Got a toddler coughing up a storm for weeks and months on end? You are not alone and there IS a reason for that chronic cough.

Scientists calculate that chronic cough occurs in 7 to 10% of all children.

Acid reflux, allergies and asthma comprise more than 80% of the causes for chronic cough! This is why you need to take your toddler to the pediatrician when they’ve been coughing for 8 weeks or longer.

Causes of Toddler Chronic Cough: The Numbers

The breakdown of what exactly that chronic cough might be goes as follows:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) 27.5%

Allergy 22.5%

More than one cause 20%

Asthma 12.5 %

Infection such as pneumonia 5%

Aspiration 2.5%

Other Facts About Chronic Cough in Toddlers

1.Night cough is more common with asthma than with GERD.

2.Chronic cough is rarely productive (i.e. no gunk comes up from the lungs).

3. Treatment of chronic cough can take up to 8 weeks to reach its full effect, so be patient.

4.Allergies most often combine with asthma or other factors to produce a chronic cough. It’s important to be sure ALL the causes of a chronic cough are identified.

5.Roughly 10% of children with chronic cough will have no cause other than coughing is now a habit. Note this is not to say they are necessarily choosing to cough as a conscious choice, more that the child has just fallen into the habit of coughing. Read more about habitual coughing here.

What to Do About a Toddler with Chronic Cough

Take your child to the doctor any time a cough persists for 8 weeks or more.  However, don’t wait for 8 weeks if the cough is materially interfering with sleep or other normal activities. Children  should be eating and playing normally, if they aren’t then need urgent medical attention. (Note: I have seen even pretty sick kids be very active, so even if your child is still pretty busy, keep an eye out for subtle decreases in activity levels too.)

Be sure your child is evaluated for the most common causes of chronic cough; GERD, asthma and allergies.

Things you can do at home to treat chronic cough include:

For Allergies: Coughing triggered by allergies is most often due to post nasal drip, which can sometimes be alleviated by propping children up at night. For toddler old enough to take it, Children’s Benadryl or a similar medication can be helpful–consult with your pediatrician on the correct dose.

For GERD: Avoid eating before going to bed. Don’t eat heavy meals at night. Raise the head while sleeping. Medication, though, is really required to fully treat GERD.

For Asthma: There is no home remedy that will be effective for asthma, your child will need prescription medication such as an albuterol inhaler. Sleeping upright, however, does make it easier to breathe which is helpful.

For Infection: Again, no home remedy, antibiotics may be required.

Article References:

American College of Chest Physicians. “Associated Factors in Children with Chronic Cough.” November 18, 2009.

Tags: allergy, asthma, chronic cough, GERD, pneumonia, toddler chronic cough, toddler with chronic cough
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Here is a quick, down and dirty list of vitamins and supplements that keep kids healthy and help them get better when they do get sick.

PROBIOTICS

Most of us think probiotics make us poop, thanks to all those Activia commercials with Jaimie Lee Curtis. However, studies show that probiotics also boost immune function. The most intriguing study, in my humble opinion, was conducted in China and involved over 500 kids. One group got nothing, another got one probiotic supplement and another had a probiotic supplement containing 2 probiotics. All the kids on probiotics did better than the kids that got nothing, but 2 probiotics was better than one.

Childrens probiotic supplements reduced the number of missed school days by almost 40% and the use of antibiotics by at least 60% up to 80% (depending on how many probiotics were in the supplement, more was better). Kids probiotics also reduces the severity and duration of illness.

Not all childrens probiotic supplements are created equally. Some strains should be avoided as they can cause problems in the case of serious illness or when someone is immunocompromised. We use the Buddy Bear Probiotic Supplement at our house with good results so far this flu season.

If you want even more information on children’s probiotic supplements check out this article.

ZINC

Zinc has a natural antibiotic action and revs up the immune system. Studies have shown that this mineral can reduce the duration of an illness and make symptoms more mild. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find sufficient amounts of zinc in multivitamins for kids so we use a separate chewable zinc supplement for kids at the first signs of illness.

Note because zinc is not water soluble and because high levels can actually weaken the immune system, follow directions on the bottle and do not over dose. You have to have the right dose of zinc for it to be effective, more is not better. Also, zinc interferes with prescription antibiotics, so if your toddler ends up on antibiotics, separate the antibiotic and zinc by several hours.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C has a weak anti-viral action which helps the immune system get rid of bugs. Studies have also shown that C shortens the course of an illness. We use Emergen-C for kids when sick and lots of fresh fruits and veggies when healthy.

VITAMIN D3

D3 is hot hot hot right now and for good reason. This vitamin is a workhorse in the human body. It does everything; fights heart disease and cancer and also boosts the immune system. It’s no coincidence that cold and flu season strikes precisely at the time of year we get the least amount of sun exposure (which leads to D production in the body) and have the lowest levels of D in our blood.

Researchers have found that D alerts the immune system to bugs and triggers immune response. The earlier your immune system gets moving, the faster you get better. We supplement at 800ius daily and bump up to 2000 ius when sick.

Vitamin D also improves asthma symptoms and is important for overall respiratory health. If you little one has asthma, be sure they are getting enough vitamin D!

In the past we’ve used Carlson liquid D and the flavor we had was cloyingly sweet, but effective. Now we use Vitamin D Sunny Gummies gum drops which are super yummy!  Just don’t order them in the summer heat as they’ll melt in transit and the company does not provide refunds (which they should or at least warn customers in advance). Alternatively, our  local Vitamin World store carries these gum drops and if they are goopy from too much heat, you can return them with a receipt.

I use these vitamins. My toddler uses these vitamins. My husband does NOT use these vitamins.

Who do you think is healthier? Who do you think gets better faster when we do get sick?

Those of us who take these vitamins.

Tags: boost the immune system, childrens probiotics, kids probiotics, probiotics, vitamin C, vitamin d3, vitamins for toddlers, zinc
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Just a friendly reminder that the first thing any parent should try with a toddler who has asthma and is coughing, is their inhaler.

Albuterol inhalers are the most effective toddler cough remedy for kids with asthma.  Especially if they have no active infection.

Also keep an eye out for these symptoms of cough variant asthma:

1.Non-stop, uncontrollable coughing.

2.Coughing that interrupts or prevents sleep.

3.Coughing that causes vomiting

4.Also be alert to short-term coughing episodes. These can be triggered by exercise or environmental changes and are often self-limiting. However, if you see your toddler coughing all of a sudden and they have asthma, whip out the asthma inhalers!

These are all signs of cough variant asthma. Forget all the other toddler cough remedies, go for the inhaler first. If the cough improves but comes back after inhaler use, contact your toddler’s doctor because this indicates the presence of an ongoing asthma flare up.

How to fight cough variant asthma:

1.At night, prop your toddler up to help reduce the coughing. This is especially helpful if there is any post nasal drip as that can greatly irritate the airways when sleeping flat.

2.Pediatricians also recommend a dehumidifier, but caution parents to change the water every day in order to prevent mold growth.

3.Use that albuterol inhaler. If it seems like your toddler needs it more often than prescribed, call the pediatrician and see if you can up the dose frequency.

Signs of a serious problem that may be an emergency include:

1.Change in skin color during coughing fits. This is an emergency and requires a trip to the ER or emergent visit to the pediatrician.

2. Retraction of the skin. Retraction is a fancy way of saying that the skin will be sucked in around the child’s chest and ribs so that the outline of bone is visible. When your child is well, take some time to famliarize yourself with how loose the skin over their chest is, and then compare this to when they are sick. Having asthma myself, I can tell you when I am sick, my skin is so tight there is zero movement. When I am healthy, I can pinch and fold the skin of my chest with no problem.

3.Chest pain that does not go away when the coughing stops. Go to the ER!

4.Rapid, labored breathing. Time to go to the ER!

5.Fever which indicates the presence of an infection. Illness can greatly exacerbate asthma, so the most important toddler cough remedy in this case is to treat the fever and call the pediatrician.

If cough variant asthma is becoming a chronic problem and all you have is an albuterol inhaler, push for a nebulizer and a consult with a specialist. It may be time to consider other medication options.

It is really easy to think that asthma is all about wheezing, when, in reality, it can be a quirky illness with a wide variety of unique symptoms. So keep an ear out for cough variant asthma and reach for the inhaler first before any other toddler cough remedy.

Related Articles

Learn all about the Nosefrida Snotsucker.

How to sooth a toddler’s cough with natural cough remedies.

Tags: asthma, asthma inhalers, cough variant asthma, coughing that causes vomiting, coughing that interrupts sleep, dehumidifier, nosefrida snot, toddler cough remedies, toddler cough remedy, uncontrollable coughing
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Is your toddler coughing non-stop  and you’re wondering what would cause a chronic cough? Well wonder no more, here’s a concise overview of the causes of toddler chronic cough.

Very simply, chronic cough is often associated with:

1. Allergies/Environmental irritants

2.Asthma

3.Post-nasal drip due to infection, allergies and/or asthma

4.GERD (a.k.a. heartburn)

5.Habit

Allergies and Toddler Cough

Allergies can occur almost any time of year but are most commonly seen in the Fall and Spring. So if your toddler is coughing their lungs up during those seasonal transitions, you should be suspicious of allergies.

In terms of environmental irritants, smoking is the leading cause of chronic cough in children. If someone is smoking around your child, this is likely the cause of their chronic cough.

Asthma and Toddler Cough

Asthma doesn’t always mean wheezing. There is such a thing as cough variant asthma where  instead of wheezing, respiratory distress manifests in a nagging cough. If you suspect asthma, please consult with a pediatrician asap. Ideally they’ll give you an inhaler (with spacer!) such as Proventil or Ventolin to try and see if that eases the cough.  Asthma inhalers that ‘cure’ coughing pretty much diagnose a toddler as having asthma. (We are in the thick of this process ourselves and it sucks!)

Post Nasal Drip and Toddler Cough

Post-nasal drip can be SO annoying. It just sits there in the back of the throat and some kids end up hacking and hacking trying to get rid of the gunk. If your toddler has had a bad cold or respiratory infection, it is not uncommon for the cough to just go on forever. So long as your toddler seems happy and healthy in other respects, this is not a worrisome cough. However, if your toddler seems sick or sleep is severely disrupted, you should give your pediatrician a call just to be sure another infection hasn’t taken up residence.

GERD and Toddler Cough

In some cases the cough has nothing to do with the lungs or sinuses, but actually originates from the stomach. Gastroesophageal Reflux is when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and irritates the throat. About 2/3 of infants have GERD although for many it is painless and simply messy. Most infants will grow out of their reflux by the age of 1, however, in some cases GERD can persist. If your toddler had reflux as an infant or GERD runs in your family, your toddler’s chronic cough may actually be heartburn.

Toddler Cough Due to Habit

There’s also the possibility for a cough to become chronic out of habit.  Coughing can actually perpetuate itself by irritating the throat and keeping it inflamed which just leads to more coughing. So kids just cough and cough and cough until coughing becomes their new normal–any sensation in their throats will trigger coughing even though they aren’t sick.

Parents who’ve dealt with this have had success redirecting the coughing into another activity. Some kids are encouraged to take a sip of water instead of coughing. Or they use lozenges (although those can be hard on the teeth if they are used a lot). The idea is to displace the old habit with a new one and then gradually phase out the new habit.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not to say your child coughing on purpose, it’s a habit that crept up on them, not something they choose. Also, you will want to get a thorough physical to rule out any underlying pathology.

Of course, there are more mutations of cough than time in the day so your toddler’s chronic cough could be something completely different than listed here.  The key is not just the cough but the constellation of other symptoms. With asthma you would expect to hear some wheezing (at least once or twice) or see your child struggling to breathe. Allergies usually affect the eyes and are often accompanied by sneezing. Coughing is rarely the only symptom so you’ll want to be documenting additional symptoms as they are important keys to the puzzle.

Never hesitate to contact your pediatrician and quiz them about your toddler’s cough. That’s what they went to medical school for!

Until you have a diagnosis, check out our posts on toddler cough remedies.

How to Soothe a Toddler’s Cough: Natural Cough Remedies that Bring Relief

Honey for Toddler Cough

Also, if you’ve dealt with a toddler with chronic cough, what happened? How did you cure it?

Tags: cough variant asthma, honey for toddler cough, natural cough remedies, toddler cough, toddler cough remedies, toddler with chronic cough
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

As we’ve mentioned in the past, part of addressing a toddler’s cough is to control the post nasal drip. This product review will introduce you to a new generation of nasal aspirators; the Snotsucker.

The Nosefrida Snotsucker a Great New Tool for Toddler Congestion

The Nosefrida Snotsucker isn’t your mother’s nasal aspirator! For years parents have only had one option for dealing with miserable toddler nasal congestion when their kids were incapable of blowing their own noses.  The big blue bulb is a nursery staple. Unfortunately, it’s also highly inefficient at nasal suction, impossible to really clean and constructed in such a way that you can’t tell anything about what’s coming out of the nose.  Worse still, when used improperly, it can hurt your child by causing his nasal cavity to bleed.

Enter the Nosefrida Snotsucker, a simple, sanitary nasal vacuum aspirator that was developed by Swedish pediatricians and ENT doctors.  The product retails for approximately  $12 and requires the use of special filters that come in 20-piece packages that cost between $3 to $7.  Made from latex-free, non-allergenic plastic, the Snotsucker is easy to use, clean and store.  And best of all – it is one of the few nasal congestion remedies that work.

Clearing Toddler Nasal Congestion with the Snotsucker is as easy as 1,2, Suck

The Nosefrida Snotsucker’s collection chamber is a clear, rocket-shaped tube about five inches long.  This is placed against, but not inside, your toddler’s nostril.  Parents then suck on a mouthpiece at the other end of a long tube.  This gently and effectively removes toddler congestion, with the mucus being caught in a disposable filter.  You can suck as softly or strongly as you need to in order to remove all the snot

In the beginning there’s definitely a large gross-out factor at play.  After all, by the time we reach adulthood, most of us have a well-developed urge to keep our mouths as far away as possible from boogers.  But the filters do their job.  You’re at no risk of ingesting mucus and so, for most parents, the chance of giving your child some real relief overtakes the innate yuck feeling.

Keep a few tips in mind when using the Snotsucker.  With a lot of hardened mucus, a few saline drops should be placed in the child’s nose before aspirating, and short quick inhales sometimes work better than long deep sucks.  Also, the disposable filter should be changed after each cleaning.

Clinical Studies and Physician Review Show Nosefrida is Effective

According to www.nosefrida.com, this revolutionary device for toddler congestion was developed at the University Hospital MAS in Malmo, Sweden.  It was then tested at three area hospitals on 43 children under the age of 2. Half of the children suffered from severe nasal congestion.  The children were suctioned at least three times in a 24-hour period and parents were overwhelmingly positive about the results this new type of aspirator provided.

Physicians and clinicians overseeing these clinical trails concluded that the Nosefrida device safely reduced toddler nasal congestion and improved feeding and sleeping problems that small children suffering from upper respiratory infections often experience.

A bacterial evaluation of the Snotsucker was also conducted in 1998 by a physician infection control officer, whose trial clearly demonstrated that when used as intended, the device is completely safe and the risk of transferring infected bacteria from sick child to sucking caretaker is almost completely non-existent.

Nosefrida Snotsucker Reviews are Consistently Positive

“Doctor recommended” is great, of course, but most of us what to know what real moms and dads have to say about the Snotsucker, and parents from all around seem to be giving it high marks for ease of use and superior results.

Amazon product reviews by people who have purchased the Nosefrieda are uniformly high.  Comments praise the fact that nothing has to be stuffed into the nose of a child who is already uncomfortable and angry.  Additionally, many users appreciate the fact that they can see how much mucus is coming out of the child as well as the fact that this aspirator is so easy to clean.

A few parents felt like the tube leading from the mouthpiece to the mucus collector is too long, but it was easy enough to cut it shorter without affecting the way the device works.  The few reviewers who didn’t love the product still thought it was at least as effective as the big blue bulb.  And there really isn’t anything else on the market like it.

It is similar in some ways to Japan’s Suction Pigeon, which also uses parent powered sucking to clear out mucus.  However, the Suction Pigeon has a more complicated design and does not use filters.

European parents have been thrilled to have the Nosefrieda Snotsucker in their bag of tricks for years now, and it’s great to see this useful item make its way into American markets.  By all accounts, this simple aspirator can safely help infants and toddlers breathe a little better.  And for many parents, that is worth its weight in gold.

Plus, you get to say snotsucker, which is its own reward.

Related Articles

How to Soothe a Toddler’s Cough: Natural Cough Remedies that Bring Relief

How to Boost the Immune System of a Toddler

Tags: nasal aspirator, nasal congestion remedies, nasal suction, nasal vacuum aspirator, nosefrida snotsucker, nosefrida snotsucker reviews, toddler congestion, toddler nasal congestion
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

So it’s 1 a.m. and your angel is hacking like a veteran smoker. Been there, done that, both as a parent and the one coughing myself.

Here are some tricks I’ve learned over the years dealing with serial upper respiratory infections (lucky me) and now caring for my toddler (poor thing is STILL sick, we are going on 6 weeks and 3 different infections–CRAZY!).

1. Popsicles are your friend. For the toddler we use the Edy’s Low Sugar popsicles. The cold numbs the nerves in the throat that trigger coughing. Plus, this is low tech and can be used as often as necessary without worrying about overdoses/ill effects.

2.Ice cream is good too. As is sherbert (which is low fat and usually dairy free for those who are interested).  The creamy texture slows it down as it travels to the stomach giving the cold more time to penetrate inflamed throats and numb the nerves.

3.Yogurt, yogurt smoothies or kefir. Not as cold as ice cream or popsicles, but great at coating irritated throats. (Okay, yes, some people believe milk begets mucus, but no studies I have seen back that assertion up. By all means, if there is a direct correlation for your family between milk and mucus, then avoid it, but don’t avoid dairy on reputation alone.)

4.Sleep sitting up. Post nasal drip is a major trigger for coughing, especially at night. Prop your toddler up which not only eases breathing, it also keeps post nasal drip from causing a coughing spell.

5.Keep the room cool and use a cool mist humidifier. Wet air helps keep throats from drying out and dry throats are prone to coughing.  Cool air makes it easier to breath so a cool mist humidifier is a win-win for sick toddlers.

6. Deal with congestion proactively. This goes back to #4 and post nasal drip. Clear out the sinuses before bed time to get rid of the drip. Use a simple saline nasal wash or invest in one of those fancy booger extractors like the Nosefrieda Snotsucker.

There is no question that these two products work, however, your toddler is an unreliable factor in this cough remedy. Most toddlers will not sit quietly while you cram things up their nose (would you?) so anticipate some serious protest and only limited success.

It might help to talk to your toddler about what you’re doing so they understand what’s happening. Practice on a stuffed animal. On yourself. Let your toddler try it on you, Play doctor etc… Try every night, but don’t sweat it if you aren’t able to use it effectively. Consistent exposure breeds familiarity and maybe you can use the snotsucker or saline spray (or, for a really good time, both!) for the next cold.

And if you buy the Nosefrieda Snotsucker and your toddler isn’t having it, look on the bright side, you’ll forever be able to elicit good behavior with just one phrase…

“Don’t make me get the snotsucker.”  (I kid! I couldn’t resist the joke.)

If the congestion is really bad and the saline or snotsucker is not happening in this lifetime, a warm bath or just sitting in a steamy bathroom can loosen all sorts of gunk without the drama associated with the other methods.

7. Take those vitamins. As I discussed in the post on boosting a toddler’s immune system, vitamins can fight infection and shorten its duration. It’s not too late to start! Some vitamins such as D3 can prevent a simple cold or flu bug from turning into a more serious upper respiratory infection.

So tell me– you’re up, I’m up, let’s talk! — what is/isn’t working for you when it comes to soothing your toddler’s cough? Did I miss anything?

photo credit: princessdlaf 

Tags: cool mist humidifier, cough remedy, how to sooth a toddler's cough, natural cough remedies, nosefrieda snotsucker, post nasal drip, saline nasal spray, vitamin d3
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

We have been fighting bugs over here since mid-January. My toddler even had her first ‘wheezing episode’ which means she’s on the radar for an asthma diagnosis. Having asthma myself, I know how important it is to boost my own immune system. Recently, I adapted what I do for myself for my toddler. You can do this too and, hopefully, cut down on the sick days.

1. Look for a children’s multivitamin that has zinc.  Not many children’s vitamins have zinc or they have very small amounts of it. Find a vitamin that has the most zinc you can find.  Most of us have heard that zinc can shorten the duration of a cold, but in reality, what it actually does is rev up the immune system. Sparking a robust immune response is what kicks the bugs earlier and, if taken regularly, prevents them from invading in the first place.

We use Yummi Bears by Hero Nutritionals because it’s available locally. You can go to your local drugstore and just compare labels–that’s what I did with my girlfriend for her kids. All the vitamins vary wildly so you’re going to have to closely read their labelling.

2.Ensure your toddler’s diet is full of vitamin C, preferably from fresh foods like kiwis, oranges, and broccoli. At a cellular level, vitamin C blocks germs from entering cells while also increasing the amount of white blood cells in the blood (white blood cells fight infections). When our toddler is sick, I give her vitamin C rich foods at each meal.

3. Give your toddler vitamin D3. The amount of data emerging on vitamin D3 is staggering and will probably change the face of medicine (I know my doctor just recently started testing all their patients’ D levels). D3 prevents cancer and heart disease while also alleviating depression and fighting respiratory infections.  The vast majority of the population is deficient in vitamin D3 so supplementation is recommended, even for children. Did you know that the flu season also happens to be the same time of year that our D3 levels are at their lowest? Nothing is a coincidence.

Vitamin D3 can be purchased in liquid form. The liquids are flavored and cloyingly sweet–we cut ours with water. The D3 itself is odorless and has no taste so the flavoring isn’t hiding anything unpleasant. My toddler loves the stuff and calls all her vitamins “bite-a-min d”. She actually begs for it!

The suggested dose for toddlers is 1,000 to 2000 ius and you can read more about vitamin D as flu medicine by following the link.

We use the Carlson liquid D3 drops, but there are several different brands. The important thing is to be sure you’re getting the D3 form of vitamin D and just 1000 ius per dose to prevent overdosing.

4. Eat blueberries which are full of bioflavonoids. These plant compounds protect cells from germ invasion and can help limit the severity of an infection once it has started. Winter can be a rough time to find good, fresh berries at the store, so consider frozen berries. So long as your toddler has good mouth control, frozen blueberries are a great way to soothe a sore throat. We often use a blender to make a yogurt smoothie with blueberries.  I don’t recommend baking blueberries as that may destroy their bioflavonoids.

5.Drink elderberry juice. Elderberries have been getting a lot of press, even making an appearance last year on the Dr. Oz show. Elderberries are a delicious way to boost your toddler’s immune system. Studies have found that elderberries enhance the immune system and fight infection. The juice can be hard to find in stores, but is available in concentrated form (just add water) at online retailers such as Amazon.com.

What do you do to boost your toddler’s immune system? I would love to hear what works for you!

Related Articles

Toddler Cough Remedy: Honey

Types of Toddler Cough

Tags: bioflavonoids, blueberries, children's vitamins, elderberry juice, sick toddler, toddler immune system, vitamin C, vitamin D3 for toddlers, zinc
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

In 2007 the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published the results of a study looking at the effectiveness of honey as a remedy for nocturnal coughing.  Over a hundred children from the ages of 2 through 18 participated in the study. Two different cough remedies were used in the study.

-Plain Honey

-Honey flavored cough medicine

Surprisingly, the children using honey did better than those taking the honey flavored cough medicine. Why?  Well honey is thick and coats irritated throats. Pure honey also contains live enzymes believed by many natural health experts to boost the immune system.

The study found that honey reduced cough frequency and severity thereby improving sleep for both the child and their parents.

Researchers used Buckwheat honey, but in a pinch any honey will work. (Manuka honey is also a good type of honey to try because it has some nice antibiotic properties recognized by dermatologists treating wounds with honey. Just be sure to check the label as sometimes honey isn’t honey, but rather high fructose corn syrup. The label should say Pure Honey.)

This research has given rise to honey products geared specifically toward kids. Here’s a quick overview of three that you might find in stores.

Chestal is a homeopathic remedy with a honey base. We found this in our local drugstore and used it for several days. It did give our toddler relief from her cough, but since she’s a toddler (No and No Way are her favorite words), it was like negotiating with terrorists to get her to take it.

Some enterprising person has packaged buckwheat honey into ketchup like self serve packets and markets it under the name Honey Don’t Cough. This would be a good option for families on the go as spooning honey out of a jar can get messy. Outside of a road trip, it’s probably cheaper just to get a jar of honey.

Last but not least, Hylands has a homeopathic cough remedy that uses honey as well. It’s sold under the name Cough Syrup with Honey.

Any of these products will provide relief simply by virtue of their honey content and they are all safe with no side effects.

Remember honey should never be given to anyone aged 1 or under because it can cause botulism. It’s also important to realize that more ‘natural’ remedies tend to be mild in their effect. Don’t look for a dramatic improvement and you’ll probably be up at least once in the middle of the night to re-dose.

In addition, honey is pretty sweet and picky toddlers may refuse to take it. (That’s what happened to us!) Keep offering it and explaining that it will help their cough feel better.

Related Articles

How to Boost the Immune System of a Toddler

Types of Toddler Cough

photo credit: Akirastock

Tags: buckwheat honey, chestal, giving honey to toddlers for cough, home remedies for toddler cough, homeopathic cough remedy, honey, honey for cough in toddler, manuka honey, remedies coughing toddler, toddler cough, toddler cough remedied, toddler coughing remedies, using honey as remedy for cough frequency
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

There are more types of cough then there are days of the week. Your toddler’s cough says a lot about how sick they are and what they have  as well as what cough remedies will be most helpful. Meaning it’s important to know the different flavors of sick here.

A toddler cough can…

-Be wet
-Be dry
-Hack like a smoker.
-Sound like a ‘whoop’ a la whopping cough
-Bark like a dog
-Come out only at night (like a vampire, one that sucks away your sleep)
-Persist and become chronic
-Cause vomiting or co-exist with a stomach bug

There are other fun mutations of all of the above. It’s enough to make you think you should have gone to medical school while pregnant instead of reading ‘What to Expect when You’re Expecting.’

Don’t worry, we’ll sort it all out for you. It’s not as difficult as it sounds.

Wet coughs mean there is mucous in the lungs. They can signify a simple chest cold or more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia. If they persist or get worse, they need to be evaluated by a doctor.

Dry coughs are usually due to an irritant of some kind, such as an allergy. Hacking coughs tend to point toward allergies and/or asthma as well. So do barking, nocturnal, and chronic coughs. These kinds of coughs should be evaluated by a physician so that allergies or asthma can be dealt with.

When in doubt, call your child’s doctor and describe the cough to them. They are professionals and can help you determine if your toddler’s cough is serious or not.

Related Articles

How to Boost the Immune System of a Toddler

Toddler Cough Remedies: Honey

photo credit: ktaylorg

Tags: toddler allergies wet cough, toddler cough, toddler coughing all night long, toddler with a chronic cough, types of cough, wet cough, whooping cough
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off