbow instead of the hand. If their child does get sick, however, they should contact their pediatrician to discuss what form of treatment is safe.
Tannate
Tannate is a prescription form of chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine. It is a combination antihistamine and decongestant, which safely eases cough and congestion in children. Because it is available only by prescription, dosage and side effects must be closely monitored by a pediatrician.
Diphenhydramine
AskDrSears recommends diphenhydramine, also known as Benadryl, for children over the age of 1. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that may help calm a cough by drying up the sinuses. While it may excite some children, the medication generally has a sedative effect. This enables children to sleep instead of cough all night long. Because correct dosage is proportionate to weight, it is important that parents check with their pediatrician before administering this over-the-counter medication to their child.
Despite its use among pediatricians, a study in Pediatrics in July 2004 found diphenhydramine to be an ineffective treatment for night cough in children. Children who were given diphenhydramine reported increased drowsiness more than any other symptom.
Honey
Honey is a safe, natural cough remedy for 3-year-olds. It possesses antibacterial qualities and coats the throat. According to a study in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in 2007, honey is more effective at soothing children's coughs than traditional cough medicine. Honey may be taken straight from the spoon or blended with hot water and lemon, like a tea. Alternative health magazine recommends blending honey with slippery elm bark, which possesses expectorant qualities.
Herbal Remedies
Natural Solutions recommends mullein, sage and thyme for cough, and all are safe for use among 3-year-olds. They are best taken as teas. Parents can also blend a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil with sweet almond or olive oil and rub it on their child's chest. This helps open the nasal passages and clear mucus from the lungs. A few drops of eucalyptus oil in a humidifier may also help ease cough.
