What should you know about infant cough?

Coughing helps clear mucus or an irritant from the nose and airways. A blocked nose may make a baby cough during feeds, while milk coming back up can irritate the throat. A viral illness such as a common cold or bronchiolitis may bring a runny nose, noisy breathing, fever, or reduced energy. Asthma and other airway conditions can also cause recurring cough or wheeze. A cough alone cannot identify its cause.

Keep your baby upright while awake and offer usual breast or formula feeds more often if large feeds are difficult. Clear visible nasal mucus gently with saline as advised by a clinician. Keep smoke, incense, strong fragrances, and aerosol sprays away from the baby. Do not give honey to a baby under twelve months, and do not use over-the-counter cough medicines unless a clinician specifically recommends them. Note the cough pattern, temperature, wet nappies, and feeding so you can describe changes accurately.

Seek urgent help if your baby is struggling to breathe, has pauses in breathing, turns blue or grey around the lips, is unusually difficult to wake, or cannot feed because of breathlessness. Arrange prompt medical assessment for a very young baby with fever, repeated vomiting, markedly fewer wet nappies, worsening cough, or a cough after choking. A clinician may listen to the chest and check oxygen levels, hydration, and feeding.

Ask what symptoms suggest bronchiolitis or another chest infection, whether the feeding plan needs adjustment, and how to monitor breathing at home. Also ask how long to expect the cough to last and when a recurring cough should be assessed for asthma, reflux, or another cause.