Coughing children - any tips?

[Scootergirl]

DD (3) and DS (6 months) up all night coughing. It woke them up half of the time but kept me awake the WHOLE time. They've been to the Docs who said it's just colds (don't you love that `just'?) but I wondered if there was anything to do to ease their coughs, especially in the night.
Cheers x

We've had coughs for what seems like months - as has everyone else in our area. Our Tescos sounds like a TB ward and going the pictures is a nightmare. I've found that a humidifier helps a bit. I put a drop or two of Olbas on a hanky and drape it over their radiator (WELL away from the little one, though!) The other thing we do (a tip from my Italian mother)- and I don't know whether this is just us - is to give them sips of very very cold water. My big one goes to bed with a glass of ice beside her and has a supply of cold water for the night.It really seems to soothe the tickle. Counting the days til summer! Oh, and prop the head ends of their bed/cot up a little bit.

A damp towel on the radiator (with a drop of olbas on!) sometimes works for those hard coughs. as central heating sometimes makes them worse.

Agree with propping up head ends of bed too. Also, a V-cushion for the 3-yr-old can help her sleep a little more propped up, thus easing chest.

(And though I don't advocate 'drugging' kids, some cough medicines 'may cause drowsiness' - and a good night's sleep is important to help them get better. Don't use often though.

medised is good for night coughing. it helps dry up the nasel drip temporary, and also helps them sleep with its drowsiness properties.

misdee - the magical powers of medised

nelsons sootha is fabulous, even gave it to my dad when he was dying with a chest infection and he said it was better than the chemical filled cough bottles he'd taken up til that point. it will only suit your 3 year old though as it has honey so you ds can't really have it (although i have to admit i was naughty and gave it to my dd when she was 10 months as i was desperate on my pharmacists advice to do so)

hopefully your 2 are better by now anyway but thought i'd mention it in case not

Olbas oil, propping up the head end of the bed, lots of water (not milk if poss.), turn off the central heating and remember it will not last forever! A quick note on Medised - used it and thought it was wonderful until my GP mentioned that it could make your child soooo dozy that they may not make enough noise to be able to wake you if they were vomiting or really had problems breathing.

I agree with lots of the other tips. You could also try some sort of baby breatheasy cream on their chests, we use snufflebabe. And karvol capsules on a hanky near the bed. Oh and someone suggested Sudafed plug-ins to me. We haven't tried them yet but will do I think.