Baby has cold. Baby's cough worsens at night. Baby pukes after night feed.

[TheLegendOfBeans]

That's it really. My 9mo DD has had her sleep pattern go to absolute shit of late but I'm guessing that's mostly to do with the fact she's had every cold going of late.

What's slightly concerning me is that again we have a situation where she has a dry cough; she'll sleep, then wake up and cough and cough and cough.

The cough is so dry and tickley that it "catches", she makes a deep gag sound and then empties the contents of her stomach everywhere. Once, sometimes twice a night.

The GP says is a cold and that's all it is.

We tilt her cot
We put a bowl of hot water with Baby Olbas in it in her bedroom to ease her airways
We leave at least 20 mins after feeds before putting her down to sleep

As we are tearing our fucking hair out can anyone recommend anything at all to try and ease her cough...or at least say I'm not alone and that it does get better? Or if it's the swallowed phlegm or the dry cough or both that explains the puking night after night (and it's only at night)

Any help/advice/handholding is appreciated.

[MarchEliza2]

I think you are doing all you can and that's all you can carry on doing.

My DD has this sometimes with a nasty cold and , while it seems to last forever at the time, it will soon pass. Good luck!

[TheLegendOfBeans]

It's upsetting isn't it? God knows it's shite enough when as an adult a tickley cough makes every breath out result in a cacophony of hacking but sadly I can't just shove some Actifed into my baby and so the puking goes on and on.

I'm just taking it as read now that a) waking will be frequent and b) that each time she wakes after a sleep she'll empty her stomach.

Wits' friggin' end. Seems she gets past it and HELLO it's here again.

[tissuesosoft]

Offering support! My DD (8 months) is going through the exact same thing at the moment, been ill a week now. Taking her to the doctors tomorrow.

[BumWad]

It's shit isn't it? DS had form for this. He is 16 months old now and is better. Still does it but not as frequently, he seems to be able to control the vomiting.

We have a little humidifier in his room to help. May be worth investing in one?

[Spudlet]

With you in cold purgatory, DS is going through it. He has also got diarrhoea to add to the festive atmosphere in our home. And DH is now fretting that he'll get shingles again so I'm the last one standing, except actually I'm sort of swayed on my feet as I'm so bloody knackered and feeling sick and tearful and pathetic, generally just a bit pathetic.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

[TheLegendOfBeans]

Spudlet join me in world of teary and pathetic. I'm going mad here. Just as her breathing goes into "sleep" mode, she coughs and the cycle begins again.

Now trying to get her down for the 4th time.

[Starsmum1]

It sounds strange I know but have you tried the Vicks on feet treatment? It's worth a try if you have tried everything else. X

[ginparadise]

Second Vicks on the feet.

Also cut up half an onion and place it under the cot/bed. This shouldn't work and is clearly barking, but in the 2 years we started doing it I can count on one hand the number of nights either DC has coughed excessively. The nights they do tend to be when we forget the onion trick.

Google it. It's worth trying when you are at your wits end (coming from someone who's baby had a 5 month long cough at night).

[AnnaT45]

Another one for Vicks on the feet. I think it really helps relieve the cough at night

[Introvertedbuthappy]

I'd try another doctor's appointment - my 6mo was doing the same at the weekend and it turns out he has a chest infection as the doc heard a crackle in his chest yesterday. He's now on antibiotics and just waiting for them to kick in (DS2 currently won't sleep unless being held, so last 2 nights DH have been holding him in 2hour shifts all night as trying to get him to sleep in the cot Saturday night meant he only slept 7-9, was awake 9-1:30, then slept 1:30 to 4 then I gave up at 6 and just held him to sleep...
- hope your DD feels better soon. Can never be too careful with little ones. My DS1 at 10 months had s cough but the GP refused antibiotics saying it was just a virus. 12 hours later I heard a horrible noise on the monitor, went in and his lips were blue and he was choking on his mucous. Called an ambulance and after oxygen mask was placed in he recovered - was diagnosed with pneumonia 2 hours later, less than 24 hours since the doctor told me it was 'just a virus'. . Don't be afraid of going to see someone else.

[TheLegendOfBeans]

Hello all; have been zombieing through the past two days but a proper humidifier is on order (should've arrived by now, missed delivery 😭) so night #3 of coughing is upon us.

Thanks for all your advice; am off to slice an onion now and make a GP appointment in the morning, heard a "crackle" earlier and know that equals chest infection.

Appreciate the warning re duff GPs missing your DS's pneumonia; that's bloody shocking. Luckily my GP isn't too bad (when pressed). Even if DD does sleep though I'll be watching her like a hawk after your experience makes coffee

[Introvertedbuthappy]

Hi legend, good to hear you have a GP's appointment. My son has come on leaps and bounds since starting antibiotics on Monday night. In fact he's in his cot napping as I type!
Didn't mean to scare you about DS1's pneumonia. He has viral induced asthma now which is scary, but I will never know if the pneumonia caused it, or if the asthma caused it to develop quickly to pneumonia IYSWIM. Luckily (touches everything wooden) DS2 has recovered with no horrendous wheeze and no hospital and it is such a revelation to have a baby have a cold and NOT need the hospital. Just need to avoid DS1 catching it (luckily he's been at school all week).
for you, hope your DD gets better soon.

[hanban89]

Definitely try Vicks on the feet. My DD1 was the exact same and would puke once or twice a night with a cold. Just put a towel and bowl down to try and catch it. My friends little one is exact same. People would think I was mad for being scared for her to get a cold but their little ones seemed to cope fine and no sickyness etc. I think their little bodies deal with it differently. Hope she feels better soon.