Listening to a toddler struggling with a persistent cough is enough to break any parent’s heart. This is particularly upsetting at night, as well as being disruptive. It can keep both parents and other children awake, leading to frazzled tempers the next day.
Our guide will help you understand why coughs can worsen at night, as well as gentle remedies to help relieve discomfort and aid recovery.
Understanding Why Toddlers Cough More at Night
Before you can treat a persistent overnight cough, it can be useful to understand what causes them to be worse at night in toddlers.
Physiological Reasons for Nighttime Cough
You are probably wondering why your toddler’s cough is always so persistent at night when it doesn’t seem so bad during the day. There are a number of reasons for this:
Gravity and Mucus Drainage
When they are lying down, toddlers are more likely to cough due to a nasal drip. This is the mucus being pulled down the throat by gravity, which triggers a cough.
Impact of Dry Air
During the cold months, we often have the heating on at night. This reduces the humidity in the air, which can make the air drier. Dry air can aggravate a cough more.
Circadian Rhythm
Your toddler’s circadian rhythm is their internal 24-hour clock. At night, it signals the immune cells to fight the infection, which can cause inflammation. It is this inflammation that causes symptoms to feel worse.
Reduced Cough Suppression
Just as in adults, toddlers are less likely to consciously control their coughs during the night. This can make them sound worse, especially to an anxious parent’s ear.
Common Triggers for Toddler Night Cough
As well as changes in the body, other factors can affect your toddler’s cough during the night.
Environment
Certain allergens in the home can make coughs worse at night, including pet hair, dust mites, and seasonal things such as pollen.
Asthma
If your toddler suffers from asthma, you may notice that they cough more at night. This is because the mucus can build up during the night, causing them to cough more often.
Seasons
Depending on the season, there may be other factors causing your toddler’s cough to worsen at night. During the winter, heating can dry the air, which can aggravate coughs. The same is true of air conditioning during the summer months, whereas spring and fall see allergens rise, such as pollen.
Safe and Effective Nighttime Cough Relief
Listening to your toddler cough all night will pull at any parent’s heartstrings. Choosing the right products and making changes to their environment can offer effective relief.
Homeopathic and Gentle Remedies
At Dr. Talbot’s, we believe in a nature-first approach when it comes to treating and caring for children. We offer a range of products to help soothe persistent nighttime coughs and colds without the use of alcohol, parabens, or dyes.
- Nighttime-Specific Relief: If your toddler is suffering particularly at night, Dr. Talbot’s Infant Night Time Cold + Mucus Relief will help ease symptoms. Suitable for children aged 6 months and above, it naturally offers temporary relief.
- General Cough Support: For a cough that troubles your toddler day and night, try Dr. Talbot’s Cough Relief. It offers round-the-clock support for children aged 2 years and older.
- Younger Children: For younger children, Dr. Talbot’s Infant Cough Relief is specially designed to be gentle enough for babies 6 months and older.
All of our cough and cold products are flavored using real fruit juice, and the easy dosing syringe ensures the safe amount every time. The homeopathic approach always puts safety first, and everything is made in our FDA GMP-registered facility.
Environmental Changes for Better Sleep
We often think about medication when trying to ease a toddler’s cough, but there are other changes you can make that can help offer comfort and relief. Changing their sleeping environment can have a big impact.
Use a Humidifier
If the heating or air conditioning is frequently on, consider using a humidifier. This will help put moisture back into the air, which can help some coughs. If you are using a humidifier, you should aim to maintain a humidity level of 40-50% for the most comfort.
Use an Air Purifier
Some toddlers are affected by the air quality and may be extra sensitive to dust mites and allergens. In these cases, they may benefit from the use of an air purifier with a HEPA filter. This will help remove these allergens and other unwanted particles, helping to ease their cough overnight.
Bedroom Positioning
Where you place furniture in your toddler’s room can make a big difference. Ideally, you want adequate ventilation. This can mean clearing space in front of any windows to allow air to circulate. Try to avoid any direct drafts onto your child.
Regular Cleaning
Having a cleaning routine can help minimize the presence of dust and allergens, allowing your child to sleep more soundly. If you have carpets, make sure they are cleaned frequently, as they can be responsible for high levels of dust.
Bedding
If your child is sensitive to dust and allergens, swap your bedding for ones that are hypoallergenic ones. These will help relieve symptoms.
Age-Appropriate Dosing and Administration
Safety is of the utmost importance when giving your toddler any form of medication. As their bodies are so much smaller, the margin of error is much lower than when dealing with adults.
When choosing a product, look for one that comes with clear measurement guidance and an easy-to-use dosing system. All Dr. Talbot’s cold and cough products come with an easy-dosing syringe system. The syringe comes printed with the dosage guide, which takes away the guesswork.
It is always important to check that the product you are buying is age-appropriate for your toddler. Some will be designed specifically for infants, while some will be only safe to give to older children.
Other Products to Consider
Treating your toddler’s cough can benefit from using complementary products, especially if they are natural. Some great ones to consider are:
- Cough Relief:Dr. Talbot’s Chamomile Night Time Soothing Tablets help offer comfort for persistent nighttime coughs using gentle chamomile.
- General comfort: Dr. Talbot’s Chamomile Tablets can be used both at night and during the day. They also offer relief from teething pain.
If you are at all unsure about which combinations are safe, consult your pediatrician before giving anything to your toddler.
Tips for Reluctant Toddlers
Once you have chosen the most suitable medication for your toddler, it can sometimes be a nightmare getting them to take it. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to make it easier:
Great Taste
Most of us can’t convince our toddlers to eat something if it tastes unusual. Instead, try to choose something that tastes great while still being safe and effective. All of Dr. Talbot’s products are flavored using real fruit juice, making them enjoyable for your toddler as well as effective.
Timing
Choosing when to give them medication can have a huge impact on how successful you are. Try to pick a time when your toddler is calm and relaxed. Many find that building it into the nighttime routine has the best results.
Use a Specialized Product
Some infants and toddlers just won’t accept a syringe. Instead, consider using Dr. Talbot’s Medicine Syringe and Pacifier Dispenser. This clever device allows you to accurately measure out the liquid, then feed it through a pacifier. The familiarity of a pacifier means it is more accepted.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Despite all our best efforts, sometimes we need to seek help from medical professionals. Some symptoms are so serious that emergency help is required:
Emergency Medical Help
If your child starts to have difficulty breathing or the color of their lips, face, or fingernails changes, you should seek help immediately. Signs of dehydration and a high fever accompanied by a persistent cough also need to be checked by a doctor.
Urgent Care Needs (Same Day)
If you find that your child’s cough is keeping them awake night after night, or the cough is worsening even with appropriate treatment, you should take them to be checked out. Signs of an ear infection or sinus complications should also be seen by a trained professional.
Chronic Coughs
Sometimes coughs just seem to go on and on, especially if they are disrupting everyone’s sleep. If your child has an ongoing cough that lasts more than two weeks, it needs to be evaluated by a professional.
You should also seek advice if your child seems to be affected at the same time every year. This can indicate allergies and may require different treatment.
Watching and listening to your toddler coughing all night is awful for any parent. Finding a safe yet effective solution can help ease their symptoms while still giving you peace of mind. As well as safe and naturally inspired products, like those offered by Dr. Talbots, there are also changes you can make around the home to help offer comfort and relief.
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