12 month old with cough! Help!

[Funkychunkymunky]

My DD (12 months) has had a cough for about 5 weeks. Over the last few days it has got worse. It sounds a bit chesty so I took her to see the doctor today. He said she did sound a bit chesty but her lungs are clear of infection.

last night DH and I were up with her most of the night as every few minutes she would have a coughing fit then start to cry. Eventually we took her into our bed but it didn't help with the coughing but she was able to soothe herself a bit by cuddling up to us.

Today she has had the occasional coughing fit but she has slept well during her naps.

I put her to bed in her cot at 7pm and I have only just escaped from her room! She slept for 15 minutes then the coughing began for 30 minutes. She was coughing for about 15 seconds then quiet for a minute then coughing again etc. She finally seems to have settled but I can still hear her coughing every few minutes.

Does anyone have any good home remedies? I've put a pillow under her mattress to raise her head.

If the air in the room is dry it can irritate, so put a damp towel on the radiator to see if it helps.

A teaspoon of honey (now she's a year) also helps to soothe the throat before bed. Coughing always seems to get worse when they sleep; did for my two. DS1 has had his cough since before half term.

Thank you replying. She's been quiet for about 30 minutes now so I'm hoping she's settled.

Does she also have a cold? Because if so, snot will drip into the throat causing a cough (nasal drip). It would help to use saline drops (I like using Sterimar because I find it easier to dose) and try to clear her nose as much as possible (there are also nasal aspirators, I was never very good with them, but for some people they work well, I think JoJoMamanBebe at least use to sell one). Furthermore raise top of bed (ie. raise legs) or few firm pillows to keep head higher. I also find that warm steam helps (warm mist humidifier). My dd seems to have colds non-stop at the moment (and coughs), what works for us, when she wakes up all upset, to give her a few sips of water or luke warm camomile tea and if she really feels rotten we give her calpol even if she does not have fever (Many adults also take paracetamol if they feel rotten and don't have a fever). Also, if she has a cold and cough it can easily end up with an ear infection, so I would keep an eye out for that (especially if developing fever). Chest might be clear now, but if this keeps going on I would have her checked again personally. Hope you all have a better night!

What works for me is frequent sips of plain water when they cough, even if they're sleepy and propping the bed up with a towel under the mattress or using those thick baby books under the cot legs to tip the cot up a bit.