Sleep deprivation caused by a child's persistent cough is a familiar nightmare for parents, especially during the winter months. However, a simple, evidence-backed solution using a common kitchen ingredient could be the key to a peaceful night for the whole family.
The Expert-Backed Honey Remedy
Lucy, a mum and qualified children's dietician, has shared the method she uses when her own daughter is struck by a lingering cough that worsens overnight. "I've been adding honey to warm water to give her before bed," she explained. She highlights that research shows honey can be as effective as some over-the-counter cough medicines for children, offering significant relief through the night.
Crucially, this remedy is only suitable for children over the age of one, due to the risk of infant botulism. For toddlers and older children, a dose of half to one teaspoon (2.5 to 5ml) of honey, either neat or mixed into a warm drink, is recommended.
Official Guidance and Why It Works
This approach is supported by the NHS, which suggests a warm drink of lemon and honey for children over one suffering from a cough or sore throat. With children averaging between five and eight colds per year, such remedies are frequently needed.
Coughing during a cold is often triggered by post-nasal drip, where mucus runs down the back of the throat. While distressing to hear, a cough serves the useful purpose of clearing phlegm from the chest or mucus from the airways.
How to Make a Soothing Honey and Lemon Drink
The preparation is straightforward:
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into a mug of boiled water.
- Allow it to cool slightly before stirring in one to two teaspoons of honey.
- Ensure the drink is warm, not hot, before giving it to a child.
This method gains further credence from institutions like the Mayo Clinic, whose research concluded that honey alone may lessen coughing as effectively as some non-prescription medicines. Their studies noted it helped both reduce coughing frequency and improve sleep quality in individuals, including children, with upper respiratory infections.
While this natural remedy can manage symptoms, the NHS advises parents to consult a GP if a child's cough persists for longer than three weeks. As illnesses circulate widely following the return to schools and nurseries post-Christmas, having a safe, effective option to ease nighttime discomfort is a welcome relief for countless households.
