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infant cough
Ailments like an infant cough or cold can cause a lot of discomfort to a baby. In fact, in addition to the affected baby, an infant cough can cause distress for the parents too. An infant cough is not necessarily a condition on its own, but can be the symptom of another underlying condition, like a bug. If the cough is not controlled and treated in time, it is quite likely to result in bigger problem. Unfortunately, children are more sensitive to cough medication than adults are and therefore they cannot be given the strong medicines that adults take, to get rid of their cough. Most pediatricians strongly discourage the use of over the counter cough suppressants to deal with an infant cough. Therefore, it is best to find more natural ways and remedies to get rid of an infant cough. Given below are some natural ways of easing an infant cough away:
- Humidifier: It is quite possible for dryness in the atmosphere to irritate the child’s throat, leading to an infant cough, or even aggravating it. Infants are more prone to coughs caused by throat dryness during the winter season. You can use a cool mist humidifier to add extra moisture to the air. Make sure that you keep the humidifier running, especially during the night, in your child’s room. However, it is best to use a humidifier that does not have a filter because in case you do not empty the water from the humidifier, the filter will get mold. Using a humidifier with mold can be very harmful to your child. Alternately, instead of a humidifier, you could use a damp towel and hang it in your child’s bedroom.
- Steam: A steam usually works wonders in curing an infant cough. What you could do is run a hot shower run for a while in the bathroom and then sit with your baby in the bathroom for at least 15 to 20 minutes, so that the steam can be inhaled. You could also take a book or a toy along with you to distract your child and keep him occupied.
- Warm juice: Give your child some warm juice to soothe out a dry throat and loosen the mucus, if any. Pour about 8 ounces of apple juice in a glass or a mug and warm it for about 30 seconds in a microwave. Pour the juice into the child’s bottle or sippy-cup. Make sure you test the juice before giving it to your child.
- Fresh air: Cool and fresh air is very important to cure an infant cough. During the day, leave the windows open and allow your child to breathe in the fresh air.
In case the home remedies do not give your child any relief from an infant cough within a few days, it is best to consult a pediatrician.
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