Cough Relief

Baby Paige has developed a cough.  Again.

OMG with the coughing.  Coughing is the soundtrack of my life.  Since early September it's all I've heard.  Someone in my family has been coughing for nearly FOUR FREAKING MONTHS.

The cough, based on my extensive zero years of medical training, is due to post-nasal drip.  Her nose is runny.  And the runny nose is causing her to cough.  Simple enough, right?

So I called the pediatrician this morning, not to obtain an appointment, but to simply ask what would be the best medicine to give my 2 1/2 year old for coughing.  Specifically, coughing at night.  My poor girl coughed LITERALLY every minute of the night last night.  She was exhausted.  Her mother was exhausted. 

And would you like to know what the kind nurse suggested for a severe un-ending cough?

Karo Corn Syrup. 

No, I will not shut up.  I'm serious! 

She suggested a whole teaspoon full of nothing "syrup" to "coat her throat" and prevent coughing.

And here's why:  The FDA has recommended that ALL cough medicine be removed from the market for children UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR.  Why?  Because some stupid-ass parents were overdosing their kids by giving multi-symptom cough/cold medications either too often, or in combination with other multi-symptom medicines.  So, to protect us FROM OURSELVES the FDA simply REMOVED cough medicines as an option for all humans under the age of four.  If you're under four, you can just cough yourself silly. 

Which brings us back to Karo Syrup.  That's ALL the nurse could legally recommend to me today.  Syrup.

OMGAREYOUKIDDINGME?

So tell me, wise Internet, what have YOU used for your young children with a horrible cough?  So far, I've used Benadryl to dry her out (contrary to the advice of the nurse today - who said Benadryl is now ALSO on the "naughty" list), a humidifier, and Vick's Vaporub, all with only mild success.

What would you recommend?  I'm one desperate momma over here.