How to Treat Cough in Babies At Home
When your baby coughs, you are not advised to immediately give him cough medicine carelessly. This is because giving cough medicine carelessly to babies can be at risk of causing side effects in babies. In addition to medicine, there is a way that you can do, namely how to treat cough in babies at home using natural ingredients. This method can be said to be safer and does not cause side effects.
Coughing is a natural reaction and form of the body's mechanism to remove dirt, mucus, germs, and viruses from the respiratory tract. Therefore, the cough experienced by babies is actually not a dangerous condition.
However, when a baby coughs it will become more fussy and difficult to rest. This of course will make you feel worried when your baby coughs and wants to immediately relieve the cough felt by your baby.
Signs and Symptoms of Cough in Babies
When a baby is coughing, it will usually experience other symptoms such as a stuffy nose, fever, red eyes and decreased appetite. In general, cough in infants can be divided into 2 types, namely:
1. Dry cough
A dry cough is a cough that does not produce phlegm and can be a sign that the baby has the flu, colds, allergies, upper respiratory tract infections, and croup cough.
2. Cough with phlegm
Cough with phlegm is a cough accompanied by wheezing and shortness of breath which can be a sign that the baby is suffering from respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, asthma, and pneumonia.
How to Treat Cough in Babies At Home
Actually, coughs caused by infections can heal on their own without the need to use medicines. However, coughing often makes it difficult for babies to sleep and fussy. If your child seems fussy and uncomfortable because of a cough, then you can try how to treat cough in babies naturally at home.
1. Giving breast milk
Breast milk contains substances that can form the immune system so that it can strengthen the baby's immune system to fight infection. In addition, breast milk is also useful to help thin phlegm and soothe the baby's throat. Therefore, when the baby is sick with a cough, you should give more breast milk.
2. Gives warm steam
Warm steam can be useful for thinning phlegm so that the baby can breathe more easily. Therefore, when your baby is coughing you can make warm steam so that your baby can inhale it. When using warm steam, make sure the steam temperature is not too hot, which is around 37.2-38oC. In addition, you can also relieve your baby's cough by bathing him in warm water and equipping the baby's bedroom with an air humidifier.
3. Give warm drink
If your baby is 6 months old, you can give him warm water to drink. However, keep in mind do not give him a warm drink mixed with honey, because honey can cause botulism in babies who are less than 1 year old.
4. Dripping saline liquid
In addition to doing some of the ways above, you can try to relieve a baby's cough using saline liquid. Saline liquid are nasal drops made from a sterile saline solution. The function of saline liquid is to remove mucus in the baby's nose and throat so that the cough can subside. This saline liquid can be purchased at pharmacies.
How to use saline liquid, namely: position your baby's head slightly upward, then drip saline liquid (2-3 drops) into the nasal cavity using a pipette. Let stand about 30 seconds then clean your baby's nose. Make sure you have read the packaging label to find out the dosage.
In addition to doing some of the ways above, you are also advised to continue to monitor your baby's development while coughing. Be aware if some of these symptoms appear in your baby:
- Cough that lasts more than 2 weeks
- High fever more than 3 days
- Hard to breathe
- Vomiting and body looks weak
- Skin becomes pale or bluish
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Coughing mucus with a yellow or green color
- Coughing up blood
Also read articles about: How to Treat Cough and Cold in Child
If some of these symptoms appear or the cough gets worse even though you have tried how to treat cough in babies at home, immediately consult your baby to the doctor to get the right treatment.
