Home remedies for cough in babies

Believe it or not, breastfeeding your baby when he or she has a cough can actually speed up the recovery process. Breastfeeding is anyways a soothing process for babies, but that’s not the whole reason why you should continue to breastfeed your baby when they have a cough. 

Breast milk contains antibodies, white blood cells, stem cells and protective enzymes—all of which your newborn lacks, especially against the hundreds of strains of the common cold. It’s also likely that the mother has previously come across the same strain of the cold virus and has ample antibodies for it to pass on through breast milk. In such a case, the breast milk composition also changes to supply an increased amount of leukocytes (white blood cells) to the baby. The other nutrients in breast milk also play a huge role in helping the recovery process of the baby along.

It’s important to note that if your baby has a cold and nasal congestion (blocked nose) due to it, breastfeeding can be difficult. He or she might come up for breath often or get fussy when not able to feed properly. Get ready for shorter and more frequent feeds if your baby has a cough. Feeding the baby in an upright position (for example, in a koala hold) is recommended in such a case. You may also want to use other methods to clear out the congestion to make breastfeeding easier.

A cough can cause an accumulation of mucus in the lungs and dry out the baby’s respiratory tracts. Moisture and humidity can help loosen the mucus and ease the coughing and the congestion. However, hot steam or humidity is not ideal for young children and babies.

Cold-air or cold-mist humidifiers are better suited for the needs of your baby when he or she has a cough. Invest in a good humidifier when you have a newborn in the house because you will need it every time your baby develops a cough or cold. 

Put distilled or clean water in the humidifier and run it in the room where the baby spends most of his or her time. If you don’t have a humidifier, run a hot shower in the bathroom and let the steam build up properly. Sit in the steamy bathroom with the baby for a few minutes to relieve the congestion.

A cough often also causes mild body ache, and massaging the baby with a good oil can both loosen the mucus and alleviate muscle stiffness and pain. Almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil and mustard oil are all equally effective for this but do consult your doctor before using mustard oil.

This is because refined oil is best for your direct application on your baby’s skin and less likely to cause skin reactions or rashes, and mustard oil is often available in kacchi ghani or unrefined states. If your doctor approves the use of refined mustard oil, then you can also heat it with a few cloves of garlic and carom seeds, cool it down completely, and then massage your baby’s chest with it.

Honey should never be given to babies below 12 months of age at any cost, because it can cause botulism. Caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, the risk of this rare but fatal condition is much higher in babies below the age of one year.

However, if your baby is more than 12 months old, you can consult your doctor and give the baby honey as a home remedy for cough. Honey has antibacterial and antiviral properties, and soothes the throat as well. A spoonful of honey may be difficult for the baby to swallow, in which case you can mix it with a glass of warm water and half a teaspoon of lemon juice, and then feed it to the baby. This will also rehydrate the baby, which is another necessity during a cough.

Read more: Honey water benefits and side effects

Staying properly hydrated during a common cold or cough is as important for babies as it is for adults. If your baby is less than six months old and neither water nor milk has been introduced to their diet, then stick to breast milk for fluids. 

If your baby can consume water and milk, then offer him or her both freely when he or she has a cough. If your baby is over 18 months old, then warm but clear soups and broths can also be given to increase the intake of fluids. You can also make turmeric milk or turmeric water, sweeten it with jaggery and feed it to your baby to relieve the symptoms of cough.

While babies below the age of 18 months should not sleep on or with pillows, if your baby is older, then you can easily try this method after consulting your paediatrician:

• Raise the baby’s head with a couple of pillows when he or she sleeps. This can help the mucus loosen and shift, and relieve the cough faster.
• If your baby is a fidgety sleeper, you can also elevate the side of the mattress where his or her head rests at night.