When I was growing up my mom use to make us a mixture of lemon, whiskey and honey to sooth coughs. Does anyone know a proper mixture for a two year old? Journey has been coughing through the night, and I hate wasting money on over the counter medicine.

-- Melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), April 04, 2002

Answers

If Journey has been coughing through the night she may have bronchitis. She may need to have that checked out. When our daughter was little she would cough like that all night and it was always bronchitis. Just a thought. I've never did successfully treat that on by own.

-- Nancy (nannyb@huntel.net), April 04, 2002.

In answer to you question about the mixture......it was equal parts of each. It was actually recommended to me by the pediatrician back in the dark ages. :>)

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

Well, I called the nurse at the doctor's office and they said they wouldn't give her an appoinment for just a cough. I told her she has been running a fever too. They told me to basically handle it on my own. They suggested humidifier, tylenol and dimatap. I have been trying these things but the poor baby is still so miserable. If it's not better, I will take her in and make them check her over. Jalynn has an appoinment tomorrow and I may just force her in at the same time. She is prone to get ear infections and I don't play around with my kids health.

Jalynn is having her ears flushed out tomorrow. She is prone to getting a lot of ear blockage. Does anyone have any advice on keeping her ears clean?

-- Melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), April 04, 2002.

The best over the counter cough medicaine I have found is called DELSYM. It lasts for 12 hours and has always worked for me when all else fails. It is rated for any aged child and adults as well. It is the only kind I will buy. It is especially good for night time, when coughing can keep them and eveyone else awake.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), April 04, 2002.

Did your daughter have the vaccine that is supposed prevent most ear infections? I think it is called the pneumococcal vaccine, or something like that. Also, what might help break her fever is to let her sleep in the family bed (with you and Dad). Something about being with Mom....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), April 04, 2002.

I odn't remember. Lemon and honey help, I've got that recipe from G'ma Brooks, get anise seed and thyme. It works great. Remember Kathy's cough. Love Mom

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

We used equal parts of honey and lemon; leave out the whiskey. My children love it as a tea; stir some into hot water. I have also seen recommended equal parts of raw honey and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. The same source ("Vermont Country Doctor") recommends chewing honeycomb (honey and wax) as you would chewing gum to help the ears.

-- Cathy N. (eastern Ontario) (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), April 05, 2002.

One other thing: I flush the family ears myself, rather than pay to have it done. I use not-too-hot water in a small bulb syringe and squirt it in. Usually just 2-3 squirts brings out the wax clump and one last squirt to clear any remaining pieces. I check the ears about once a month to see if they need done, just by looking into the ear (no special light or tool). If I see darkness, I leave it alone. If I see a wax plug, I flush it out.

-- Cathy N. (eastern Ontario) (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), April 05, 2002.

Thanks Everyone. She is doing better today.

-- Melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.