Coughing is the body's way of keeping the airway clear of postnasal drip, mucus and dust, dirt or dander. A dry cough may signal that your infant is fighting allergies or a cold while a wet cough may signal that your infant is fighting a respiratory or bacterial infection. Seek medical care immediately if your infant has a fever, is breathing more rapidly than normal or is younger than four months old as coughing may be a sign of a serious illness.
Medication
The Food and Drug Administration strongly advises against using over-the-counter medications, including cough medicine, decongestants and cough suppressants, for children under the age of two years as it may result in life-threatening side effects such as increased heart rate, convulsions and even death. Over-the-counter medications only treat the symptoms, not the underlying cause of the cough. For children older than two years, speak to their doctor first before administering any over-the-counter medication.
Humidifier
Infants with a dry cough may find cough relief in a warm and moist room. Turn on the shower in the bathroom and let hot water run in the tub for five minutes or so. Close the door to keep the warm, moist air confined to the room. Grab a book or your child's favorite toy and sit in the bathroom with her for 20 minutes or so. The warm, moist air should help your infant breathe better, which may help relieve her cough. You can also try running a cool-mist humidifier in your infant's bedroom overnight. To prevent mold, clean and thoroughly dry the humidifier every day.
Cool Beverages
If your infant is fighting an illness, it's important that she stay well-hydrated. Give her a sippy cup or bottle of a cool liquid, such as water or apple juice. The cool temperature will help soothe her airway and may reduce her urge to cough. Avoid giving your infant orange juice, soda or any carbonated beverage. These drinks tend to be very acidic which may aggravate your child's throat and make her cough more.
Saline Solution
Saline nose drops help loosen thick mucus, which may help your infant breathe better and cough less. Saline drops are available at the local pharmacy; look for a product geared for infants or purchase a baby dropper to administer the solution. Gently tilt your infant's head back and put two or three drops of the solution in each nostril. To help clear her nasal passage, use a rubber bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb and place the tip of the syringe 1/4 to 1/2 inch inside her nostril. Release the bulb so that it sucks up the mucus in her nose. Clean out the tip by squeezing the contents in a tissue. Repeat these steps until your infant's nasal passage is clear.
References
- Food and Drug Administration: FDA Releases Recommendations Regarding Use of Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products; Products Should Not Be Used in Children Under Two Years of Age; Evaluation Continues in Older Populations; January 2008
- Parents; Decoding Baby's Cough; Evan Forster
- KidsHealth: Your Child's Cough
- MayoClinic.com; Common colds in babies; October 2010
- Fisher-Price; How do I Clear Baby's Stuffy Nose?; Karen Solak Gutierrez
