Advice re: dry cough

[SingleMum01]

My DS has had a dry cough, started Sun night. As a result isn't sleeping as its keeping him awake. Is okay in himself, although a bit under the weather and not eating. Any advice on what I can do to help, feel helpless.

Given him Tixylix dry cough medicine, keeping room/house cool, got humidifier on him. Anything else I can do?

I'm worried in case it goes into croup which he gets sometimes and then has to have steroids.

Expecting another rough night.

Hi there SingleMum01:

Yes, you can raise his mattress at the head-end by placing a pillow under it so that he is sleeping just that little bit more upright rather than completely flat. Works wonders for a cough!

And if it's a dry cough (and he is mouth-breathing) then keeping the room cool and him breathing cool air will trigger the cough even more, so if possible, I would warm the room rather than cool it.

Does he have an asthma inhaler? If so, you could give him a couple of puffs of that also - just to try and expand his airway a bit more while he has the cough.

Thanks Twinsmommy, forgot about the pillow tip. Used to do that when he was a baby. I'll warm his room up a bit. He's not asthmatic so doesn't have an inhaler.

bump - any other advice?

Was last night any better for your DS? Hope you all managed to get some sleep.

Thanks Twinsmommy. Hoorah, he stayed in his own bed and we got sleep! Gone to school today, now a chesty cough, but dosed up. Fingers crossed that it wasn't a one off and we get sleep again!

Great news! I know - it's anything that works when it gets round to bedtime! Am so pleased you all managed to get some rest. Now, for chesty coughs........ Only kidding!

That time again - wonder how tonight will go. Can cope with chesty coughs, they usually end up with sick (spare duvets at the ready) Its dry coughs I worry about as it can end up with croup and I can cope with just about anything, but worry like hell when DS can't breath easy.

I know exactly what you mean. One of my DSs has an asthma inhaler, and every cold he gets goes straight to his chest. Terrifying. Hope your DS gets better soon.

Fingers crossed, had 2 nights sleep now. Still coughing a bit, but seems to be on the mend. I have a sore throat today