Baby getting sick is more painful for parents than for the baby. What should parents do if the baby has a nighttime cough and can't sleep? Traditional Chinese medicine often says that children have a "pure yang body" and tend to have a hot constitution, which can lead to symptoms of lung heat and stomach heat. So what is the cause of a baby's nighttime cough?
What is the cause of a baby's nighttime cough?
1. External environment
Closed doors and windows, stagnant air, and other external environmental factors can cause nighttime cough in children.
2. Changes in indoor temperature
Nighttime cough in children may be caused by changes in indoor temperature. It is recommended not to use air conditioning when sleeping at night. If air conditioning is needed, it can be used for a period of time before going to bed, but not continuously.
3. Inflammation in the throat
Inflammation in the throat can cause dryness and discomfort, irritating the respiratory mucosa and causing severe nighttime cough, which affects normal sleep.
4. Improper sleeping posture
An improper sleeping posture in children can cause obstruction in the bronchi and lungs, leading to nighttime cough. If you notice signs such as teary eyes and breath-holding while the baby is sleeping, be cautious.
Nighttime cough dietary therapy for babies
1. Boiled radish water
Wash a white radish, cut it into thin slices, and put it in a pot. Add an appropriate amount of water and boil it. After boiling, simmer for 5 minutes. Let the radish water cool down and give it to the child. This method is effective for dry nose and throat, dry cough, and heat cough, especially for children under 2 years old.
2. Steamed garlic water
Smash two or three cloves of garlic and put them in a bowl. Add rock sugar and half a bowl of water. Cover the bowl and steam it in a pot. After boiling, simmer for 15 minutes. When the garlic water in the bowl becomes warm, let the child drink it. The garlic can be discarded. Usually, drink two to three times a day, half a bowl each time.
3. Snow pear with Fritillaria and rock sugar
Cut a snow pear in half at the stem end, remove the core, and stuff it with rock sugar and Fritillaria. Put the snow pear back together and place it in a bowl. Steam it in a pot for half an hour, then let the child eat it in two servings.
4. Roasted orange
Roast an orange over low heat, constantly turning it, until the peel turns black and hot air comes out from the orange. Let the orange cool slightly, peel it, and let the child eat the segments. If it is a large orange, let the child eat two or three segments at a time; if it is a small mandarin orange, let the child eat one segment at a time. It works better when eaten with steamed garlic water, two to three times a day.
Precautions for baby's cough
1. Drink plenty of water
Make sure the child drinks plenty of water, as it can effectively help dilute phlegm.
2. Observation
Different types of phlegm have different characteristics. Some phlegm is clear, while others are more sticky. The treatment varies depending on the specific situation of the child. Generally, clear phlegm is associated with symptoms of wind-cold cold, while yellow phlegm is associated with phlegm-fire in the lungs.
3. Targeted medication
For children with clear phlegm, mothers can use herbal medicines such as Musutang to nourish the child. For children with yellow phlegm, mothers can use cooling herbs under the guidance of a doctor, along with expectorant medications to treat the condition.
If the child still has phlegm in the throat after a cold and cough, it indicates that the respiratory inflammation is not completely under control. At this time, it is appropriate to take some expectorant medicines such as Musutang and Bihuping. However, avoid consuming herbal medicines with astringent properties, such as rock sugar, as they may worsen the condition.
