Your child's cough is a natural reflex; it helps to protect his lungs and prevent infections. Cough and cold medications are generally no longer recommended to treat your child's cough -- there's no evidence that they help him recover any sooner. Sometimes the best course is just to let your child's cough run its course while soothing it with natural remedies.
Importance
Coughing occurs because your child's airways become irritated. Exposure to smoke or allergens, respiratory infection or other medical conditions can cause such irritation. A cough is considered acute if it lasts less than three weeks, or chronic if it lasts more than eight weeks. While a cough is best resolved by treating its cause, some illnesses have to run their course and the associated coughing can cause a great deal of discomfort.
Removing Irritants
Remove your child's exposure to the irritants that can cause coughing, especially if your child's coughing is related to an allergic condition such as asthma. Environmental irritants include smoke, chemical fumes and scented products such as perfumes. Allergenic irritants include dust, pet dander, pollen and mold.
Moisten The Air
Run a warm-mist humidifier in your child's room at night to increase the moisture in the air. The moisture soothes his inflamed airways and can loosen mucus to ease his congestion. If your child is coughing during the day, have him sit in a bathroom for about 15 to 20 minutes with the shower running on hot. If your child has a barking cough -- a symptom of a viral illness called croup -- bundle him up and take him outside into the cool night air for a short while to open up his airways and relieve the coughing.
Increase Fluids
Encourage your child to increase his fluid intake when he's battling a cough. The fluids help prevent dehydration, keep mucus thin and make your child's cough more productive. Warm liquids such as tea and broth help soothe your child's throat and break up the mucus. Offer water, along with kid-friendly fluids your child may like, including juices and popsicles. Avoid giving him citrus juices such as orange juice, which can irritate his throat if it's already sore.
