Night time coughing

[Deee]

Zach has had another cough and cold - it seems he has permanently got a cold these days and lately the cough that goes with it sounds awful. I guess that the nursery for you!

Its worse at night - is that normal ? - sorry I am being a thickie about this but...first baby... no clue !!

The last 2 nites I have ended up bringing him in the bed with me, not so much cos he wont settle but because I was getting up every time he had a coughing fit to make sure he was ok cos it sounds so awful and (yes I know I am probably over reacting ...) I worry he'll end up choking on the mucus. So I am shattered, so is he cos he's not sleeping properly and I don't know what to do for him.

He is not ill in himself, no high temp, just a snotty nose and the cough which is a lot less noticeable in the daytime. He is eating fine and causing havoc and mayhem in his usual way.

Anyone got any words of wisdom for me.....

Thanks
D
X

[@@lisa@@]

hi dee

yes, i think that coughing more at night is defineately normal. isn't it something to do with laying down (the mucas running into your throat?)
i've always brought mine into bed with me when they're poorly. it's easier to keep giving them drinks etc
i find medised pretty good when poppy has a cold. it seems to help her sleep. (i guess its just like night nurse)
hope he feels better soon

lisa xx

[JennyBean]

Hi Dee,

Phoebe struggles with snotty colds too, and when she teethes she gets a runny nose which turns into a night cough. It sounds horrible, like she's got a throat full of gunge! I find Tixylix night cough is good, it's codiene linctus with promethazine hydrochloride, the codiene acts as a cough supressant and the promethazine is an antihistamine which dries up the snot and also takes the tickle out of the cough too. Both are also slightly sedating, but don't count on it giving you 12 hours sleep!!

I am never going to tell you off for bringing him into your bed, if it helps you both settle and get as much sleep as you can then it is only a good thing!

Sweet dreams!

Jenny

[SharonR]

Hiya,
When Megan or Daniel have a cough, it is also worse at night when they are lying down, I agree that it's because of the mucus irritating their throat and making them cough even more.

You could try raising one side of his cot, so that he's not lying completely flat. That might help while he's recovering. We have Benylin Night Time Cough, it's the same as Tixylix and Medised really, and it does seem to stop the cough being so irritating at night and helps them sleep a bit better.

The other thing you could try is steam - put the shower on the hottest setting, close the bathroom door, and sit there with Zach - the steam in the room should act as a decongestant.

Hugs to you, it's just horrid when our little ones are poorly.

Sharon.

[stonea]

Awww poor Zach and poor mummy. I've just been through this with Leila. I took her to the gp when the cough didn't clear up after a few days and he gave me some anti-biotics. I had her in bed with me at night, so not much sleep for me but at least I was right there when she started coughing. She's getting better now and prefers being in her cot, so I've tilted the mattress a little and so far things have been ok. Just first thing in the morning when she's coughing like crazy until she brings it all up...yuk! but at least it's on the move.

[Sharon xx]

...I also use the Benylin night time cough mixture. Just a word of warning tho' Benylin Night Time, Medised and Tixylix Night Cough all contain an antihistamine so you can only use ONE of them, not a mixture of any of them. You can give one of them with Calpol or Ibuprofen liquid as neither of those contain antihistamine but not with each other. Just wanted to say this as was worried that you could end up with one very drowsy baby if he had too much antihistamine.

When Ethan is like this with a cold and coughing all night I use Ibuprofen liquid and the Benylin Night Time Cough and they work a treat together.

I hope he's soon feeling better and sleeping undisturbed again.

with love and hugs for little Z

Sharon xx

[Deee]

Thanks for the replies. Funnily enough DH and I discussed earlier about raising the head of the cot so I will be on the hunt tonight for some books about the same width to try that.

Trouble is aside from Medised I can't use anything else because he is under 2 Everything now comes with mega warnings not use to Tixylix night time and benilyn night for under 2s and I am sure they would help. To be honest the medised doesn't really do much for him sleeping but does dry up the snotty nose a bit.

Now if they went on weight rather than age, then with him hefting in at about 28lbs they might say the tixylx or benilyn was ok.

He's had the cough on and off for weeks now, it goes away then comes back every time he get a new cold. And the other unpleasant side effect of a cough is that when they go for it, just after eating or drinking the bedtime bottle - the gag reflex kicks in and you end up with vomit all down your back and up the stairs.....well thats what happened last night. He'd fallen asleep on the floor drinking his bedtime bottle so I picked him up to take up to bed and about half way up the stairs the coughing started and the next thing I knew I had that horrible warm sensation down my back and it was everywhere. Ho hum, these things are sent to try us and in the grand scheme of things for me at the moment its the least of my worries eh !

Love
D
X