For future reference for coughing like that last night, I would take them in to the ER if it is accompanied by high fever unrelieved by the Tylenol/Motrin rotation or any breathing difficulty, including audible wheezing or whistling, elevated respiratory rate (20-24 is "normal" for 5yr old, >40 would worry me), increased work of breathing - all the little breathing muscles are can be observed during inspiration, nasal flaring, chest muscles above, below and between the ribs and in the neck. My youngest had a bad case of pneumonia when he was 6. We went to the ER when his T was 105 and he was shaking.