coughing at night

Chandley

Two weeks ago M caught a cold, and she had it for about a week (ending about a week ago).

However, for the last few days she has been having random coughing fits at night. Never during the day - just starting after she has been asleep for a few hours and it lasts on and off through the night. It isn't enough to keep her up - or if she is up she is quiet and not crying.

I don't know if this warrants a call to the nurse line? She has no fever, really isn't sick and is totally normal during the day, etc. Any ideas?

ali-1411

It might be drainage.  Post nasal drip.  You can try to elevate her slightly...I've heard of people putting something under the mattress to have her sitting up some.  If she's sleeping through it then I would just leave it alone. 

Noisemaker

I don't have any good advice, but I'm going to stalk this post because C has been doing the same thing!  It sounds painful, but she usually sleeps through it, so I've been just kind of letting it go...

**waiting for better advice to come along**

Mrs.Froggianna

Luke often does this at the end of a cold or when the mold count is way up. Dr C recommended rinsing him out with Little Noses saline (basically drops, not an actual sinus rinse) throughout the day and esp. before bed/naps. It seems to help. I also keep a sippy of water handy. If the coughing gets too bad I sit him up for a quick drink. He almost always falls right back asleep. Hope M is better soon!

Chandley

so i guess it just eventually goes away? it won't make her sick again or get worse by dripping wherever it drips will it? (that was worded weirdly i know...)

bluestreet

This has been a persistent problem for my eldest. Sometimes the night cough lasts up to 4 weeks. I've talked with her pediatricians about it, and apparently it's very common and can last as long as 6 weeks. Like pp said, postnasal drainage is the worst at night and when they first wake, so that's when the coughing happens.

In addition to giving your LO Del.sym, the best thing you can do is give her a cup of warm herbal tea (like strawberry, or peach from cel.estial sea.sons) with a bunch of honey melted in right before she goes to sleep, or if she can't go back to sleep in the middle of the night. The honey coats her throat. Also, prop her up on a couple of pillows to help the drainage and use a humidifier. But the tea with honey is the most important.

Mrs.Froggianna

We always let Luke's run it's course because it never has lasted that long (4 weeks?!?!).  Ditto Bluesstreet on the honey and humidifier.  Someone recommended giving Luke a little lemon/honey mixture before bed.  He happily took it, but it never did much for him.  It's worth a try though!