When children have a persistent cough at night, it can be due to several reasons. Sometimes it's a common cold that just won't go away, sometimes it's more serious conditions like allergies or asthma. So what can parents do to help ease their child's persistent cough at night, and when is it time to seek medical help?

The most common cause of coughing at night is that the child has an ongoing infection in the body in the form of a cold. Younger children get infections and colds easily and it is very common for this to result in a prolonged cough. In most cases, it is nothing to worry about. 

Read also: Considerations for coughing in young children

Coughing is the body's way of preventing bacteria that don't belong in the airways from getting down! It's obviously a nuisance, especially for your child, but also for you as a parent. However, there are some tricks you can try to relieve the cough.

3 tips to relieve prolonged coughing at night

• Try both raising the head end up using pillows (it helps the child to cough)
• Open the window to ventilate the room where your child is sleeping. The cool air often helps to reduce the swelling of the mucous membranes
• Try to make sure your child gets enough fluids, which can help dissolve mucus and thus relieve symptoms

If the cough lasts for a long time, it could be a sign of some type of allergy or asthma, so it is important to contact your health care provider if the symptoms persist for more than four weeks. Dust, pets and mold can be triggers, so try to keep your bedroom as clean as possible!

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