One of the safest and most effective ways to help clear a baby's congestion is with a saline (salt water) spray or nose drops. These products are available without a prescription. If you use drops, place two drops in each nostril to loosen the mucus inside.
Keep Theirs Heads Upright
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.
Concerning Baby Congestion Symptoms
Your baby has a temperature of 100 degrees for more than three days. Your baby is experiencing ear or sinus pain. There is yellow eye discharge. There is a cough that lasts for more than one week.
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.
Newborns often have congestion soon after birth because of excess amniotic fluid in their noses. As a result, you may notice them sneezing more frequently as they work to clear the congestion. 6 Fortunately, this congestion should clear on its own within a few days to a week.
If your baby is under the age of 2, you should never apply Vicks to their chest, nose, feet, or elsewhere. You could try special nonmedicated rub for babies 3 months and older. The blend is dubbed as a “soothing ointment” that contains fragrances of eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender.
Children and infants have narrower nasal passageways than adults, making them more susceptible to nighttime congestion caused by inflammation or excess mucus. Very young children and especially infants, who mostly breathe through their nose, cannot blow their noses as adults can.
The usual way for your newborn baby to breathe is through their nose. This is unless their nasal passage has some blockage, which can lead to mouth breathing. Young babies don't develop the reflex to breathe through their mouths until they are 3 or 4 months old.
Try Saline (Saltwater) Drops
You can buy this at the store. Put a few drops into each nostril, and then use a bulb syringe to remove some mucus. It's safe to repeat this as often as you need. And if you do it right before your baby eats, it will make mealtime easier.
The theory is that the pacifier prevents the upper airway from getting blocked by the tongue. Some experts believe that they push any bedding away from the baby's nose, thereby helping them breathe, or that they can calm agitated babies and prevent them from struggling in the crib and getting under the bedding.
While Eucalyptus globulus is safe for adults, it should not be used on children under the age of 2. Contact your pediatrician before using eucalyptus to ease respiratory symptoms.
Rubin said the ingredients in Vicks can be irritants, causing the body to produce more mucus to protect the airway. And since infants and young children have airways that are much narrower than those of an adult, any increase in mucus or swelling can narrow them severely.
Many times, oil is diffused in the air in place of being applied to the skin. Since a baby's sinuses, lungs, and bodies are still developing, you should never use an essential oil diffuser when your baby is present.
Giving your baby a baby rubs or massages with eucalyptus oil before and after bathtime will work wonders for your baby mood and illness. Eucalyptus is great for treating fevers and reducing body temperature, and it is effective for treating a number of respiratory problems, including colds and coughing issues.
Infants can get seven colds in their first year alone, the Mayo Clinic says, all of which can seriously disrupt sleep. Even if your child is a star snoozer, a cold could result in odd sleep hours, multiple nighttime wakeups and increased clinginess around bedtime.
Use saline drops or spray
One of easiest ways to clear a baby's or toddler's nose is to use a saline nasal spray. Nasal spray works by thinning out the mucus, allowing the nose to clear out and ease congestion.
Try to limit suctioning to two to three times a day. Suctioning more often may cause the inside of the nose to dry out, get sore and bleed.
For the first few days of your baby's life, he or she may have a lot of mucus in their nose or throat. A baby's gag reflex can be triggered by too much mucus, so they may appear to choke if there are excess secretions in their mouth.
Never put anything directly in your baby's ears, eyes or nose. Wipe any material from the eyes, mouth, nose or outer ear with a soft, moistened cotton ball. Always use cotton swabs such as JOHNSON'S® baby cotton buds to clean hard-to-reach places.
"Suctioning a dry nose or too forceful of suction can irritate or injure the delicate skin inside the nose. Suctioning too much can also sometimes cause further swelling and irritation and make it seem like baby is more congested. Try not to suction more than a few times a day.
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. You can use saline drops to help loosen the mucus in your baby's nose before you suction.