What to do if a two-year-old baby has phlegm but can't cough it up

What to do if a two-year-old baby has phlegm but can't cough it up

A two-year-old baby will cough up phlegm because of a cold or respiratory infection. If the phlegm cannot be coughed out, the baby will feel very uncomfortable. At this time, parents must take some measures to make the baby's phlegm cough out as soon as possible, such as patting, drinking water, etc., which can promote the coughing of phlegm. Let's take a look at what to do if a two-year-old baby cannot cough up phlegm?

1. Phlegm-slapping method

(1) When a child is coughing, parents can let the child lie on his side during the pause in coughing, or pick up the child and let the child lie on his side.

(2) Parents can make a fist with one hand and gently pat the child’s chest, sides and back. Let the child lie on his left side while patting the left chest, alternating between the left and right sides.

(3) Do not use too much force when patting, and follow the order from top to bottom and from outside to inside. It is recommended to massage each side for 3 to 5 minutes each time, 2 to 3 times a day.

TIP: After patting, the phlegm accumulated in the child's lungs and bronchi will flow out through the trachea, and the blood circulation in the heart and lungs will become smoother, which can relieve bronchial inflammation and the child will be able to recover as soon as possible.

2. Keep warm

Since children do not have strong immunity, they are more likely to catch a cold than adults and are more susceptible to respiratory diseases such as bronchitis. Therefore, parents should always pay attention to keeping their children warm and not let them be affected by the cold.

3. Drinking water method

If a child coughs often, a lot of invisible water will be lost, causing dehydration in the trachea, which will lead to worsening of respiratory inflammation. Lack of water can also cause secretions to become thicker, making it more difficult to cough up phlegm. Therefore, children need to drink more water, preferably boiled water at a temperature of about 23 degrees Celsius, which can moisturize the child's throat and have the effect of physical treatment of the disease.

Boiled water can dilute the originally thick secretions, help to cough up phlegm smoothly, relieve children's cough symptoms, promote the clearing of phlegm in the throat, and relieve local inflammation. In addition, drinking boiled water can promote blood circulation. The waste and toxins produced by metabolism can be excreted through urine, and the irritation to the respiratory tract will also be reduced.

4. Indoor ventilation

The windows in the house need to be opened frequently to ventilate the room so that children can breathe fresh air at any time. The temperature should be kept between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, but children should never be exposed to cold wind. The relative humidity should be kept between 60% and 65%, and the humidity can be increased by mopping the floor. This will prevent the respiratory mucosa from drying out, and the cilia on the surface of the mucosa will continue to vibrate to help sputum be discharged smoothly.

5. Steam method

You can pour boiling water into a teacup or a large-caliber pot, hold your child up, and let your child breathe in and out through his mouth and nose facing the rising hot air. Doing so can dilute the phlegm in the child's throat, relieve the congestion and discomfort on the tracheal and bronchial mucosa, help eliminate edema and suppress coughing. But be careful to avoid burns.

6. Drug Law

Do not give your child any cough medicine at will, because some medicines will inhibit the child's cough center, causing the phlegm in the child's throat to be unable to be discharged smoothly. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor before giving medication to your child. Parents can make their own Sichuan Fritillary Bulbs stewed with pears and let their children drink the soup and eat the pears, which can also help reduce phlegm and relieve coughs.