How To Help Stuffy Nose In Newborn

My Baby Has Stuffy Nose

How can I clear my newborn’s stuffy nose?

It is possible for babies to suffer from a nose that is stuffy. This could be caused by the presence of foreign bodies in the nose especially in babies one year old and above. Due to their experimental nature, a baby could insert something in their nose and fail to say. This will lead to this problem.

If this is the case, the caregiver should not try to remove the object to prevent hurting the already ailing membranes more. Instead, visit a doctor

Do Breastfed Babies Get Over Colds Faster

Your Breastmilk is Powerful!

How clever is that! If youre exposed to a bacterial or viral infection, your body makes antibodies to combat it these are then transferred to your baby through your milk. The levels of immunity-boosting cells, called leukocytes, in your milk also rise rapidly whenever your baby is unwell.

Causes Of Baby And Newborn Congestion

As long as your baby’s congestion is not accompanied by other symptoms or interfering with their eating or breathing, there is probably not a lot to worry about. When babies are first born, it’s normal for them to be congested. Babies typically get some amniotic fluid in their noses that can make them a little stuffy for the first few days.

Saliva and milk from feeding also can get in their nasal passages and may cause your baby to sneeze a lot to clear it. Sometimes irritants like dust, pet dander, hair spray, perfumes, and cigarette smoke can irritate their nasal passages causing congestion as well.

Other causes of nasal congestion include dry air, colds, viruses, and allergies. Keep an eye on your baby and their symptoms and contact your doctor with any concerns.

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Top 10 Natural Therapies For Babies With Congested Nasal Airways

Please note that the ideas listed below should not be deemed professional medical advice, but instead a compilation of tips that other parents have found useful in dealing with children with blocked and stuffy noses.

These ideas are not medical advice and you are advised to seek proper medical attention should your baby become ill or youre not sure how to effectively clear your infants clogged nasal passages.

However, some of the natural ways parents have been able to address the problem of mucus ridden noses include the following.

What Not To Do

Baby

When it comes to addressing nasal congestion, there are some things you should steer clear of regardless of how congested your baby’s nose might seem. Here’s what to avoid when addressing your baby’s stuffy nose.

  • Refrain from using menthol rubs. Rubs, like Vicks, are not recommended for newborns or children under 2 years of age.
  • Avoid cough and cold medicines. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend cough and cold medicines for children under 4 years of age. Meanwhile, children 4 to 6 years of age should only be given cough and cold medications if advised to do so by their pediatrician.
  • Resist the urge to use a wedge to elevate the crib mattress. The AAP’s safe sleep recommendations include placing your baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface like a crib or a bassinet. The use of wedges or other devices is not recommended.

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What Stuffy Nose Symptoms Are Concerning When Should We Seek Medical Advice

  • If your babe is under 3 months old, chat with the doctor sooner than later. Things progress quickly in our little guys, better safe than sorry!
  • If symptoms are lasting longer than 10 days.
  • Sinus pain or sinus pressure along with symptoms. Our tiny babes wonât be able to tell us this, so youâll have to use your Mommy Radar to determine if theyâre having head/sinus pain that doesnât feel normal to you.
  • Ear pain. The build-up from stuffy noses puts our babes at risk for ear infection, so if they appear to be grabbing or pawing at that ear while they are more fussy than usual, call the doc.
  • Signs of dehydration
  • Yellow or green âgoopâ/discharge from their eyes.
  • Sometimes our babes spit up or throw up because of mucus draining down their throat or excessive crying. This can be normal. If it is ever blood-tinged or you feel like itâs from something else , call your doctor.
  • If youâre ever concerned it is not related to a cold or virus, ask your doctor. Maybe itâs allergy related or something else more serious. Follow your gut!
  • Anytime your babe is wheezing or has trouble breathing – go to the emergency room.
  • Fever, depending on age: 0-3 months: > 100.4 F 3-24 months: > 102 F 2 yrs+: > 104 F

Unblock Babys Nose With Saline Drops

Saline nose drops are a common treatment for a babys stuffy nose. They can help relieve a blocked nose by loosening dried snot in the nostrils. Your health visitor, GP or pharmacist will be able to give you more information about how to use them. Some parents use a few drops of breast milk on the nostrils as an alternative to saline drops.

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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.

Home Remedies For Baby Stuffy Nose

How to Relieve a Baby’s Stuffy Nose

Looking for natural remedies for an baby’s blocked nose? These three options might help clear the congestion.

Steam up the bathroom. If your baby has a stuffy nose, run a hot shower for a few minutes. Then, when the bathroom is steamy, sit in the room with them for a bit. This will help loosen the mucus in their nostrils. But don’t go in the hot shower with your little onethe water can scald them!

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 stuffy nose at night!

Encourage hydration and rest. Babies may need more sleep when they’re sick, so don’t neglect your soothing bedtime routine. Also, make sure your little one drinks enough breast milk or formula to prevent dehydration. Your baby can stay in an upright position during feedings to decrease congestion.

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Clear A Babys Blocked Nose With A Tissue

The first step in helping to clear a newborns blocked nose is to remove any crusty, hard mucus that has gathered at the outer edge of the nostrils. This sticky snot can block the nostrils, so simply wiping it away with a soft tissue dipped in warm water can really help.

Use a tissue that is soft as well as strong, like Cushelle Tissues. Theyre gentle on your babys delicate skin while being sturdy enough to hold together as you wipe away that crusty snot. With a box of tissues always at hand, theyre quick and easy to grab in any room.

Trouble Breathing: How To Tell

Trouble breathing is a reason to see a doctor right away. Respiratory distress is the medical name for trouble breathing. Here are symptoms to worry about:

  • Struggling for each breath or shortness of breath
  • Tight breathing so that your child can barely cry
  • Ribs are pulling in with each breath
  • Breathing has become noisy
  • Breathing is much faster than normal
  • Lips or face turn a blue color

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Why Is My Newborn Congested

Babies can get congested when they breathe in cigarette smoke, pollutants, viruses, and other irritants. Their bodies produce extra mucus in the nose and airways to trap and remove these irritants. Exposure to dry air and other weather conditions can also trigger excess mucus production and congestion.

How To Put Nose Drops Into The Child’s Nose

Ways To Alleviate An Newborn Stuffy Nose
  • Lay your baby on his back.
  • Put 3-4 drops into each nostril using the nose dropper. The nose drops may make the baby sneeze .
  • After giving the nose drops, hold your baby with his head back for about a minute. This will give the saline time to thin the mucus. Then, suction with the bulb syringe.
  • Do not use any other type of medicine nose drops unless prescribed by the doctor.
  • Caution: Remember to use saline drops and perform suctioning before feeding. The combination of saline and suctioning may cause vomiting. Suctioning will also make it easier for your child to breathe during his feeding.

    If you have any questions, be sure to ask your doctor or nurse.

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    Tips And Tricks For Cleaning A Baby Or Toddlers Nose

    Nasal congestionno matter your ageisnt comfortable. It can make breathing difficult, your head feel foggy and even your throat scratchy. As adults, we can reach for a tissue and over-the-counter meds for help, but for babies and toddlers, their snot is another story. Often, they are at the mercy of their parents.

    Babies are built to breathe out of their noses. They arent very good at breathing out of their mouth yet, said Jonathan Skirko, MD, a craniofacial plastic surgeon and ear, nose and throat specialist at Banner University Medical Center Tucson. When their nose is stuffy, it can interfere with feeding and sleeping. And when its associated with rare conditions, it can even be dangerous.

    While the thought of pulling boogers out of anyone elses nose makes many people gag, when it comes to their own little ones, parents roll up their sleeves and do what they have to do. It can be scary, especially if youre cleaning your babys nose for the first time, but dont worry.

    Dr. Skirko shared the following tips and tricks for cleaning your little ones nose.

    Immediate Relief For Your Babys Nasal Congestion

    If it appears that your infant has nasal congestion and it is bothering her, you can follow this two-step process to help clear her nose. Do this every few hours, and ideally 15 to 20 minutes before a feeding or bedtime:

  • Use saline drops or spray. Two drops or sprays per nostril are enough. Avoid nose drops or sprays that have any additional medication.

  • Use a bulb syringe for clearing out any mucus. Clear your babyâs nose immediately after using the saline drops or spray. To use a bulb syringe, squeeze the bulb part first before gently inserting the syringe into your babyâs nostril. Then slowly release the bulb in order to suction out the mucus.

  • Before using the nose dropper, spray, or bulb syringe, make sure that the item has been thoroughly washed with soap and water, then rinsed with clean water, and allowed to dry completely.

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    Breast Milk In The Nose

    Some people feel that putting breast milk in a babys nose works just as well as saline drops to soften mucus.

    Carefully put a little milk right into your babys nose while feeding. When you sit them up after eating, its likely the mucus will slide right out. Do not use this technique if it interferes with your baby feeding.

    How Long Does Newborn Congestion Last

    Tips for Feeding an Infant With a Stuffy Nose

    Newborns often have congested noses soon after birth because of the excess amniotic fluid in their noses. As a result, you may notice them sneezing more frequently as they work to clear the congestion.

    Fortunately, this congestion should clear on its own within a few days to a week. If you’re concerned about your baby’s congestion or it seems to linger, talk with your baby’s doctor.

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    Feed Your Baby Probiotics

    A small dose of probiotics in your babys milk or formula can strengthen their immune system and help clear up any congestion. Look for probiotics with names like Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacteria.

    While research has shown that probiotics are safe and effective for newborns, its always best to check with your doctor before giving your baby anything other than milk.

    What To Do When Your Baby Has A Stuffy Nose At Night

    Another way to help your congested baby is by keeping his head above the rest of his body.

    This allows the mucus to flow and reduces congestion.

    During the day this is easy, you can simply let baby sleep on you or let him sleep in a baby carrier if you are running around.

    At night you can put a few towels under one side of your babys mattress to elevate their head.

    Unfortunately, if you co-sleep this is a bit more difficult.

    For safe co-sleeping, its not recommended to sleep with your baby on your chest.

    You can, however, find a way to elevate the head of your bed if possible. This requires some creativity though.

    Some people have had success with large bricks under the feet of their headboard.

    Or using bed risers just under the headboard feet.

    If you have a floor bed you can use extra blankets and such to create an incline under your mattress.

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    Baby Stuffy Nose Medicine

    Babies can’t have decongestant medicine until they’re 4 years old because potentially life-threatening side effects could occur, according to the Food and Drug Administration . However, “you can gently clear your newborn’s nose with saline solution and a bulb syringe,” says Michael Rothschild, M.D., director of pediatric otolaryngology at Mt. Sinai Hospital, in New York City. Saline solution is the only safe nasal spray for babies, infants, and toddlers.

    To use saline solution, lay the baby down on their back and, if possible, slightly tilt their head back . Then spray two to three drops of saline spray into each nostril. Don’t worry if your baby sneezes some of it outit still made its way into the nasal passage. If any spray comes out of the nose, wipe it away gently with a tissue.

    Once the saline spray is in your baby’s nose, you’ll want to use a bulb syringe . Choose one that’s specially made for their tiny nostrils it should have a rounded, acorn-shaped tip, says Dr. Rothschild. Once again, lay your baby down on their back. Squeeze the bulb to get all of the air out, and, while still squeezing, gently insert the tip into your baby’s nostril . Then release the pressure, take it out, and squeeze the mucus out of the bulb onto a tissue. Repeat in the other nostril for an effective baby stuffy nose remedy.

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