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Original poster

DD been coughing for the last hour and cant get to sleep, any top tips?

29 replies

chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 21:54

she suffers with asthma> had inhaler, got humid thing on in her room...

i dont know what else to do for her

OP posts:
StressTeddy · 21/06/2008 21:55

how old is she?
Poor you (and her) by the way

Izzywhizzy · 21/06/2008 21:56

Don't know much about asthma, but when my dd coughs like that because of a cold, I give her a sip of water and elevate her mattress. If she's still coughing I give her calpol or medised, just so she can get some sleep.

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 21:58

she is 4.5

i have given her 2 pillows and now she is sat upright on my lap....

will give calpol

OP posts:
BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 21/06/2008 21:58

Do you have any honey ??

That should lubricate the airways....

OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/06/2008 22:00

I feel for you.
Sometimes for dd if its a post-nasal drip cough rather than an asthma one I've found that a teaspoon of honey helps. or some really dark chocolate (the theobromine in it is supposed to be more effective than codeine)

StressTeddy · 21/06/2008 22:01

Ok
remove all cuddly toys - except maybe one that she loves and needs to sleep
lie her on her side and then raise the arm that's nearest the ceiling above her head- kind of resting on her ear#This opens the airways and makes it easier to breathe
Give calpolor other such pain releif stuff.
If yu can make her relax then that's half the battle
if all else fails then keep her on your knee (poor you until she drops off then try to put her down again
Humidifier is good - can you also put a wet towel on the radiator?

Hope it all gets better soon - sounds horrid

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 22:03

thanks all havent got honey

will try and relax her as she is quite stressed with it as she is very tired

OP posts:
StressTeddy · 21/06/2008 22:06

Try and lie her on her side in your arms and rub her back. It'll take some time for her to settle but it might help

feel so awful for you - asthma is such a horrible thing in children
Love to you cs - sending calming, relaxing vibes to your dd

OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/06/2008 22:06

aw - tis horrid for both of you.
I think its just 'go with the flow' tonight - cuddles and know that tonight will end. I remember those nights as desperate times but we did survive and came out relatively sane.

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 22:09

its times like these i feel so alone in bringing up my dd's

thankyou all for your kindness and tips

OP posts:
KitKins · 21/06/2008 22:09

Bizarre, but my mum swears by rubbing Vicks Vapour rub on their feet. Apparently it works wonders, but I've not tried it so can't really say.

StressTeddy · 21/06/2008 22:11

or hold a hot, damp flannel in front of her nose (not too close!)

please don;t feel too alone - we will try to help as much as we can

Sidge · 21/06/2008 22:12

You can give her more of her blue inhaler if she's still coughing.

It's rotten isn't it, we had this with DD1.

Hope she stops soon and gets a good night's sleep.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/06/2008 22:16

don't feel alone. Although we arent in the room with you so many of understand what it is like.
can you and dd just snuggle down with cartoons, just accept that tonight is crap but the morning will seem better (even if a bit grumpy and bleary eyed)

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 22:20

managed to calm her down..... and she is now asleep.....now i darent move her back upstairs in case i wake her, but i think she will be better in her room with her steamer thing on....?

thankyou so much you have all really really helped me with this..

OP posts:
StressTeddy · 21/06/2008 22:21

Love to you - hope you both have a calm and uneventful night

Goodnight

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 22:25

thankyou stressteddy- I liked the tip aout arm up above head and it made dd laugh!!

goodnight

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 21/06/2008 22:25

Am so glad that we've been able to help.
if she is quiet and asleep then personally I'd leave her - have moved dd and regretted it as the movement seems to irritate.

I wish you all the luck for a peaceful night for you both. Remember even a little bit of sleep is a real help.

StressTeddy · 21/06/2008 22:27

ah, laughter, the best medicine of all

Now off to bed with you woman - you'll need some rest before the morrow!!

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 22:29

i will leave her on my lap then for now.....

we havent got work and school tomorrow and havent got to be anywhere till the afternoon so we can have a lazy morning

OP posts:
BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 21/06/2008 22:31

thankyou so much you have all really really helped me with this..

I didn't, you don't have any honey.

Original poster
chocolatespiders · 21/06/2008 22:35

no but i will have by this time tomorrow

OP posts:
BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 21/06/2008 22:45
Grin
dylsmum1998 · 21/06/2008 22:50

if she's chesty/snotty you can give her piriton, it helps dry up all the yuck so helps releive the asthma. this is what my doc says to do when my dd is bad

Cosmo74 · 21/06/2008 23:04

have you tired steaming - DS use to be really bad with asthma - keep giving blue inhaler every half hour - but when he was really bad steam use to help him - either a bowl of hot water let it cool a bit then you and her get under a towel with the bowl - or what worked for us was putting him in the shower cubicle just to play with toys closing the cubicle and the bathroom door - obviously stay in there with him but the steam definitely helped him - but if you have other kids in house may not want to wake them with shower. DS was our first - I feel for you as I have been there. Hope you get some sleep tonight!