Horrible cough

DS has been on & off sick for about 4 weeks. He did have an infection, but it cleared up about 2 weeks ago, before I got to a doctor.
He's not so great again today though. No fevers or green or yellow snot, but he has a very wet cough & is having trouble sleeping.

What can I do/give to stop the coughing so he can sleep? He just had about a half hour nap & coughed to the point of gagging almost the whole time. Now he's awake he isn't choking & can breath between, but its still constant coughing.

I don't have cough medicines in the cupboard, have never had them, or used them, coz I know they shouldn't really be given. What else can I do?

Ava has a cough at the moment too. She's just gotten over a viral infection but that stupid cough is still hanging around, and like your little one it is disturbing her (already crap) sleep. But last night I bit the bullet and gave her some Robotussin. Its ok for her age as far as the bottle says, so I gave it to her and it helped heaps. Had to give her something because she hasn't got a temp or anything, so panadol won't do anything and she hasn't quite grasped the idea of spitting what she is coughing up, out, kwim? But yeah it really helped and she coughed less frequently and it helped to break up the phlegm a bit.

I might have to go have a look tomorrow then. Yeah, no temps or anything here, he does feel like crap though.
hmmm....