A child barking like a seal in the middle of the night is frightening. The NHS describes croup as a common condition that mainly affects babies’ and young children’s airways. It’s usually mild, but it’s important a doctor checks it, as treatment may be needed. After a few days of cold-like symptoms come a barking cough, a hoarse voice and a high-pitched rasping sound when breathing in, often worse at night. It usually gets better on its own within 48 hours. At home, sit your child upright and comfort them — and, contrary to a common belief, don’t put them in a steamy room or have them breathe in steam. This sets out the NHS page “Croup”.
1. Barking cough, hoarse voice, rasping sound breathing in; worse at night. Usually better within 48 hours.
2. Sit them upright and keep them calm (crying makes it worse), fluids, check overnight. No steam.
3. Think it’s croup: urgent GP or 111. Struggling to breathe, blue lips, floppy, drooling and struggling to swallow: 999.
Symptoms — NHS
- A barking cough that can sound like a seal
- A hoarse voice
- Difficulty breathing; a high-pitched, rasping sound when breathing in
- Cold-like symptoms first, such as a temperature, runny nose and cough
Symptoms usually start after a few days and are often worse at night. Croup usually gets better on its own within 48 hours.
For a child under 2 who is wheezing and breathing fast, see bronchiolitis too. Baby coughs and colds are covered in baby cough and cold.
Caring for mild croup at home — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Keep them sitting upright rather than lying down | — |
| Do | Comfort and calm them — crying can make symptoms worse | — |
| Do | Plenty of fluids; check on them regularly, including overnight | It’s often worse at night |
| Do | Paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever or discomfort | — |
| Don’t | Put them in a steamy room or have them breathe in steam | Against a common home remedy; no reason given |
This page doesn’t give age limits for the medicines. The NHS bronchiolitis page does (paracetamol over 2 months, ibuprofen over 3 months), set out in bronchiolitis.
Where to go — NHS
| Where | When | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent GP or 111 | You think your child has croup | Even if it seems mild |
| Urgent GP or 111 | Getting worse, or not improving after seeing a GP | — |
| 999 or A&E | Struggling to breathe — grunting, tummy sucking under the ribs, a changed breathing sound | — |
| 999 or A&E | Skin, lips or tongue blue, grey, pale or blotchy | — |
| 999 or A&E | Sleepier than normal or hard to wake; unusually quiet; limp or floppy | — |
| 999 or A&E | Very upset with breathing difficulty that can’t be settled | — |
| 999 or A&E | Unwell and drooling more than usual, finding swallowing hard, or preferring to sit up | — |
Children who are more seriously ill or under 3 months are occasionally referred to hospital. The page says a doctor may give medicine to shorten the illness, without naming it. Don’t drive yourself to A&E.
Checklist
- ☐ Barking cough, hoarse voice, rasping sound when breathing in
- ☐ Think it’s croup: get a doctor to check, even if mild
- ☐ Sit upright, comfort, check overnight
- ☐ No steam
- ☐ Struggling to breathe, blue lips, floppy, drooling: 999
Questions that remain
Isn’t bathroom steam supposed to help?
The NHS says not to put a child in a steamy room or have them breathe in steam. It doesn’t give a reason.
Is it contagious?
This page doesn’t say.
Sources
- NHS — Croup — source (page shows: reviewed 2 August 2023, next review 2 August 2026; checked 14 October 2026 — the review date has passed and we quote the page as shown). Symptoms, 48 hours, home care, 111 and 999 signs, under 3 months.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on croup.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column.
Where else to check
- A paediatrician or night clinic — if you think it’s croup.
Written on 14 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment.
