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Original poster

advice please: 7mo coughing at night

25 replies

kipper22 · 21/03/2006 12:40

DS has had a cold, etc for a while but is more or less clear of it now. During the past week or so, though, he has developed a hacking cough which only comes on between midnight and 2am. Can't settle until i've got him out of his cot, given him some water and calmed him down.
This is happening at least twice a night and i'm completely exhausted! Thought we were past the sleepless nights when he started sleeping through! even when DH sees to him i can't sleep through.
We already have his mattress propped up but does anyone have any other advice for helping him to sleep?

OP posts:
Coolmama · 21/03/2006 14:53

It might help to make the room a little more humid as the coughing may well be related to the dry air - a humidifier may make a difference - am not sure if lo is still too young for Tixylix or something like that.

Angeliz · 21/03/2006 14:55

I used to put wet(well damp) towels on the radiator to make the air less dry.
Also you cpould put a carvol on a tissue way out of his reach.

Racers · 21/03/2006 15:01

We put a damp towel on the radiator and drops of karvol on the towel as well.

Original poster
kipper22 · 21/03/2006 15:02

thanks :) have tried cough mixture but will give the other ideas a go!

OP posts:
Racers · 21/03/2006 15:31

We have had bouts of coughing (DD now 9m but for past few months on and off) and tried cough mixture but the doc said that something like Calpol was just as good as specific cough mixture acts as a reliever rather than actually helping the cough or sorting out the cause of the cough. IYSWIM?!! Not that it was a problem to use it, but I think we won't bother buying a seperate product unless we're advised otherwise.

Kelly1978 · 21/03/2006 15:43

karvol plug in - works wonders for my dts. It fills the whole room with vapour and really helps clear congestion and stop coughing.

sunandmoon · 21/03/2006 15:54

Same coughing story with our 8 months old at the moment!!! Do exactly what Racer suggested and try as well running a very hot steamy shower and put few drop of camphor oil in the bath (excellent smell), and stay in the bathroom with baby for a while (read a book if you are not wearing glasses Grin or play with toys).. it does work... The doctor told me to not bring her in surgery unless the cough is accompanied with high fever, no eating and baby being lethargic..Babies need to cough apparently!!! Hope your DS get better... Or and give some Sanatogen vitamins, it should help to go through these last cold months Wink

sunandmoon · 21/03/2006 15:57

Sorry Kipper my advice is not for helping your DS to sleep but for helping him to get rid of his cough Smile so you can all sleep better!!!

Original poster
kipper22 · 22/03/2006 09:14

thank you again! bit better last night with the damp towel & karvol. was worried about seeming like a worrying mum to the doc so thanks sunandmoon - also didn't realise ds could take vitamins so i'll get some today.

OP posts:
Chapsmum · 22/03/2006 09:52

Sanatogen vitamins is a fab idea, it come in glycerol which is the main ingrediant of cough mixture. We gave it to the chap last thing at night and his cough cleared up in two days!

Dottydot · 22/03/2006 10:07

Hi
Our ds2 is a chronic cougher - has coughed through the nights every nights since he was born. We put a damp towel on his radiator, bowl of water in his room and a vaporiser thingy (Boots sell them) as he's also always bunged up. He seems to cough in his sleep but manages to sleep through - and we shut all the doors so we can't hear him!!

Furball · 22/03/2006 10:08

You can give Medised from 3 months which will stop their noses running down the back of the throat cuasing them to cough. Brillant stuff where colds are concerned, you can get it from Boots.

sunandmoon · 23/03/2006 14:35

Furball, I do think that Medised is brilliant and help baby to stay asleep but after 4 days of using it, I suddenly thought it wasn't such a good idea. Paracatemol is in it!!! I think it is fine to use it if nothing else works.
i am now realising that mostly everybody who is having sleepless night are using Medised far to often... Even at friends the other day, my DD was looking unhappy, teething badly at the moment, and the first offer was Should we give her MedisedShock??? Not thank you, it is 11.00 am, why should I want her to sleep all day. I gave her lunch and she went to sleep for 1 hour, then was looking much happierSmile... it wasn't even teething, she was hungry and tired!!!

Furball · 23/03/2006 19:33

Yes but sunandmoon, If used in the correct circumstances Medised is great. It would deffo stop kipper22 little one from coughing as it would stop the nasal drip causing it. Whats wrong with paracetamol being in it? If your DD had of been in pain from teething she probably would have appreciated it.

sunandmoon · 23/03/2006 20:09

Ok Furball, I don't think we should let our little ones in pain but I don't think that giving Medised straight away to them when they get fever or teething before trying any natural process is the best!!! Having a fever usually help to fight what is going wrong with your body.. and my issue is that I do think that nowadays we are not helping our babies to fight by themselves their sickness! My point is only for our babies to cope better in their later life on their own without any kind of medicines!!! But I gave some Medised to my baby before because I didn't know what to do to get her fever down, and I do agree it does help them to sleep better... but we shouldn't abuse it once we know that other things work !!!

Furball · 23/03/2006 20:18

Has your child ever had a convulsion due to high fever? If so, I think you would change your mind

Furball · 23/03/2006 20:23

anyway Medised is for colds and kipper22 child has a cold.

sunandmoon · 23/03/2006 20:34

Ok... we are all different and have different waysSmile

Original poster
kipper22 · 24/03/2006 07:48

Oh no! Shock I've started a riot :(

I've not managed to try medised yet but have been using the multivits for a couple of days - no coughing at all last night :) just woke up at 2 by rolling over then cried off and on for 2 hours to get the attention he's been getting when he coughs :(

I think this is turning into a whole new thread!

OP posts:
sunandmoon · 24/03/2006 08:55

No no Kipper, it isn't a riot it is great to all be sharing our ideas Smile... i am glad to hear that you tried the multivits and it works... but keep the Medised in case you need it!!! This is a great thread, Thank youWink

sunandmoon · 24/03/2006 08:55

No no Kipper, it isn't a riot it is great to all be sharing our ideas Smile... i am glad to hear that you tried the multivits and it works... but keep the Medised in case you need it!!! This is a great thread, Thank youWink

sunandmoon · 24/03/2006 08:56

Oops!

Original poster
kipper22 · 28/03/2006 12:18

for those who offered advice - just wanted to let you know it's worked! I think it was a combination of the vitamins and the karvol but we've now had 3 nights of uninterrupted sleep and a very happy baby. thanks for all your help! Grin

OP posts:
sunandmoon · 28/03/2006 14:12

So so Happy to hear your good newsSmileSmile

Chapsmum · 28/03/2006 14:18

hurrah!!! long may it continue!!!

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