the parents are often worried about finding their baby coughing at night. In addition to interrupting his sleep time, a persistent cough can also cause the small vomit. In order not to drag on and increasingly become, know some ways to overcome the cough of children while sleeping at night as follow.
What's wrong with coughing a child while sleeping?
Coughing is the body's natural response to many potential pathogens or external disturbances. Just like sneezing, cough is not a disease but part of the symptoms of the disease that arises. Whether it's due to viruses, bacteria, psychic factors or allergies.
At night, especially during lying down, the mucus produced by the cough accumulates faster in the airways. That is the reason why coughing is usually more severe at night.
Fortunately, cough in children is generally self-limited disease or can heal by itself. Therefore, every parent is advised to first try some natural way before choosing a child cough medicine that is sold freely in the market.
Here are natural ways to cope with a child's cough at night so as not to interfere with sleep:
1. Honey
Honey is one way to cope with a child's cough at night to choose from. Some studies have even proved the efficacy of honey as a cough medicine that is far more effective than syrup cough medicine that circulated widely in the market. Because honey is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal.
Give 1½ tsp honey on the Little before bed. It can also be diluted along with a cup of water or warm tea to help relieve throat infections. Do not give honey to children under 1 year, because it can trigger botulism or food poisoning at risk of causing death.
Read more, read: How to Use Honey as a Cough Medicine for Children
2. Salt Solutes
Dissolve ½ to 1 tsp salt with a glass of warm water. Put on the child's nostrils 2 to 3 drops. Then suction with a nasal aspirator or snot vacuum to reduce the blockage or mucus in the nose so that his breathing becomes more relieved.
How to cope with child cough at night is very suitable applied to children aged under 1 year who have not been able to use honey. For children who are large enough, salt solution can also be used as an effective mouthwash in relieving sore throat.
More about: The Efficacy of Gargling with Salt Water
3. Increase Your Liquid Intake
Increase your fluid intake to your baby to help relieve cough and other symptoms that may accompany. For infants up to 6 months and exclusive breastfeeding, Mother is encouraged to breastfeed more often.
While the baby above 6 months, can be given additional 3 teaspoons of warm water 4 times a day. For bigger baby, besides water can be given fruit juice and warm chicken soup.
4. Use Humidifier
Use a humidifier to create the ideal air humidity level, which ranges from 40-50%. Ideal air humidity in the bedroom can help calm the cough of the child while making sleep more soundly.
5. Balsam
Balsam Rubbing on the back also the child's chest accompanied by a gentle massage can reduce cough during sleep and make it feel more comfortable. This method is only for children aged above 2 years.
Not allowed to rub the balm under the nose. This can make the mucosa or mucous membranes in the nose irritated to make the complaint worse.
6. Clean the Bedroom
The cough experienced by the little one can be caused by dust mites, animal fur and various other dirt that land on mattresses, pillows, sheets, carpets, or corners or under the bed.
Perform a thorough cleaning with routine washing, drying and replacing a variety of bedding, especially made from cloth every week.
Read also: Dust Allergy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
7. Take advantage of Steam Therapy
This method may be a bit of a hassle if it should be done at night. Even so, it could not hurt to try. When the child wakes up at night because of the cough he is experiencing, invite him to do steam therapy in the bathroom.
The way is quite simple. Prepare a bucket of hot water in the bathroom, then close the bathroom door tightly. A few minutes later, take the baby into the bathroom that has been filled with steam hot water for about 15 minutes or until the vapor disappears.
Some things to watch
There are some things that must be considered by parents in dealing with the cough experienced by the baby. First, do not give cough syrup or throat lozenges to children under 3 years old, unless prescribed by a doctor. Also avoid the use of painkillers if the child has only mild fever.
Second, avoid foods or drinks that can stimulate cough, such as candy, ice and other children snacks. For parents who smoke, stop now. Cigarette smoke can aggravate cough and endanger the overall health of the child.
Lastly, take him or her to the nearest doctor or hospital if the cough persisted for more than 3 days or be accompanied by symptoms such as breathing difficulties, facial or lips bleeding, high fever, coughing up blood and the child looking fussy or weakening not as usual.