When you're listening to your child hack and cough, of course you want to do something to help. There are tons of potions on the drugstore shelf that claim they'll help him---at least, if he's old enough to take them. But if you have a baby or young toddler, or you just want a natural alternative, there are several things you can do at home to ease your child's cough and soothe his throat.
Honey and Lemon
Honey soothes the throat, and lemon eases the congestion that can cause coughing, according to Lane Johnson, M.D., associate professor of clinical family medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Parents.com, the online resource from "Parents" magazine, says honey has even been shown to be more effective than cough medicine for children's coughs. It's not safe for babies under 12 months old, but if your child is older, Johnson suggests mixing a tablespoon each of honey and lemon, microwaving it for 20 seconds until it's just warm and giving your child teaspoon-size doses.
Steam or Mist
If your child has a "croupy" cough, marked by a barklike sound---especially at night---take her into the bathroom for a makeshift steam room treatment. KidsHealth.org, a nonprofit informational website about children's health, says to run the hot water in your bathtub or shower and close the door until the room fills with steam. Then sit in there together for 20 minutes to help your child breathe more easily. If you need something to pass the time, try reading a book or playing a game together. Afterward, run a cool-mist humidifier in her room to moisturize her throat and help her sleep.
Cool or Hot Beverages
You've heard the suggestion to "drink plenty of fluids," and the old standby is actually true. KidsHealth.org recommends cool drinks, like juice, to soothe the throat, but it cautions that orange juice or soda can irritate a throat that's already sore from coughing. "Fluids such as juice, water or clear broth are some of the best expectorants around," adds Robert C. Beckerman, M.D., in Rodale Book's "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies for Children." In an excerpt from the book on MotherNature.com, Beckerman, professor of pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, says fluids loosen up a dry cough and help get rid of phlegm, without the side effects of cold medications. In the same excerpt, Blake E. Noyes, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, recommends hot drinks as the most soothing for coughs.
