Tips for Fighting Night Time Cough
When your kids are coughing all night long, it can be frustrating, exhausting and even frightening. So we teamed up with Dr. Katie, a mom, pediatrician and blogger at Forever Freckled, to share some helpful tips on what to do when our kids develop nighttime cough.
This information is not intended to be medical advice. If your child is experiencing fever, cough or flu-like symptoms, please consult with your pediatrician.
What Causes Night Time Cough?
Dr. Katie explains that most people believe that their child’s cough at night is due to chest congestion. Sometimes that may be the case, but one of the biggest contributors to night time cough is actually due to congestion in the nose.
During the day, the cough is bearable. But at night, post nasal drip causes the snot to roll to the back of the throat when lying down, triggering the cough reflex.
How Can You Prevent Night Time Cough?
Dr. Katie says that developing a Boogie Mist® Saline Nose Mist routine with your kids can help prevent night time cough.
Boogie Mist® Saline Nose Mist is a non-medicated sterile saline mist that works quickly inside the nasal cavity to ease congestion caused by boogers that won’t budge. When used in the right concentration, all-natural saline excels at breaking up and thinning mucus. And when used as a saline mist, it can help keep your nasal passages healthy and comfortable when you have allergies or a cold, it can help minimize coughing and can even help with snoring.
Click here to learn how to start a saline nose spray routine with your kids.
Remember BEST When Your Kids Have Night Time Cough
Dr. Katie suggests using the word BEST to help you remember what to do when your kids are coughing in the middle of the night.
B for Boogie Mist® Saline Nose Mist.
E for elevation. Elevate the head of their bed to help prevent post nasal drip.
S for steam. Take your child into the bathroom and run a hot shower. Keep the bathroom fan off and stay with your child while they inhale the steam. This can help to open their airways. (Just be sure to stay with your child at all times and don’t put them IN the shower – they just need to inhale the steam from the shower.)
T for time and patience. Everything can seem worse than it is at night – especially when you’re not getting any sleep. Just remember that morning will come soon, and this cough will not last forever.
Looking for More Cough and Cold Tips?
We have you covered. From fevers to night time cough (and even keeping kids healthy during holiday travel), click on the links below for more cough, cold and flu tips.
Preventing the Spread of Germs
Teaching Kids How to Blow Their Nose
Teaching Kids How to Wash Their Hands
Teaching Kids How to Cough and Sneeze
Fever, Flu, Cough and Cold Tips
5 Things You Should Know Before Taking Your Child to the Doctor
If Your Child Has a Fever, Read THIS Before Sending Them Back to School
Keeping Your Kids Healthy During Holiday Travel