Does Your Congested Baby Need To See A Doctor
As weve already stated, having a congested baby is nothing out of the ordinary. However, there are some symptoms that may be problematic and will require a trip to see the doctor.
If your baby shows any of the following signs, head to your pediatricians office right away.
- Difficulty breathing, particularly trouble inhaling
- Rattling, raspy, or wheezing noises while breathing
- Coughing up blood or bloody mucus draining from the nose
- Severe congestion that lasts more than four to five days
If your little one has any of these symptoms, see a healthcare professional ASAP.
Let Your Baby Sit Upright
When your baby is sitting upright, the forces of gravity will help draw out some of the mucus thats clogging their sinuses. As such, letting your little one sit upright will help clear up their congestion. Its best to hold your baby in your arms or put them in a supportive device, like a carrier wrap or sling.
Run A Cool Air Humidifier
Most of us have the heat on in our homes during the winter months, and that dry air can stuff up a baby’s nose. Keeping a cool air humidifier going in their room can offer some relief and prevent stuffiness. Keep the humidifier clean to prevent fungus from growing. This is an especially useful remedy for a baby’s stuffy nose at night!
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How To Help Relieve Your Babys Chest And Nasal Congestion
To help relieve both your babyâs nasal and chest congestion, try the following:
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Use a cool-mist humidifier in your babyâs room. Set the machine close to your baby, making sure it is out of his reach. The additional moisture provided by the cool mist can help relieve the congestion by thinning the mucosal secretions and thereby clearing your babyâs stuffy and/or runny nose at night. Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the humidifier every day as recommended by the manufacturer so that you can prevent any bacterial or mold growth.
Congestion Vs Runny Nose
Congestion is when nasal passages are swollen with excess mucus, while a runny nose is characterized by fluid coming out of the nose. “Stuffy noses are on the opposite spectrum of the runny nose,” says Dr. Stempel.
“An upper respiratory infection, or the common cold, is the most common cause of a runny nose in babies,” says Hilary Stempel, MD, MPH, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Congestion, on the other hand, is not necessarily a sign of infection. “Nearly all babies will get a stuffy nose and this can sound very dramatic! Just a tiny bit of snot can block a babys tiny nostril and make loud ‘snorky’ sounds,” explains Dr. Stempel.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
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How To Prevent Baby Congestion
While some congestion is inevitable, especially in newborns, there are things you can do to help prevent bothersome congestion, especially from colds. The first step is knowing what congestion culprits to avoid. For instance, keep your baby away from the following common nasal irritants:
- Perfumes or scented body lotions
For babies under 3 months old, it’s important to keep them away from anyone who is sick. Avoiding crowds can help, too. This practice is especially important in the winter months when more people are sick with colds and other viruses. Keep in mind that a virus that only causes a mild illness in an adult can result in a serious situation for an infant.
How To Get Rid Of Baby Chest Congestion
When your baby is congested, you might wonder how to get rid of baby chest congestion. Thankfully, it is a relatively common ailment. Congestion in the chest area is a common occurrence during the colder months, and is often harmless. The baby might become fussy and irritable as a result. Try gently tapping the back of your babys chest to loosen mucus, which will make it easier to cough up. Another common method for getting rid of baby chest congestion is the steam remedy. If your child is younger than 6 months, try entering a steamer into the mouth of your baby. The steam will loosen sticky mucus and allow baby to breathe better.
Steaming the room can help loosen mucus in the chest. It also moisturises the nasal cavity, helping to prevent drying. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, or you can steam your baby in the bathroom. Using a potlis of garlic and ajwain can help as well. Wrap the warm potlis around your baby and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Repeat this process a few times a day until the congestion is gone.
A chest X-ray is another way to rule out infection. Although mild baby chest congestion is perfectly normal and usually only lasts a few days, it is important to stay calm and relaxed when holding your baby at night. Avoid propping the baby on a pillow because this increases the risk of SIDS or suffocation. If your baby does develop a fever or is not eating properly, you should consult a pediatrician.
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Newborn Congestion How To Deal With It
Kara Wilson Editor & Infant Sleep Educator Next
Particularly as a first-time parent, you might assume that your congested baby has a cold, but what you might not realise is that newborns usually sound stuffy when they breathe. Mild to moderate congestion is common, and usually nothing to be concerned about. If a newborn gets a cold, they will develop a runny nose like anyone else. So, if it isnt a cold, why would a baby have a stuffy nose?
Helping Your Baby’s Stuffy Nose
We all get colds and stuffy noses – But, when your baby gets a blocked nose its more worrying – as they obviously cant blow their nose, take medication, or any of the other things we do to overcome the sniffles.
As a parent, it can be worrying to watch your little one sniffling and sneezing.
But there is still plenty you can do. Heres our guide on how to help with your babys blocked nose
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Nose Drops And Suction
Squeeze one to two drops of saline nose drops in each nostril to help loosen any dried mucus and then use a rubber suction bulb.
To use it, first squeeze the bulb. Next, gently stick the tip of the bulb into a nostril. Finally, slowly release the bulb and it will pull out clogged mucus. Repeat on the other nostril.
You may want to use saline nose drops before each feeding to help your baby breathe more easily while eating, Dr. Danan says.
Ways To Relieve Stuffy Nose In Your Baby
You can decongest your baby in the following ways:
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Give Your Baby A Bath
Who doesnt love a nice warm bath? Your congested baby will definitely love a nice warm bath. As the age-old parenting advice says, If your baby is fussy, either put them in water or go outside.
In this case, a warm bath can often soothe your baby if theyre bothered by their congestion. You can even transform bath time into a bonding experience with your little one with our bath time products.
Our Bath Time Essentials Set includes four essential plant-based skin care products to keep your baby clean and moisturized during and in-between bath time! On top of caring for your babys skin during their bath, stimulate your babys senses!
Your baby will get excited when they see, feel, and play with our Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath! It makes bath time fun and therapeutic for both you and your baby while also protecting and hydrating your babys skin! Then wrap up bath time with our Hydra Bebe Body Lotion.
Gently massage the lotion onto your babys skin. Our non-greasy formula leaves your babys skin silky-smooth. Your baby will be relaxed after getting out of the bath and massaged with our lotion, which will help ease their congestion symptoms.
How Do I Use The Newer Nasal Aspirators
The other nasal aspirators consist of a nozzle that you position at the opening of the nostril, a long piece of soft tubing in the middle, and a mouthpiece on the other end. You use your mouth to gently suction mucus out of your child’s nose and into the nozzle. A filter in the tube blocks bacteria and keeps you from inhaling any germs. The device can be taken apart and washed with soap and warm water.
These products come with complete directions on how to use and care for them. They may cost a bit more , but some parents find them more effective, less invasive, and easier to use than a bulb syringe.
BabyCenter’s editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
AAP. Undated. My child has a virus: How can I help her feel better? American Academy of Pediatrics.
AAP. Undated. Treating cold. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Undated. Suctioning the nose with a bulb syringe.
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How To Know Your Infant Baby Or Toddler Is Suffering From Nasal Congestion
Accordingto WebMD.com, âWhen your baby is sick with a cold, some simple remedies and a big dose of love can make them feel more comfy. And of course, that means you’ll get a lot more rest, too!â
As a parent, you instinctively know when a child of yours is feeling âoff.â When something is not right, moms and dads just know.
Why Natural Is Best For Babies
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, over-the-counter cough and cold medicine makers have responded to the FDA ruling that their products must not be given to children under age four by removing them from store shelves. Research has shown these products offer little benefit to young children, and can have potentially serious side effects and a high chance of overdose when mixed with other medications.
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Ways To Help Your Congested Baby Breathe
One of the most common ailments that newborns face is congestion. If you have a congested baby on your hands, youre probably concerned and looking for ways to help your little one breathe better. Youre in luck! This post from the baby experts at Mustela will tell you just that.
Well start by explaining symptoms to watch for as well as what might be causing your babys congestion. Then well show you 13 easy ways to help your congested baby breathe easy.
Elevate The Bed For Your Babys Sleep
What is the best sleeping position for a baby with a stuffy nose? Well, whether your baby sleeps in a crib or cosleeps with you , inclining the head end of the bed can help clear congestion, which makes sleeping easier. Crib wedges can be placed under the fitted sheet in the crib or bed to help elevate babies heads.
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When Should You Clear Your Babys Nose
You can use saline drops and a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator 3 to 4 times in 24 hours. Any more than that can carry a risk of damaging the lining of the nasal passages, causing irritation and nosebleeds.
It can be helpful to time these clean-out sessions to be just before feedings to help your baby breathe while nursing or taking the bottle. Its not possible to suck and breathe through the mouth at the same time, so your baby must have a clear nose to get in a good feeding.
One of the reasons babies do not feed well with respiratory illnesses is that it requires too much effort. So you will notice they feed for shorter periods, just until they get tired of working so hard. You will want to try to feed them more frequently when this is happening.
Another good time to clear nasal secretions is just before bed at night to help everyone sleep better.
Effective Home Remedies For Chest Congestion In Babies And Toddlers:
BABIES BELOW 6 MONTHS:
#1. Steam the room:
Add a vaporizer to your babys room. It helps to add the required moisture to the nasal tract of babies which reduces the breathing difficulty associated with chest congestion. It also prevents the mucous from drying and blocking the nose. It also helps to loosen the mucous so that it gets expelled faster.
If you do not have a vaporizer, you can run some hot water and steam your bath room and sit with your baby there for providing relief.
#2. Ajwain and garlic potli:
You can make a potli or pouch of dry roasted garlic and ajwain . Frequent rubbing of this potli on babys chest or under feet can help to reduce the congestion levels. Each time you use this pouch just heat it on a tawa.
NOTE: Do NOT keep or rub hot potli over babys chest or feet. Babies have delicate skin and hence using a hot potli will cause burns. Before you use the pouch on the child, ensure that you test the temperature of the potli, to avoid burns.
Keep it on your palm or inner wrist, if it feels too hot, wait for it to cool down a bit. If you cant feel any warmth at all, then heat it up again. It is just like testing the temperature of the bath water.
#3. Frequent nursing:
Frequent breastfeeding helps to prevent the solidification of mucus inside babys nose and chest. It also addresses the hydration needs of your little one and provides him/her with the anti-bodies to fight the germs and get well soon.
#4. Raise the head of your baby while sleeping:
NOTE:
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Chest And Nasal Congestion In Newborns And Babies
Chest and nasal congestion are common symptoms associated with the common cold and other respiratory infections. However, because your baby canât simply blow her own nose, youâll have to take steps to help relieve your babyâs congested nose and chest. Find out how you can help treat your babyâs congestion at home, and when you may need to see her healthcare provider.
What Causes Excess Mucus
Babies get colds and congestion more easily than older children for a few reasons.
Their tiny size and even tinier nasal passages get blocked up quickly. Plus, their developing immune systems are still learning how to protect them from germs.
A germ or anything else that irritates your babys delicate airways will trigger their body to make extra mucus. This is intended to help trap and protect them from whatever is tickling the insides of their nose and throat.
Common mucus triggers for babies are:
- cigarette smoke
In very rare cases, too much mucus congestion in a babys throat and chest is caused by a more serious illness, like cystic fibrosis.
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What Causes A Stuffed Or Blocked Nose In A Young Baby
Apart from womb fluid in newborns, blocked nose in babies is likely to be for the same reason as in anyone else they have a cold. Its perfectly normal for babies to have up to eight colds a year. They are more likely to get colds, as they havent built up the same immunity as adults. There are hundreds of different cold viruses and your little one doesnt yet have immunity to any of them so its no surprise that your babys runny nose is a common occurrence.
What Causes Newborn Congestion
As long as your newborn’s congestion is not accompanied by other symptoms or interfering with their eating or breathing, there is most likely no reason for concern. At birth, it’s normal for babies to be congested. They typically get some amniotic fluid in their noses that can result in stuffiness for the first few days after birth.
Saliva, breast milk, or formula can also make their way into your baby’s nose, causing them to sneeze in an effort to clear it out. Other causes of congestion include airborne substances, such as dust, pet dander, hairspray, perfume, and cigarette smoke, all of which can irritate nasal passages.
Finally, dry air, colds, viruses, and allergies are common causes of nasal congestion, as well. With so many potential reasons for congestion in babies, it’s not surprising that they may have a stuffy nose more often than not.
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