What do you do when your child is plugged up (nose) and coughing? We are dealing with this right now in our almost 9 yr. old. It seems worse at night. I'm trying to decide if I should put a steamer or something in there for him.

Janell

Steam humidifiers work great, though when I did use them I remember my wall border peeling off a little, oh well.

Anyway my kids swear by the tub, clogged up, tub, coughing, tub, sore tub, headache, tub well you get the picture. Haven't used a humidifier in years, I think there are cool mist ones now too, not sure of the benefit there though. Sorry I couldn't have been more help. Prayers you son is well soon.

The cool mist humidifiers are supposed to be healthier...as the warm mist ones are like the "prime" environment for nasties. So, 'they' suggest the cool ones now over the warm vaporizers (as they're commonly called).

Plugged up and coughing...
Showers are nice. A bath in that baby vapor bath stuff...just remember not TOO many bubbles and don't sit there TOO long..bubbles can lend to infections in nasty places ;)
The vapor rub...great great stuff! And so cheap. It's *the* way to go, really. Just apply liberally and let the kid just relax...put it on at bedtime with no or a loose shirt..let those vapors flow freely from the chest up to the nose.

Gypsy cold care tea. Tastes good. Really. My kids love it, sweeten with a touch of honey. Good immune system boosting herbs in there. And there's also licorice root which is good for sore throats..coats and heals.

In addition to that, boost the vitamin C to help kick the cold, get that immune system geared up! :) You can get vitamin c tablets for $3, they're small, a 9 yr old should be able to swallow it without a problem. If not, no biggy, up until this year my now 6 yr old would crunch them LOL Not like a chewable, but, a quick crunch or two then swallow.

There's an over-the-counter cough medicine called Delsym that works well for kids as well as for adults. Also taking a coughing child outside in the cool evening air for just a few minutes will also help stop the coughing. The cool air allows them to catch their breath. Triaminic has a long lasting cough medicine that helps when the cough is mild.

Tara, where can I find this Gypsy cold care tea? I've never heard of it... I might need to look into it someday...

Sorry to hyjack your thread, Janell! I hope your kiddo feels better soon!!

Becca..I've gotten it at the local health food store. Since it's a real herbal tea, I don't think it'd be too common at WalMart and the like. I've never found it at one anyway.

I got the cool mist humidifier out and set it up in his room. We turned it on about an hour before bed and let it run with the door closed so it got a head start before he went to bed. I think he slept better. He acts fine and I think he doesn't sound as plugged up today but he still has the cough which is worse in the evening.

Janell

I highly recommend guaifenesin( it will be listed on active ingredient list. Mucinex is all guaifenesin) during the day to loosen chest congestion and plugged up areas in the lungs. At night the Delsym works to help them sleep but it suppresses cough which you do not want during the day. As always dosage should be run by the doctor if the child doesn't fit the age instructions on the bottle. A humidifier is a great way to loosen secretions. Also lots of water by mouth!