Extra fluids can thin out their mucus so their nose won't be as stuffy and they'll cough up all that gunk more easily. Most drinks, like water, juice, and milk, are fine. Warm liquids like chicken soup, or apple juice can soothe a sore throat. Be sure they're warm, not hot, to avoid burns.
With plenty of rest and fluids, most coughs in younger kids and babies tend to clear up within three to four weeks. Depending on what's causing the cough, there may be things you can do to help soothe your child.
Raise your baby's head.
Lying flat makes a cough worse, which is bad news for bedtime. Lifting the head of your baby's crib a few inches can help. You can also place books under the legs, or roll up a towel and put it under the head of the mattress.
In younger infants, a phlegmy cough could be due to bronchiolitis, a lower tract respiratory infection brought on by viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In severe cases, a phlegmy cough with a high fever might signal a more serious infection, like pneumonia.
Call your doctor if your cough (or your child's cough) doesn't go away after a few weeks or if it also involves any one of these: Coughing up thick, greenish-yellow phlegm. Wheezing. Experiencing a fever.
A parent should never apply Vicks VapoRub to children under 2 years old. For those interested in using a similar product without camphor, Vicks BabyRub is available. Parents and caregivers should use caution and read all instructions before applying Vicks to their children.
During a cold, your child is normally swallowing mucus that is draining out of the sinuses. This mucus collects in the stomach. Milk will sometimes churn up this mucus and cause your child to vomit. This is one of the normal ways for your child's body to get rid of this mucus.
What causes babies to have phlegm in their throat? Newborn's resistance is not yet fully developed, so it is easy to be affected by external factors, especially the respiratory tract. In addition, when sick, the ability to remove sputum is also poor because the cough reflex is still weak.
A ruttle is a coarse, crackling sound which some babies make even when they are well. It is caused by secretions ( snot, saliva, gunk etc) being allowed to pool in the back of the throat. Babies can allow this fluid to collect there but adults would have to cough it out or swallow it down.
Parents are often told to avoid milk if their children have asthma or any other respiratory ailment because it's been thought that the popular drink can lead to excess mucus production. But, that's all a myth, a British specialist argues.
When your baby has a stuffy nose, upright is the best position to sleep in. You can use a baby carrier/wrap to help keep your infant upright as you go about your day, as this position will help relieve any stuffiness. Remember that you will have to lie your baby down on a flat mattress while putting them to sleep.
If your mucus is dry and you are having trouble coughing it up, you can do things like take a steamy shower or use a humidifier to wet and loosen the mucus. When you do cough up phlegm (another word for mucus) from your chest, Dr. Boucher says it really doesn't matter if you spit it out or swallow it.
Steam can work wonders for nasal congestion by loosening dry congestion. Try steaming the bathroom by turning your shower on hot and allowing the steam to build up in the bathroom. Sit with your baby or breastfeed there for about 20 minutes.
Symptoms of a cold in an infant generally start with a low grade fever and nasal congestion. Infants get all plugged up inside and then two to three days later generally start having a lot of post-nasal drip, increasing a cough and causing a runny nose.
It is normal for a baby's nose to get congested (stuffed up) from time to time. When this happens, you can use nasal saline to thin their mucus and then suction it out with a bulb syringe. Suctioning mucus out of the nose makes it easier for them to breathe, suck, and eat.
In general, diffusing essential oils into the air is safer than using them on the skin. (But even then, it can be irritating to some. Never diffuse them in classrooms or in public spaces.) Don't diffuse essential oils around infants under 6 months old.
One of the major benefits of a whole-home humidifier for newborns is protection from dry air, especially in the chilly winter months when babies often become ill. A humidifier will let your newborn baby breathe easy and help get rid of pesky mucus build-up.
BACKGROUND: Essential oils, such as camphorated and eucalyptus oils, are volatile oils that can be absorbed by mouth and through the skin; if ingested orally by children, they can be harmful, even life-threatening.