Can I give anything for a cough?

Any tips for helping babies with a cough?

Ethan (5 months) is coughing like a 20-a-day smoker.  Last night it was making him gag and vomit up all his bottles.  Is there anything I can give to help?

Not really, cough medicines don't really work.

Steam is always good, and keeping the room moist. Sit with him in the bathroom with the shower going for a while, and have bowls of water on the radiator.

Coughs last forever in babies, it's horrible for them

However, if he is sounding a bit rattly with it, do take him to the GP. <bad mummy>I'm a bit laissez-faire about these things </bad mummy>and left Max coughing for ages once, before finally taking him and he had pneumonia...

Second the suggestion for steam. Although we find putting the veg steamer in their room works much better than the bathroom (and doesn't waste so much water!). It lasts about an hour and really helps x

Thanks - I'll try the steam.  I did pop him to the GP as he was very rattly - I hate chancing the on-call service as they are totally hopeless!!  Chest is all clear, just tons of snot.  I guess we have to ride it out, and prepare for the fact that we'll all be ill by Christmas day

saline drops help thin the snot but beware when we do this for eleanor or give her a saline nebuliser it does usually result in a big snotty puke everywhere.  She's usually much brighter afterwards though.

When they're asleep raising the head end of the cot can also help.