Any kind of medical complication in a baby can cause a significant alarm no matter how common the problem is. This is mainly because the baby’s defense mechanism is still at an extremely immature stage – thereby increasing the likelihood of the condition rising to more serious levels. The factors that cause a cough in babies are the same as those that cause the condition to develop in an adult human body. The acute variants of the condition are more often than not caused by a common viral upper respiratory tract infection that will also lead to a significant amount of postnasal drip. A cough could also be no more than simply the presence of a blockage in the body’s airways, involuntarily causing the brain to use the power of a cough to dislodge the object. Coughing can be easily categorized into two main versions – a dry cough and a wet, chesty cough. The difference is very apparent, as the dry cough will not feature any postnasal drip or chest congestion, while the chesty cough variant will feature a tremendous amount of phlegm or mucous buildup in the lungs. It is also possible for the cough to be a symptom of some other medical condition such as a cold or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD. COPD will also feature other symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing as well as a change in the color of your mucous.
While the easiest option when it comes to treating your baby’s condition may be to go out to the nearest medical store and pick up a cough syrup, this may not be the most effective option, as surveys that were recently carried out show that these syrups do more harm than good. Instead, try using some of the treatment remedies that have proven to be quite successful down the years. You should make it a point to bathe your baby with hot water that has some amount of thyme, sage or eucalyptus oil mixed into it. The rising vapors of these additions will help open up the choked lung airways, making it easier to breathe. Giving your baby a warm massage with the help of some essential oils, and gently rubbing the chest will also help relieve any painful chest muscles. After applying the oils on the chest and back, wrap the baby in a small blanket to restrict the dispersion of heat from the body.
answered by G M