In the winter, if a baby is coughing terribly, it could be respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a dangerous viral infection for infants. Older kids could have sinusitis (a bacterial infection that's often brought on by a cold). Your little one could have acid reflux, allergies, asthma or even enlarged adenoids, which inhibit breathing. If your child's cough and stuffy nose persist for more than 10 days without improving, see your doctor. A wet or dry, hacking cough without wheezing or fast breathing, day or night.Night sweats, weight loss, coughing up blood.Associated difficulty in breathing or labored breathing.A cough getting worse by the third week.Cough with fever lasting more than five days.Onset of cough within the first few weeks of life.Try some of these home solutions early on, and if the cough is not improving or there are more worrisome signs, please consult with your pediatrician. This is helpful especially before feeds, so a child can breathe easier while eating. For babies and toddlers who can't blow their noses yet, use nasal saline drops and a bulb aspirator to suction a runny nose.Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics warn they aren’t effective for young children and can put your toddler at risk for dangerous side effects.) (Do not give your toddler cough or cold medicines. Children's Tylenol or ibuprofen can keep babies comfortable if they have a fever.In babies younger than 1 year old, honey can cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.) (Only give honey to kids older than 1 year old. Offer a spoonful of honey before bed it will coat the throat and alleviate soreness.But if your child refuses to drink, try a cool popsicle. Warm, decaffeinated tea may also help ease the tickle that sets off the cough. Give your child lots of liquids such as water or juice.Using a cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom will help moisten airways to reduce the coughing caused by postnasal drip.Keep nasal passages as clear as possible (congestion and postnasal drip will worsen the cough, especially during naptime or at night during sleep).In the springtime, when flowers are blooming, a runny nose can be a sign of allergies. It creates more mucus to keep itself moist and clear of particles. Especially during the winter, your baby’s nose tries to protect itself when it goes out into the cold air. Discovering that the mucus coming out of your baby’s nose is a rainbow of colors can cause a lot of nervousness, but it is usually nothing to worry about. There are over 200 different cold viruses, and infants less than 6 months old are still building up their immune systems to be able to fight off these infections.Ī runny nose doesn’t always mean infection. It’s easy for little noses to become congested because there isn’t much space there, and this is why many times babies can have some trouble breathing when they are congested. In infants over 3 months of age, a stuffy and runny nose can be very common. “If they have nasal congestion, it is important to suction and relieve mucus, which will help them feed better." "Babies less than 4 months old are obligate nose breathers, which means they are unable to coordinate breathing between their mouth and nose very well,” says Mona Patel, MD, a pediatrician and Vice President of Ambulatory Operations at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Different types of cough can also provide valuable clues about your child’s illness. During respiratory tract infections, mucus is secreted into the airways as part of the response to infection, and coughing helps to clear this. Still, it’s a common wintertime symptom, and it’s helpful to know that it often sounds worse than it is.Ĭough is one of the most important defenses against respiratory tract illness. It’s always distressing to hear your little one cough. Should I Treat a Cough at Home or Call the Pediatrician?
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