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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffCroup often runs its course within three to seven days. In the meantime, keep your child comfortable with a few simple measures.
- Stay calm. Comfort or distract your child — cuddle, read a book or play a quiet game. Crying only makes breathing more difficult.
- Moisten the air. Use a cool-air humidifier in your child's bedroom or have your child breathe the warm, moist air in a steamy bathroom. Although researchers have questioned the benefits of humidity as part of emergency treatment for croup, moist air seems to help children breathe easier — especially when croup is mild.
- Get cool. Sometimes breathing fresh, cool air helps. If it's cool outdoors, wrap your child in a blanket and walk outside for a few minutes.
- Hold your child in an upright position. Sitting upright can make breathing easier. Hold your child on your lap, or place your child in a favorite chair or infant seat.
- Offer fluids. For babies, water, breast milk or formula is fine. For older children, soup or frozen fruit pops may be soothing.
- Encourage your child to rest. Sleep can help your child fight the infection.
- Try an over-the-counter pain reliever. If your child has a fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help. Cough syrup, which doesn't affect the larynx or trachea, isn't likely to relieve your child's cough. Over-the-counter cold preparations are generally discouraged in children younger than age 5.
Your child's cough may improve during the day, but don't be surprised if it returns at night. You may want to sleep near your child or even in the same room so that you can take quick action if your child's symptoms become severe.
