8 Things to Do When Your Child Has a Persistent Cough

There’s nothing quite like the joy of watching your child play, giggle, and make a mess during mealtime. But what happens when that happy moment is interrupted by a sudden cough? A child’s persistent cough can be startling, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing it. Is it just a harmless reaction to food or a sign of something more serious, like a cold, allergies, or even an infection?  

Fortunately, while a cough doesn’t disappear overnight, there are ways to help your child feel better. Here are some tips to help you manage their persistent cough. Moreover, find out how Ambroxol HCl (Expel®) can be helpful.

1. Keep them  Hydrated
   One of the simplest ways to help ease your child’s cough is to keep them well-hydrated. Water helps thin out mucus, making it easier to clear from the throat and lungs. It also soothes a dry, scratchy throat that often comes with persistent coughing. Offer small sips throughout the day—warm or room temperature, depending on what your child prefers.
    
2. Elevate Their Pillows
   A persistent cough at night can be especially tough for little ones. One simple trick that may help is gently elevating your child’s head while they sleep. Propping up their head with a small pillow or adjusting the mattress angle slightly can help prevent mucus from pooling in the throat, which often triggers coughing. Just make sure it’s done safely and comfortably, depending on your child’s age and sleep habits.
    
3. Avoid Cough Triggers
   Sometimes, a cough isn’t just from a cold. It can be made worse by environmental triggers that sneak into your child’s daily routine. Strong scents like perfume or cleaning products, household dust, pet dander, and even sudden changes in temperature (like going from a warm room to cold air) can all irritate the airways and lead to more coughing.
    
4. Get Fresh Air Breaks
   If the weather is fine and your child is feeling up to it, a short walk or even some time sitting outdoors can give their lungs a break from indoor irritants like dust or dry air. Just avoid going out if the air is too cold, polluted, or filled with allergens like pollen.  Sometimes, a little change of scenery can go a long way. 
    
5. Give Them More Nap Time
   It’s not just about getting through the night; extra rest during the day is just as important in helping your kids recover. Naps give their bodies the time they need to help their immune system fight off whatever’s causing the cough. Even short catnaps can make a big difference in their mood and healing.
    
6. Check Their Outfits
   Kids may not always notice when they're cold, but a sudden drop in temperature can easily irritate airways. Keep them bundled in breathable, comfortable layers, especially during cooler nights or if they’re stepping outside. Avoid overdressing though, as sweating can also make them uncomfortable and fussy. 
    
7. Cut Their Screen Time
   Phone and tablet screens can stimulate the brain and make it harder for kids to wind down, especially when they’re already uncomfortable from coughing. Before naps or bedtime, swap cartoons or mobile games for quiet play, storytelling, or soft music. This helps prepare their body for restful sleep, which is key to recovery. Even a tech timeout during the day can calm them and ease symptoms.
    
8. Consider Mucolytics
   You know your child best.  If something feels off, don’t hesitate to seek help. If the cough is lasting longer than usual, comes with a fever, wheezing, or trouble breathing, it’s time to check in with your pediatrician. They’ll guide you on whether it’s just a lingering cold or something that needs more attention. In some cases, they may advise you to give your child a mucolytic. 
   
   Mucolytics are medicines that thin and break down mucus in your airways. By making the mucus less thick and sticky, they help you cough it up and clear it more easily from your lungs and breathing passages.

A Little Help in Every Spoonful
Looking for a mucolytic for your little ones’ persistent cough? Consider the Most Pedia-Prescribed Branded Ambroxol, Ambroxol HCl (Expel®)! 

Ambroxol HCl (Expel®) is  excellent in expelling phlegm. It is used for the relief of cough secondary to acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, accompanied by excessive lung secretions such as chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.

It contains ambroxol, which helps break down mucus, resulting in the production of less thick and less sticky mucus or phlegm. Ambroxol also aids in improving mucociliary clearance (mucus flow and transport), making phlegm easier to cough up and expel. 

Excellent in Taste
Additionally,  Ambroxol HCl (Expel®) Syrup is formulated with TasteRite technology, giving it a kid-friendly, yummy orange flavor that’s easier for little ones to take. Moreover, you can find Ambroxol HCl (Expel®) Syrup online or at leading drugstores nationwide.

Suggested Usage
Ambroxol HCl (Expel®) should be taken orally (by mouth), as recommended by the doctor.

Babies 6 months and younger:

• 0.5 mL of the 6 mg/mL oral drops every 12 hours

Babies 7 to 12 months old:

• 1 mL of the 6 mg/mL oral drops every 12 hours

Toddlers 1 to 2 years old:

• 1.25 mL of the 6 mg/mL oral drops or 2.5 mL or half a teaspoon of the 15 mg/5 mL syrup, every 12 hours

Children 3 to 6 years old:

• 2.5 mL half a teaspoon of the cough syrup every 8 hours

Kids 7 to 12 years old:

• 5 mL (1 teaspoon) of the cough syrup every 8 to 12 hours

If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.

Source: PMDI, IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC., reprinted with permission. Prescription data of brands under: AMBROXOL in 0 – 19 Years in Branded and Originator among PEDIATRICIANS covering period: January 2024-December 2024
 

References:

Home Remedies for Cough in Kids – Children's Health
Cough (Nursing) - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
Can Allergies Make Kids Cough? What Parents Need to Know (2025) | Wyndly
What does my child’s cough mean? - CHOC - Children's health hub
Child's illness and a walk: is it possible to go outside with bronchitis? - ePositive Feedback
Natural Remedies for Soothing Your Child's Cough
Sleeping When Sick: Purpose and Benefits
Physiology of Sleep - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
Ask the Pediatrician: What can I do at home to make my child more comfortable when they are sick? | Valley Children's Healthcare
Screen time & sleep: children & teens | Raising Children Network
Mucolytic Medications - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

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