Nothing can cause a parent's immediate alert response in the middle of the night like the distinct sound of a croupy cough. The dry, barking, seal-like noise is the result of swollen vocal cords. It may be accompanied by fever, a raspy breathing pattern called stridor and chest congestion. Croup is an infectious virus that is spread much like a cold, according to parenting experts William Sears, M.D., and Martha Sears, R.N. Many cases of croup and a croupy-sounding cough can be treated at home. Serious cases, in which the child has severe breathing difficulties and cannot do anything other than cough, require immediate treatment by a medical professional.
Rest
Rest can heal much of what ails most people, but in the case of a croup cough, quiet rest is important. Children, especially tired kids, are awakened by a croupy-sounding cough. They may be frightened by how they are feeling and how hard breathing seems. The more a child cries and resists treatment, the more the barking and stridor may increase, according to the Mayo Clinic. Keeping a child sick with croup calm is often challenging, but it can keep the situation from becoming worse.
Steam
Warm moisture can remedy a croup cough and help relieve breathing difficulties. The most common way to introduce humidity to the air at home is to run the shower and steam up the bathroom as much as possible. Sitting in the steamy room for at least 10 minutes can cause the dry, barking cough to improve markedly and can also loosen chest congestion. Running a warm mist vaporizer in the sick child's room may be an added benefit if the case of croup is mild.
Fresh Air
Cool, misty air can also be a beneficial home remedy for croup. Going outside for a few minutes, especially on a cool night, helps open up the airways and can cause the bark to recede, according to the Ask Dr. Sears website. A cool mist humidifier may be used in the child's bedroom in addition to, or instead of, the night air, if needed.
Fluids
Drinking fluids is an important part of treating many types of illnesses, including a croupy cough. Liquids help thin out mucus and can help a child clear congestion from his chest or throat during a case of croup. Babies should continue their regular feeding methods from the breast or a bottle. Older children may prefer fluids on either end of the temperature scale, with warm soup or frozen ice treats as possibilities.
