Baby asthma - Any natural relief till we see the GP?

[angel1976]

Hi,

My soon-to-be-1 DS has had a cough for months now... And at night sometimes he has a real hacking cough. So much so that it makes him gag (but not throw up). But most nights, it doesn't really wake him up and we've thought nothing about it... However, my MIL mentioned the possibility of baby asthma as sometimes he does sound very chesty.

I mentioned this to the HV yesterday at DS's 12-month developmental check and she thinks it is likely to be baby asthma too and told me to get my DS in to see my GP. He is very well otherwise, good weight/height and meeting all his developmental milestones...

Anyway, it seems like we jinxed it and last night, DS spent pretty much all night coughing and besides himself! We gave him a cough syrup, calprofen and even teething granules as we had no idea initially what was bothering him. He's usually a good sleeper. It seems that the cough is really bothering him. We just moved him a few days ago into his own room and that room is a lot cooler that ours (though we can set it to be warmer as there is a heater in the room but I thought babies like cooler rooms to sleep in?) and I read that the cold can make asthma worse?

We won't be able to get DS in to see the GP till tomorrow. What can we do tonight to make things better for him? Should I make him room warmer? We've got a Karvol vapouriser as well, will that help? I just feel so sorry for him as he's a baby who loves his sleep and was very grumpy this morning. Thanks.

Ax

If he has asthma, he needs ventolin.

Go to A&E if you are worried.

I would suggest warmth for a night cough - it certainly helped my two eldest. But obv medical advice is to keep babies' rooms cool so your decision. And one grew out of it and the other seems almost to be over it. It doesn't always mean a lifetime of inhalers. but first few winters can be tough. Some people find vaporisers work, some find dry heat works better and use dehumidifiers. Trial and error...

Ventolin doesn't typically work on babies that age because the receptors in their lungs don't respond (I think it is 2-3 it starts to work) but GPs often prescribe for regular night cough because it might work and babies tubes are so small, cold symptoms can mimic asthma.

Best to try different things but see the GP anyway.

Thanks for all your advice. I've already called the GP and we won't get in till tomorrow. I was slightly worried last night but he wasn't wheezing or struggling to breathe, it just looks like his throat hurt or something.

I will turn up the heater tonight and just put him in less clothes. We are still using a movement and sound baby monitor (as his room is down two flights of stairs) but in fact, we brought him into bed with us at midnight as he was so upset and he seemed to calm down a bit afterwards. Am I right in thinking that as long as he is not struggling to breathe, he should be okay? I don't think it's a cold as he has had this cough for months on end now and he is eating/drinking fine and no temps.

Karvol can make some asthmatics worse.

Does he respond to steam? My DD used to find things easier if I sat with her in the bathroom with the shower running to make the air warm and moist (shame I couldn't have the light on though). My DD reacts badly to dry warmth and cold air.

Have you propped the end of his cot up? We used to stick the head end up on some house bricks or a couple of phone directories.

If he's coughing a lot try rubbing Vicks on his feet and then putting socks on him. I read that on here once as a tip a long time ago and it has alsways worked for my los.

Asthma usually presents as a dry cough, not a chesty one. If he is chesty or coughing stuff up then it might be a chest infection or viral illness, but if he had a chest infection I wouldn't expect it to go on for months and he would probably be quite unwell.

Do you have any pets?
Does he have a feather pillow or duvet?
Do you leave the window ajar a tiny crack?
Does he have any eczema or allergies?
Does he have soft toys in his cot?

My DS had very bad asthma at that age - hasn't had it for the past year and he's nearly 3 now.

I wouldn't advise Karvol if it's asthma, it can irritate it.

We bought a humidifier and a HEPA air purifier and they definitely helped. They were very expensive but our DS was really bad (hospitalised, losing consciousness, blue & floppy... doesn't sound similar to your DS to be honest, but that's not to say that yours doesn't have asthma - your GP will know best!) If yours isn't as bad, just steam and keeping the room dust free should help. Do you vacuum and air his mattress and pillow? We have to do that anyway for my asthma, and it helps DS as well I think.

Your DS is too young for the night cough formulas you can buy over the counter which is a shame as they've been a godsend to us. Hope GP can help and that he's better soon.

dd didn't respond to steam, cold air (but not too cold for her obv iyswim) worked a treat.

Thanks for all your advice! No, we don't have any pets. He uses a pillow but not a feather one, no duvet. He doesn't have any allergies either or soft toys in his cot! And no the windows are closed in his room as it is cold but I will open it when it gets warmer.

I picked him up from the nursery and they said he has been absolutely fine all day. Sod's law! But I do feel kinda relieved to hear that. I put Karvol on his back and chest (oops, I didn't see this before I did that). He seems to have gone down alright tonight. Fingers crossed. My DH will bring him to the GP tomorrow. He was very ill (I think in October?) and that's when he started this chesty cough. The doctors who saw him at that time said there was no chest infection. So who knows?

Thanks all, I really appreciate the advice and well wishes. I am going to keep his room a bit warmer tonight to see if it helps.

I second the humidifying idea - you can buy things to hang off the radiator that you can fill with water, and the heat of the radiator makes it evaporate. Can't do any harm and might help.
good luck.

Try opening his window a tiny crack, or leaving his bedroom door open as warm re-breathed non-circulating air can aggravate coughs. But if his cot is under the window make sure he's not in a cold draught.

Just wanted to say that DS had a good night last night. I made his room warmer and also rubbed Karvol on his chest and back and he didn't cough the whole night. He started coughing at just before 6am though and woke himself up so we are definitely trying to get in to see the doctor later on this afternoon. Thanks for all your suggestions.