There are many reasons you might hear your baby coughing in their sleep. In some cases, coughing can be a common occurrence for babies. But that doesn’t make it any less worrisome for parents.
Sometimes coughs are nothing to worry about — your little one may have swallowed wrong or they may have a small tickle in their throat. Other times, though, a cough may be an indicator that something else is wrong and it’s time to see a doctor.
In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about baby coughing in sleep — why it happens and how to help — so you both can rest easy at night.
Table Of Contents
- Why Your Baby Is Coughing In Their Sleep
- How To Keep Your Baby From Coughing In Their Sleep
- When To Visit A Doctor
Why Your Baby Is Coughing In Their Sleep
Dry Air
Nighttime coughing in babies can be caused by something as simple as dry air in your little one’s environment. Air that contains low levels of moisture can dry out your baby’s throat and lead to coughing — especially at night.
Thankfully, dry air is easy to remedy and doesn’t require a trip to the doctor’s office.
Try running a humidifier in your baby’s room at night to add moisture to the air and prevent a cough from developing. We’ll discuss this solution in more detail later on.
Allergies
Allergies are another common cause of babies coughing in their sleep. Depending on the season and the environment, triggers may include:
- Pollen
- Animal dander
- Mold
- Food
A good way to tell if your baby’s cough is caused by allergies is to follow the advice of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and look for accompanying symptoms, such as:
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Red eyes
- Itchy nose
- Sneezing
If you notice your little one coughing during sleep as well as one or several of these other symptoms, talk to your doctor about the possibility that your little one may be allergic to something.
Illness
Your baby might also cough in their sleep if they’ve caught an illness of some type, such as:
- A cold
- A respiratory bug
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- The flu
But, how will you know if the cough is a symptom of one of those or just a result of allergies or dry air?
If the cough is accompanied by specific symptoms — a stuffy nose, a fever, or both — talk to a health professional as soon as possible. They’ll be able to provide guidance to get your baby feeling better again.
Airborne Irritants
Another common cause of baby coughing is airborne irritants such as dust, tobacco smoke, vapor, strong odors, and air pollution.
Dust
Dust is one of the most common causes of baby coughing because the airborne irritant can be found pretty much everywhere. The dust may be of the regular household variety, or it could be the type that’s stirred up by construction or farming activities in your area.
One of the best things you can do when it comes to dust is to keep your baby’s environment as clean and dust-free as possible.
Smoke/Vapor
Even if someone only smokes or vapes outside, the chemicals from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and vaporizers may still end up on their hands, clothes, and hair.
These chemicals can spread through the air and into your baby’s nose, where they can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and even illness.
To help keep your baby from developing these issues, limit (or eliminate) smoke and vapor from their environment as soon as possible.
Strong Odors
Sometimes, even strong odors can cause your baby to cough in their sleep.
Heavy perfumes are a major culprit, but other odors like household cleaners, air fresheners, scented soaps, and scented detergents can irritate your little one’s nasal passages and lead to coughing.
If you suspect that an odor may be giving your baby a stuffy nose, stop using heavily scented products for a while to see if that helps the condition clear up.
Air Pollution
If you live in or near a big city, air pollution may be the cause of your baby’s coughing.
If you suspect this type of nasal and airway irritation, consider investing in an air purifier for your home and talk to your doctor about other steps you can take.
Postnasal Drip
Postnasal drip is a condition in which snot drips down the back of the throat from the nose, irritates the airway, and triggers a cough — especially when your little one is lying on their back (during naps or at night).
In addition to coughing, a baby with postnasal drip may also develop a runny or stuffy nose and a sore throat.
These symptoms are typically caused by a larger issue such as allergies, illness, or airborne irritants.
Croup
Croup is a respiratory illness that causes swelling of the airways around your little one’s vocal cords and can lead to a barking cough that often worsens at night.
Because your baby’s body is reacting to an infection, they may also develop hoarseness, fever, and difficulty breathing.
If you see these symptoms or suspect that your baby’s cough may develop into croup, visit your doctor or pediatrician as soon as possible.
How To Keep Your Baby From Coughing In Their Sleep
1) Nasal Suction
Nasal suction is one of the most effective ways to clear your baby’s nasal passages and prevent and relieve the symptoms associated with coughing.
Our NozeBot is a great tool to help with this and can be far more efficient and effective than a nasal bulb.
The process is simple:
- Place your index and middle fingers into the finger grip of the nosepiece
- Allow the tubing to drape over the back of your hand
- Turn on the device
- Choose your level of suction (we recommend always starting on low)
- Gently place the nozzle into your baby’s left nostril
- Switch the nozzle to your baby’s right nostril
That’s it. Your baby can breathe easy again!
For more tips and tricks, check out this article from the Dr. Noze Best blog: How to Introduce the NozeBot to Your Baby.
2) Warm Bath
Another way to help your baby if they’re coughing in their sleep is to give them a warm bath before bed.
The heat and humidity from the water can open their airways and make breathing easier. This, in turn, may reduce or eliminate the conditions that lead to coughing.
If you don’t want to get your baby wet, consider running hot water, closing the bathroom door, and sitting with them in the warm, humid environment.
3) Age-Appropriate Fluids
Want to give your baby the best chance to fight off the coughing that happens at night? Keep them hydrated by offering plenty of age-appropriate fluids.
For newborns under six months, this means formula or breast milk (unless your healthcare provider advises differently). For older babies, this means water and other fluids.
If you have questions about what constitutes “age-appropriate fluids” for your little one, talk to a doctor, pediatrician, or other medical professional.
4) Cool Mist Humidifier
Your little one’s airways are small and delicate, so dry air may cause the type of irritation that can quickly lead to coughing.
To prevent your child’s airways from drying out at night, try running a cool mist humidifier in their bedroom to raise the moisture level.
If you choose to try this solution, use these tips to get the humidity just right:
- Maintain humidity between 30% and 50%
- Use distilled water
- Clean the humidifier regularly
- Consider placing a hygrometer in your baby’s room
Keep in mind that humidity above 60% can make it feel hotter than what the thermostat says and can lead to mold, mildew, and dust mites, triggering an allergic reaction in some children.
When To Visit A Doctor
While most cases of babies coughing in their sleep will clear up on their own (or with a little help from the suggestions mentioned earlier in this article), there are some instances when you should reach out to a medical professional for help.
If your baby has difficulty breathing, develops a fever, or something just feels off to you, visit a doctor or pediatrician right away.
The cough may be nothing or just from dry air, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
A Good Night’s Sleep For All
If you hear your baby coughing in their sleep, don’t panic. It may be nothing to worry about.
Check in on them periodically after discovering the issue and then try one of the suggestions in this article. If they aren’t getting better or they develop other symptoms in addition to the coughing, consider consulting with a doctor to see if medication might be appropriate.
And, remember, a healthy baby is a happy baby! So, to prevent coughing during sleep from becoming a bigger or chronic issue:
- Keep your little one’s environment clean
- Limit their exposure to tobacco smoke and vapor
- Consider running an air purifier to reduce air pollution
- Eliminate strong odors
Follow these tips and use the Dr. Noze Best NozeBot when stuffy noses strike, and you and your little one will enjoy a good night’s sleep in no time!
Want more information? Try these articles:
- 5 Natural Cough Solutions For Little Ones
- Is It RSV, Flu, COVID-19, Or A Cold?
- 8 Natural Cold Remedy Myths Debunked
- Chronic Congestion Vs. A Stuffy Nose
- Kids And Respiratory Bugs: When To Worry
The Nozebot is a battery-powered suction device designed to clear nasal congestion in babies and children.
