A cough makes your baby feel irritable and can even indicate other, sometimes more serious, illnesses. Most of the time, the goal is not to suppress the cough. Coughing is a productive mechanism for your baby's body to loosen and expel mucus. Certain medications can suppress the cough, but are generally not recommended. Instead, it's best to soothe your baby's respiratory system without medication to provide relief. The cough should naturally pass in most cases when the illness has run its course.
Causes
A cough is a symptom of a condition, not a condition itself. Coughs in babies often result from allergies, asthma, colds, viruses or environmental irritants, such as smoke. Most of these conditions come with other symptoms such as a runny nose; if your baby has a cough without other symptoms, your baby may have swallowed an object that is stuck, causing the coughing. As well, if your baby's cough is persistent and long-lasting, he may have a more serious illness, such as cystic fibrosis.
General Recommendation
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not generally advise giving cough suppressing medications to children, especially those under age 2. Cough suppressants are also marketed under the name expectorants or may have a label indicating it is for cold or flu symptoms. It's best to consult a physician for advice before giving your baby any over-the-counter medication.
Natural Remedies
Since most coughs caused from colds, viruses or other temporary conditions go away on their own, it is best for you to provide relief from the coughing with natural remedies. Expose your baby to warm air to break up the mucus in his respiratory system and soothe his airways. Sitting in a warm bathtub with your baby, running a warm mist humidifier in his room, or sitting with him in the bathroom with a hot shower running are ways you can do that.
Warnings
Always contact your physician if your baby is coughing and under four months of age; most babies this age do not cough and, thus, it may indicate a serious condition if they do. Call 911 if your baby has difficulty breathing, his eyes bulge out, or his face turns blue or pale while he is coughing. Whenever your baby has a high fever -- 103 F or higher if he's over six months or 101 F or higher if he's younger -- contact your physician for further advice.
