Coughing in infants: Natural remedies

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Extract from the article: Coughs are common in infants. Whether it is dry, oily or persistent, coughs are often benign but annoying on a daily basis. Here are some natural remedies to treat it more quickly.

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Coughs are common in infants. Whether it is dry, oily or persistent, coughs are often benign but annoying on a daily basis. Here are some natural remedies to treat it more quickly.

There are often two types of cough in infants, as in adults: wet cough and dry cough. A wet cough is a natural function that ejects mucus from the respiratory tract when it is congested. It is the most common in babies. Dry cough is a more worrying irritant cough, as it can cause persistent fatigue in infants. How to treat a coughing baby naturally?

The sitting position

There are several reflexes that can help the baby to relieve the cough. In many cases, the cough is caused by a cold. The baby's runny nose will therefore need to be treated. When the baby is coughing, the first thing to do is to clean his nose regularly, as it is the secretions that go down the bronchial tubes that will promote the cough. In order to help your child decongest his bronchial tubes, you can put him in a sitting position during the day, under supervision, which often helps to relieve him.

Recommended herbal teas

Honey can be used as it has therapeutic powers. It is a powerful antiseptic that will disinfect the infant's nasal passages. Add a teaspoon of honey to a bottle of lukewarm water and give it to him. You can add a little lemon juice.  Ideally, the infusion should be given when it is as cool as possible.

Using onions

Onions can be an excellent ally in helping children relieve their untimely coughs. Onions are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious properties. It will also promote sputum, which will help the baby to be relieved from coughing. Often difficult to administer because of its strong odour, it is possible to make your own onion-based syrup. To do this, an onion must be chopped very finely and then mixed with honey. After leaving it to stand for about 12 hours, the resulting liquid will form the cough syrup. A quarter of an onion can be placed under the baby's bed so that the fumes can be drawn up to the nose to relieve congestion.

Massaging the baby's foot

This practice consists of manipulating different areas of the child's feet, which will soothe and relieve him. On each foot, massage the bulging area under the toes at the metatarsal. These areas are called "reflex points" and correspond to the lung area of the feet. This helps to relieve a coughing fit. It can be done during the day but is recommended before bedtime. If the baby coughs all day and cannot sleep well at night, consult a doctor, especially a paediatrician, without hesitation.

Raymond DZAKPATA