Coughing in babies and infants
Parenting is a wonderful but often challenging journey. Especially when your baby gets sick and has a cough, it's natural for moms and dads to quickly become concerned. With your first child in particular, you often feel a little unsure and wonder what the best course of action is. To be well prepared for such moments, it is helpful to be able to identify typical symptoms and know when it is advisable to see a doctor.
Even though parents feel particularly sorry for their little darlings, colds and coughs are completely normal in babies and children* and are usually harmless. There is a simple reason for this: the immune systems of babies and children have yet to fully mature. In other words, it is only when they are exposed to germs and pathogens that the little ones' defense mechanisms grow and gradually become complete. Once the little ones have caught something, coughing actually plays an important protective role for infants, babies, and children: it helps to clear the airways of mucus, dust, or other foreign bodies.
Coughs in babies* and children: home remedies and tips
Most respiratory diseases are caused by viruses, which unfortunately cannot be combated directly. To make your little one feel a little better, there are some simple home remedies and tips that can help relieve coughs and other symptoms, in addition to herbal cough medicines from the pharmacy. These can help support your baby's or child's body in fighting off unwanted intruders.:
- Drink plenty of fluids: It is important to drink enough fluids, as they not only thin the mucus in the nose and bronchial tubes, but also moisturize the mucous membranes. So it's twice as good!
- Get as much fresh air as possible: If your baby does not have a fever and the weather is not too unpleasant, it is advisable to wrap them up warmly and go outside regularly.
- Good humidity: To prevent the mucous membranes from drying out, the air in the room should be sufficiently humid. To achieve this, it may be sufficient to hang damp cloths near the crib – or place a ceramic bowl of water on the radiator.
- Remove mucus from the nose: The mucus can be carefully sucked out with a small nasal aspirator.
- Rest is essential: Fighting an infection is a huge effort for such a small body. Plenty of rest is therefore particularly important and helps with recovery.
- Give love: The best medicine for any child is affection and love. When they are ill, it is important to spend extra time with your baby, to show them affection and make them feel that they are always being cared for.
Medicine cabinet for babies and children
Most childhood illnesses are no cause for concern – and with a well-stocked medicine cabinet suitable for babies and children, you will be well prepared if your little ones do show signs of illness.
Coughs in babies and children: when is it necessary to see a doctor?
Babies and infants in particular are not yet able to tell you how they are feeling. Therefore, it is always necessary to consult a doctor for infants under one year of age. In addition, a visit to the doctor is always advisable for coughs if
- breathing difficulties occur,
- the cough is accompanied by fever or a barking/wheezing sound when breathing,
- the cough is painful and/or lasts for a particularly long time.
In general, parents know their little ones best. However, if you are unsure, it is better to visit the doctor once too often to clarify the cause of the cough.
*Consult your doctor for infants under one year of age.
