Cold and flu season is upon us, so as parents we expect the sniffling, sneezing, and coughing that comes with this time of year to be heard throughout the day. But what happens when the coughing is only at night? We’ve done some research to help you decipher coughing with phlegm, dry coughs, and those deep, chesty coughs that are nonstop.

Because coughs are one of the most common symptoms of illness, they can sound awful but usually aren’t a sign of a serious condition. In fact, coughing is a healthy and important reflex that helps protect the airways in the throat and chest. Coughs are certainly annoying, but when they persist through the night that means they’re ruining sleep as well. Whether it’s happening just for the kids in your home or the adults as well, here’s why coughing at night happens and what you can do to soothe it and, in some cases, stop it.

What is causing the coughs?

Occasional coughs are normal, but if a cough is continuous there could be a problem. The two types of coughs to be aware of are an acute cough, which means it’s persistent but lasts less than three weeks, and a chronic cough, which last longer than eight weeks (or four weeks in children).

Coughs caused by colds due to viruses can last weeks, especially if a child has one cold right after another. If your child still has a cough after three weeks, call the doctor.

Chronic coughs can be caused by such things as asthma or allergies. A chronic infection in the sinuses or airways, such as bronchitis, also might cause lasting coughs.

The reasons for night coughing

According to KidsHealth, many coughs get worse at night. “When your child has a cold, the mucus from the nose and sinuses can drain down the throat and trigger a cough during sleep. This is only a problem if the cough won’t let your child sleep,” the website notes.

Asthma can also trigger nighttime coughs because airways tend to be more sensitive and irritable at night.

How to help kids coughing at night

If you’re concerned about your child’s cough, call the doctor. Depending on the type of cough, other symptoms, and how long it’s lasting, the doctor might want to see your child in person.

Many health care providers now offer telemedicine visits, which can save parents a trip to the office (especially for a nighttime cough). This allows doctors to see and hear your child, and they can often diagnose little ones without bringing them out of the house. They’ll give advice on how to treat the cough.

Cold medicines are not necessary unless a cough doesn’t allow your child sleep. Cold medicines help stop the coughing and possibly coughing with phlegm, but they don’t treat the cause of the cough.

If you do use an over-the-counter cough medicine or even try some natural cough remedies, check with the doctor about the correct dosage for your child. Some OTC medicines have a combination of medicines, and kids can have more side effects than adults and are more likely to get an overdose of the medicine.

Cough medicines are not recommended for any children younger than 6. Cough drops are a choking hazard, so only give them to your child at the doctor’s recommendation.

If your child has asthma, your doctor will likely prescribe a whole different plan.

Why adults cough at night

Besides the more common cold and flu, nonstop coughing for adults is no fun either. Adult coughing can be caused by allergies as well as acid reflux. All that hacking is just a protective mechanism to clear airways. Doctors distinguish between coughs by asking if they come in the daytime as well as at night. Postnasal drip is when mucous trickles down your throat and tickles the nerve endings, causing you to cough. Asthma is from inflamed airways and causes wheezing and coughing, which definitely gets worse at night.

Adults who cough mainly at night could also be dealing with gastroesophageal reflux disease, aka GERD. If you’re only coughing at night, acid reflux could be to blame for the cough because stomach acid can creep up when you lie down to go to sleep. GERD patients with a chronic cough might also experience heartburn and a hoarse voice.

Other reasons for adult coughs include pneumonia, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or even pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

How to feel better at home for kids and adults

Some of the best tips to soothe a cough at home:

  • Turn on the hot water in the shower in your bathroom and close the door so the room will steam up. Sit in the bathroom for 15 to 20 minutes. Of course, if your child is the one with the cough, sit with your child in the bathroom because it can be an uncomfortable feeling until the little one becomes accustomed to breathing the steam. The steam should help your child breathe more easily.
  • A cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom might help with sleep.
  • If your child is up to it, a brief exposure to cool air outdoors can relieve a cough. Dress warmly for the weather and try to step outside for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • When you’re sick, it’s important to stay hydrated. A cool (not cold) drink of water or juice can be soothing, but avoid soda or acidic orange juice, which can hurt a sore throat even more.

When to call the doctor

It’s important that you always call the doctor if your child is coughing and has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe. Also note if they’re breathing faster than usual or are turning blue in the face, lips or tongue.

KidsHealth also suggests calling the doctor if you notice these other symptoms: a fever, coughing up blood, a whooping or wheezing sound when breathing in or out, signs of dehydration like dizziness, a dry mouth, or crying with little or no tears.