6 Types of Coughs in Children, Toddlers, and Babies - Yahoo Lifestyle 6 Types of Coughs in Children, Toddlers, and Babies - Yahoo Lifestyle Posted: 22 Oct 2014 12:00 AM PDT Most coughs are caused by a respiratory condition, such as a cold, influenza, or asthma. Sometimes, however, they can signal something more serious like whooping cough or pneumonia. Read about six different types of coughs in toddlers and children, and determine if you need to visit the doctor. Barking Cough Your child went to bed with a stuffy nose but he's been sleeping peacefully for a few hours. Suddenly, you hear what sounds like a barking seal in the next room. The Likely Cause: Croup, a viral illness that causes inflammation in the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe), may cause a barking cough in kids. It's most common between October and March, and it usually affects those ages 6 months to 3 years. The telltale croup cough usually gets ...