Please help with my DDs coughing

[NotSureImDoingThisRight]

My little girl has had cough for a few days, and today has been running a slight temperature. She usually sleeps pretty well, but the last few days have been a killer at night, as she coughs, wakes herself up then can't get herself back to sleep. She is usually a pretty good self-settler if she is well.
She's been up for hours during the night, and in the early morning has been snoozing in our bed which she's never done before and not a habit I really want to get in to. I've read lots of threads about bad habits forming after a bout of illness and I don't want to be writing that in a few weeks!

Tonight she went to bed at 6.45, went down easily as she usually does and she had a dose of calpol to keep her temp down. At 7.35 she woke up coughing, which eventually turned into crying. I went in at ten to 8, we had a cuddle, a spoonful of honey (I've heard it's good for coughs) and I have put a pillow under her mattress to try and prop her head up. She has gone back into her cot happily, and is not coughing for a moment but just moaning gently to herself :-(

I'm not sure I can bear another night like the last few as me and DH both work. Does anybody have any other ideas to help her with a cough during the night? She's got quite a runny nose but I don't think she's particularly blocked up.

how she?

if under too use snufflebabes - apply a small amount on the soles of her feet, socks or tights on, so it won't rub off

over 2 - you can use the same or Vicks vaporub.

I only heard this tip a few weeks ago, it worked so far! (on DS1 - aged 12, DS3 - 9, DS5 - 3.5 and DD - 20 months)

give it a go!

Oh sorry, she is 13 months old so I will certainly give the snufflebabes a shot! Is this something you can buy in a chemist?

I wouldn't worry too much right now about long term habits. Get her better first. We often either bring them on a mattress in our room or camp out in their room when they are ill.

For the cough, is it a barking cough - like a seal, if it is ig could be croup, ds has had that this week - generally being in a steamy room and calming him down will make it better. He had a temp for 4 days and although he didn't seem particularly tired or otherwise ill beyond his temperature and cough, when I took him to the dr he had signs of a chest infection and is now on antibiotics. I would be careful to monitor the temperature and if it is prolonged or worsens or she seems ill then take her to the dr. Ds is getting better now. Hope your dd is better soon too.

croup is to be looked at, true.

it's the breathing that changes in between the coughs that alerted me when DS4 had it.
if you suspect it call NHS helpline on 111, they can advise you on that.

yes, you can get snufflebabes at chemist and supermarkets (got it from Tesco)

Yes also v noisy breathing can be another sign of croup. It can be serious and I know people who have been admitted with it. Obviously we can't really tell on the Internet and my only experience is owning three of the little creatures. If you are in any doubt, particularly with cough combined with fever then zing is right, ring 111. At that age they won't mind a false alarm. Going outside is supposed to help with croup too, but I am too much of a snuggle bunny - prefer some steam!

Thanks all. I'll see how she is faring tomorrow and perhaps book her a GP appointment in the afternoon if necessary. What are the signs of a chest infection?

chest infection - mine don't always have a temperature!
I listen to the lungs (just put my ear to their back) and if sounds like a rustling sound I suspect a chest infection.

coughing is definitely a sign

having said that I once had a chest infection as and adult (when pg) and there were no other symptoms but shortness of breath - I only went to GP coz OI though I was anaemic!
it wa s in August and I was really surprised that I needed antibiotics.

so I guess it's tricky with her age - probably best to check her over tomorrow!

Ds just had a cough - not even all the time, nighttime coughing fits - that sounded like croup, and a high temperature - up to about 39.5 when medication was due. You can also with some children hear wheezing or whistles when they breathe, coughing up brown mucus or even blood - should always be investigated. She might also be lethargic although ds definitely didn't get the memo on that one . To be honest at 13 months with a cough and temperature I would probably try to get an appointment. It may well be 'just a virus' but better to know fir sure. Also if she coughs tonight and you aren't sure then maybe try to record the cough on your phone while dh comforts her. It may help them to diagnose what the cough is as you can guarantee that when you take her in she will be happy and bouncy I'm sure they pipe happy hormones through the waiting room just so the dr can say that she doesn't look too ill

haha yes I think they do. She always cheers up in the waiting room!! Her temperature has been 38.1 at it's highest today. If we have a repeat of last night and her temperature remains tomorrow then I am definitely going to take her - I just dread those famous 'Just a virus' words...!

Oh the other thing that I noticed with ds is a pinky/purple tinge under his eyes and otherwise pale complexion. I fully expected the virus chat as I have taken them in when seemingly far sicker and still had it. Hope she is better soon.

in fact I'm taking our DD tomorrow morning. she's been coughing for almost 2 days now, has a horrible cold, was sick yesterday evening and twice this morning.
no fever, but she has very rosy cheeks and pinkish eyelids (asleep on my arm, that's how I noticed.

she is 20 months and was miserable all day today.

hope all these little kiddies get better soon!

My dd had a horrible virus thing a few weeks ago. Started with a dry cough then turned to high temp, lethargic etc. She perked up each time with calpol and is 3yo so could tell us if she was feeling really bad. If younger I would have taken to gp as they don't bounce back quite as quickly when small. Her's lasted almost a week with disrupted nights towards the end as she was having odd feverish dreams. She is fine now and I could tell it wasn't a chest infection as it was all in her throat.

How are your dd now? Ds is now on day 3 of antibiotics, fever has gone, cough seems better - don't think he has coughed at all in the half hour he has been up. Still just as cheeky. Now dh, dd1 and I have bad coughs, hey ho!

I hope for "just a virus" and "his chest sounds clear" and all the rest. I just feel better if someone looks at him if a cough or similar is lingering and making him unwell.

my 21 month has had a terrible cold with a post-nasal drip for a week.
She has thrown a fever of 38 too.

Things that helped are:

saline nasal spray 2 hourly in the day and before bed. also in the night if bad.

raising the cot head.

glycerine,lemon and honey for sore throat and cough before bed.

sitting in steam filled bathroom for half an hour before bed (and in the night if coughing bad). I just run the shower on hot with the door closed to let it build up.

snufflebabes on chest, back and feet under socks.

a few drops of olbas oil on a damp towel on her radiator at night.

get her checked at gp too, just to rule out infection.

I've got a 13 month old with a cold and cough. Yesterday during the day she slept for about 30 mins in total because she kept waking herself up coughing. So I did the Boots Run before bed last night.

I got a Calpol menthol and lavender plug in thingy (it nearly made my eyes water). It needs to be plugged in at least 60 mins before bedtime. Also got some snuffle baby and put some on her chest.

She had one coughing fit but it didn't wake her and for the first part of the night she was in such a deep sleep I could really hear her deep breaths though the monitor.

She is currently flat out asleep next to me in my bed giving me lots of time to MN.

Hope yours feels better soon.

Calpol vapor plug in. It's a defuse that releases essential oils into the room and helps with the post nasil dip thing. Has always helped myto sleep through a cold. and for some reason dispite trying other ones the calpol one works the best. Boots or Sainsbury sell themround hear.

unfortunately lack of sleep is to be expected with an ill child. maybe you could take it in shifts off your both working and she's happy to have your DH.

Just a side note they now don't recommend you give paracetamol for a mild fever unless your child is distressed. They have found it can prolong the illness.

I took DD to GP yesterday - no infections but tonsils are swollen, she's just fighting a bad cold.
she actually slept ok - did wake twice with a coughing fit but fell asleep promptly so I can't complain.

hope your little ones get better soon - all better for Christmas!