One of the worst and most difficult to relieve is the cough, and while you can’t give kids under the age of six cough medicines, there are a few things that you can do to help them feel better.
Plenty of sleep
Make sure your little one gets plenty of sleep because they need their energy to help fight off any infections. They will likely be up for most of the night coughing so they will need to make up for it the next day. However, if they don’t want to lie on in the morning, settle them on the couch with plenty of movies and activities that aren’t strenuous, like reading and colouring.
Lots of steam
Steam is a great way to help clear up airways so sit them in the bathroom and run the hot water. This will help clear mucus from their airways and help them breathe. Also a warm bath with a few drops of menthol in the water also helps really well.
Plenty of fluids
Make sure they are getting plenty of fluids to help flush out any toxins and prevent dehydration. So increase their water intake, give them ice lollies to suck on or even lots of smoothies. These are handy when your child has a heavy cough as they can lose their appetite.
Sit them up
When you are putting them to bed, try to keep their head slightly elevated to help keep their airways open and make it easier to breathe. Instead of putting a pillow directly under their head pop it under the mattress so that it is slightly raised without the worry of them becoming tangled in the pillow.
A spoonful of honey
For kids over the age of two, a spoonful of honey can help soothe their throat and ease any itchiness or dryness. Never give it to kids under the age of one as it contains Clostridium Botulinum - a bacterium that can cause botulism in babies.
