No parent wants to watch their child struggling with a cough. It’s heartbreaking to see your little one barely manage to get through the day due to a bad coughing episode and while it can make you feel very helpless, there are some things you can do to help ease their suffering.
Cough medicine for kids is a very safe, effective, and accessible way to help relieve your kids of that incessant cough; however, if you’re like any other parent, you should know that not any cough medicine will do. When it comes to our kids, the only acceptably option is the best cough medicine for kids. How exactly can you tell if you’ve got the best there is? Read on to find out.
Top 10 Cough Medicines for Kids Chart
Main Considerations Parents Should Make When Buying Cough Medicine for Kids
The reason why there are lots of different cough medicine formulas on the market is because not everyone responds well to the same formulation. With that in mind, it’s important to consider these factors to better understand which option will prove to be the best cough medicine for kids in your home.
- The Cause. The first thing you should remember when buying cough medicine for your kids is that the cough itself is merely a symptom of an underlying condition. Consider this – does your child have the common cold, a case of the flu, or are they experiencing an allergic reaction?
Because cough medicine can only target to suppress a cough temporarily, targeting the underlying root of the symptom with the appropriate corresponding medicine will help ensure that the cough is relieved for good.
- Multi-Symptom Relief. Are you simply hoping to relieve a nasty cough your child has developed? A plain and simple cough medicine should be more than enough to ease your worries and your kid’s troubles.
However, if you suspect that the cough was triggered by a cold, an allergic reaction, or something else entirely, there are lots of multi-symptom relief formulas that aim to target both the cough and whatever symptoms it may come with. This will help you guarantee holistic relief for your child against all the symptoms they might be experiencing.
- Side Effects. Cough syrups are popular for their ability to put a person to sleep because most of the active ingredients cause significant drowsiness. This is a side effect of the suppressant’s mechanism at is relaxes muscles to inhibit the coughing reflex.
If you give your child cough medicine and require that he or she stay awake, it would be much better to choose a non-drowsy formula. However, as a general rule, allowing your child to sleep after a dosage will help speed up the recovery process.
- Suppressant Versus Expectorant. There are two main types of cough medicines, and these are suppressants and expectorants. While some medicines can have both functions incorporated into one formula, there are many others that just perform one of these two.
Suppressants are for people who experience non-productive cough or dry cough. This simply soothes the muscles to relax the throat and inhibit the coughing reflex. Expectorants on the other hand are for kids experiencing productive cough, or cough with mucus. The formula loosens the mucus in the airways so that the child can expectorate the mucus easier with each cough.
It’s not advisable to give a child with dry cough an expectorant because it will cause even less mucus production, which can cause bruising. In the same way, a suppressant for a productive cough will inhibit the cough reflex and make it difficult for the child to expectorate.
Top 3 Best Cough Medicine for Kids Reviews
1. Kids Relief Homeolab Cough and Cold Night
For many parents, the best cough medicine for kids is Kids Relief Homeolab Cough and Cold Nighttime Formula. This cough medicine is made from all-natural ingredients, which makes it safe for children as young as 6 months of age.
The formula’s main ingredient is drosera – an organic extract that is commonly used to suppress violent cases of cough. The formula itself is developed to cause drowsiness in kids, thus making it easier for them to fall asleep without interruption from their coughing episodes.
At a very cheap price, the Kids Relief Homeolab Cough and Cold Nighttime Formula proves to be an effective, safe, and affordable remedy for kids who need fast and long-lasting relief against coughs. It also works to fight against other symptoms of cold, which make it a prime product to have in your medicine cabinet in case of a sudden incident of cold.
2. Mucinex Cough Expectorant and Cough Suppressant
Another top pick on the list is Mucinex Cough Mini Melts Expectorant and Cough Suppressant. Considered by some parents as the best cough medicine for toddlers, this product comes in the form of small tablets that melt in the mouth. This makes it ideal for parents who struggle to give their kids syrup, but still don’t think their children are ready for solid tablets. The pleasant orange cream flavor makes it a very pleasant treat for kids, which eases the entire process of forcing medicine into your children.
The mini melts work as both an expectorant and suppressant, which makes it ideal if your kid is experiencing violent coughs caused by overproduction of mucus. The main active ingredients in the medicine are dextromethorphan and guaifenesin, which are both well-known ingredients in the treatment of both dry and productive cough.
3. Bionorica Bronchipret Syrup for Kids
The third on the list of best medication for kids with cough is Bionorica Bronchipret Syrup for Kids. Made from all natural ingredients, this product does not cause any side effects, does not risk toxicity in the long term, and is 100% safe for use on kids as young as 2 years old.
Combining two powerful herbal extracts, this product aims to target all symptoms that occur at the lower section of the respiratory system. That includes all the types of cough, congestion, and labored breathing.
Some parents complain however that the product may or may not work. When using the product, be sure to observe your child for results. Because it is an herbal remedy, it may not provide relief. If you suspect that your child has not felt better a few minutes or hours after a dosage, consider choosing something more potent.