An attack of croup can be more frightening for parents than for the baby. Family GP, Dr Sue Morrison, suggests steam and sympathy.

Raisingkids member's problem
How can I tell if my baby has croup? And what should I do if it happens?

Dr Morrison's advice
Croup is recognisable from a characteristic, barking cough which many people find alarming when they first hear it. It's very common, especially in babies between 6 and 12 months old, and often follows a cold. The baby is not usually unwell, doesn't usually have a sore throat and the condition gets better on its own.

Make your baby more comfortable. Steam and reassurance work wonders for croup. The best thing to do is either run a hot bath, or boil a kettle with the lid off in a small room, and cuddle your baby in this steamy environment until the barking noise settles.

A few babies (usually those older than a year) become much more unwell and make a difficult noise when breathing in and out (stridor). This might be another condition called epiglottits and needs admission to hospital. Croup itself is occasionally severe - some babies need treatment in hospital.

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