Sniffle Solutions

Coughing throughout the night goes hand in hand with colds. Unfortunately, it interferes with sleep, which can weaken your child’s immune system and prolong his sickness. To help him snooze more soundly, try these six steps:

1. Drink up. Treating a cough starts with giving your child plenty of fluids all day long. Water and juice can loosen congestion, prevent dehydration and ease a sore throat that’s aggravated by coughing. Skip caffeinated drinks, though: They may not only keep kids up at night, but also lead to dehydration.

2. Clear out at bedtime. Congestion can cause kids to breathe through their mouths, drying out the throat and triggering nighttime coughing. Before bed, make sure your child’s nasal passages are clear by using nasal saline sprays to wash away excess mucus. Older children can also blow their noses, but younger children may need bulb syringes to help remove the secretions.

3. Run the humidifier. Too-dry air can irritate mucus membranes in the throat and nose, leading to scratchy and stuffy noses. A humidifier adds moisture to the air. Opt for a model with a cool mist option to prevent the risk of burns in young children.

4. Get comfortable. Although elevating the head can help postnasal drip, the best position for your child is the one that feels best. His sleeping position isn’t likely to affect how much he’ll cough, so it’s better that he’s comfortable than awkwardly propped up on a mound of pillows.

5. Use medicine the right way. An over-the-counter children’s cough medicine can provide relief, but only if it is used correctly. So make sure you read the label and administer the proper dosage. If your little one is uncomfortable from a fever, it’s fine to give him the recommended dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Just remember to never give a child aspirin; it may trigger a rare but serious disorder known as Reye’s syndrome.

6. Keep your kid calm. If your child becomes upset, it can worsen a cough, so create a relaxing, soothing environment by holding him, keeping the lights low and talking softly. This is particularly important if the child has croup, which is accompanied with a seal-like barking cough; in some cases, a child will feel like it’s difficult to breathe.

If the hacking doesn’t stop after 10 or 15 minutes, especially if your child has trouble breathing or gasps when taking a breath, call your doctor. If a cough is bad enough to interrupt sleep, it shouldn’t last for more than two or three days. If it persists, or if the cough becomes worse after a week of symptoms, consult your pediatrician.