For nighttime coughs, try a spoon of honey. Honey may be especially effective for kids who have a nagging cough. On the other hand, according to researchers, over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are pretty worthless in doing anything for a persistent cough.

According to a study in Pediatrics, giving children ages 1 to 5 a teaspoon of honey at bedtime was one of the best ways to safely relieve coughing.

However, it’s important to note that babies under the age of one shouldn’t be given honey, because it has been associated with infant botulism, which can be life-threatening.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Ian Paul, an associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, noted that honey might be effective for calming coughs because it has high levels of antioxidants and has antimicrobial effects.