Toddler coughing too much to sleep

[Frazzled13]

DD (14 months) has had a cold the past few days, just a runny nose really, no fever or cough.
But tonight she is coughing non-stop, is there anything that I can do to help her sleep? I assume it’s just mucus irritating her throat (it sounds like a very productive cough) but she’s so exhausted but can’t sleep and keeps waking herself up coughing.
Any tips at all?
(Obviously we will get a coronavirus test now the coughing has started)

We had a humidifier when my boys were little which seemed to help - just be aware they sometimes set off smoke alarms!

Honey?
Prop cot up if you can and it's safe to do so.

Pop a folded hand towel under the mattress to just raise her head a little bit. See if you can get a bit of steam in the room, boil a kettle if it's safe to do so. If it's cold, shut the window. And I'd give calpol, even if it's not the most obvious route for a cough - it will just ease her discomfort. Poor wee thing (and you OP!)

Piriton! The anti histamines make them drowsy enough to stop the cough reflex and let them fall asleep. Check the minimum age its allowed though. I got this tip on mn and it works!

Chop an onion and pop it in their room. Also Vicks on the soles of their feet. Sounds bizarre but it works. Also, bowl of hot water with vick in it.

I don’t have any practical suggestions but just wanted to say keep an eye on her breathing - if she seems like she’s struggling to breathe (eg sucking in under ribs) then it could be bronchiolitis and needs medical attention www.nhs.uk/conditions/bronchiolitis/

DD had repeated awful coughs about that age, including at least one round of bronchiolitis, and she was prescribed a salamol inhaler (with spacer) to help her breathe. So if this keeps happening you could ask the GP for one of those.

Do not give piriton to make them drowsy. This is really dangerous advice.

I was told by a GP that piriton works because it dries up the nasal secretions - not because it makes them drowsy. This is one of the ways it helps allergies too. Helps loads for our son but we only tried it when he was older, up to you if you are comfortable trying it.

Before that (and now) we use a humidifier too, it can help a lot.

But yes as PP says please keep an eye on breathing effort and breathing rate. Consultant paediatrician told us that 45-50 breaths a minute is “watch and check regularly”, 60 breaths or more a minute is A&E straight away.

Thanks everyone. We’ve propped the cot up slightly, although she’s such a wriggly sleeper she’ll end up with her legs at the high end before long!
Will definitely keep an eye on her breathing, but it sounds fine at the moment, definitely not too fast or anything like that.

Thanks to the pp for the clarification re how piriton can help, that makes more sense! Yes agree only if age appropriate. It helped my Dd who used to cough herself sick. Coughs are so awkward to do anything about. Hope your little one got some sleep op.