Why Is My Baby Coughing? 8 Possible Causes and When to Worry
Treatment for an object stuck in baby's throat
If you suspect a totally blocked passageway, turn the baby over and immediately deliver five back blows between their shoulder blades. If you're unable to dislodge the foreign object, call 911.
In the case of a partially lodged object, try to help your baby cough it up by tilting their head down and giving them a few gentle pats on the back. If you suspect your baby is suffering from a partially lodged object, but they don't appear able to cough it up,
they'll need a chest x-ray. If a bit of food is indeed stuck, the doctor will refer you to a specialist who can perform a bronchoscopy. During the procedure, the child is put under general anesthesia,
and a tiny fiber-optic tube with tweezers at the end goes down the airway and picks out the foreign body.
Baby Cough: When to Worry
Call your doctor if your baby has:
- Any cough, and they're younger than 4 months
- A dry cough related to a cold (a runny nose but no fever) that lasts more than five to seven days
- A dry or wet cough with a cold and a fever of 100 degrees or more
- Mild, light wheezing
- Fits of coughing
Call 911 if your baby is:
- Wheezing rapidly
- Grunting
- Unable to catch their breath
- Turning blue
- Rapidly retracting and expanding their stomach