Signs of a blocked airway These are signs of choking: Violent coughing. A high-pitched sound when breathing in. Your baby can't cough, breathe, or cry.
Salt water solution may be used to thin and loosen the mucus and to moisten the inside of the nose. The tube will be gently placed in your child's nose until it touches the back of his/her throat. This makes most children cough. The coughing will help bring up the mucus to the back of throat where it can be removed.
A ruttle is a coarse, crackling sound which some babies make even when they are well. It is caused by secretions ( snot, saliva, gunk etc) being allowed to pool in the back of the throat. Babies can allow this fluid to collect there but adults would have to cough it out or swallow it down.
In fact, babies can make so much nasal mucus that they can choke or gag on it.
Wheezing: When your baby has chest congestion, you will likely hear a wheezing sound with their respiratory cycle. This is because the blocked airways may be inflamed due to mucus accumulation. The wheeze will sound like a faint whistle.
Gentle taps on your baby's back can help ease chest congestion. Lay them down across your knees and gently pat their back with your cupped hand. Or do it while they sit on your lap with their body leading forward about 30 degrees. It loosens mucus in the chest and makes it easier for them to cough it up.
The best default position for your baby to be in when they have a cold is upright. This helps for congestion to clear and for breathing to become easier. And, most importantly, it helps them get that vital rest they need so much.
Call Your Doctor If:
Any fever if under 12 weeks old. Nasal discharge lasts more than 14 days. Cough lasts more than 3 weeks. You think your child needs to be seen.
Chest and back percussion uses clapping (percussing) with a cupped hand, deep breathing, and then vibration to loosen and move mucus. Huffing and coughing. Huffing helps move mucus up in the lungs. Coughing moves it out.
In many cases, a choking baby can still breathe. If your baby is coughing or crying, air is still passing through their airway, despite the stuck object.
Use saline drops or spray
If you can't run to the store for saline drops or spray, try mixing one cup of warm, filtered water and a ½ teaspoon of salt. Make sure your mixture is completely cooled before using. Try tilting your baby's head back and spraying or squeezing a couple of drops inside the nose.
If your baby has a cold with no complications, it should resolve within 10 to 14 days. Most colds are simply a nuisance. But it's important to take your baby's signs and symptoms seriously. If symptoms don't improve or if they worsen, it's time to talk to your doctor.
Medical experts believe that when babies use pacifiers while dealing with a stuffy nose, it causes a damaging pressure in the tube between the nose and the ear, increasing the risk of ear infection.
Be sure to elevate their crib mattress by placing rolled Woolino blankets at the head end of the crib to assist gravity in draining mucus more efficiently. During the day, place your congested baby in an upright position whenever possible. Now would be the time to nap in a sling, upright on Mama's chest.
The best times to suction are before feeding and before bed. This will help your baby breathe easier when they eat and when they sleep. Make sure you don't suction too much and damage their nose.
Children under age 5 are at greatest risk for choking injury and death. Toys, household items and foods can all be a choking hazard. The most common cause of nonfatal choking in young children is food.
What is silent aspiration? Silent aspiration is when you accidentally inhale food, liquid or other material into your trachea (windpipe or airway) and you don't know it. Normally, when you eat or drink, nerves and muscles in your mouth and throat work together to keep food or liquids out of your airway and lungs.
Mild Choking is due to a partial blockage. When this happens, the person might be able to speak and will be trying to cough. You might hear wheezing or a gagging sound. You should encourage them to cough hard to clear the blockage. In some cases, back blows with the heel of your hand can loosen the object.
Clap your child's back or chest with your cupped hand quickly and rhythmically. This loosens the mucus, allowing it to drain. Do not clap directly on the skin—cover the area with thin clothing or a cloth.
Hoecker, M.D. Vicks VapoRub — a topical ointment made of ingredients including camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol that you rub on your throat and chest — doesn't relieve nasal congestion. But the strong menthol odor of VapoRub may trick your brain, so you feel like you're breathing through an unclogged nose.
It involves repeating a cycle made up of a number of different steps. These include a period of normal breathing, followed by deep breaths to loosen the mucus and force it up, then coughing the mucus out. The cycle is then repeated for 20 to 30 minutes.