Infant Stuffy Nose
What to do about a stuffy nose in infants
Dealing with a stuffy nose in infants is not pleasant, and it may take some work to clear it up. Of course what makes trying to clear a stuffy nose in infants so difficult is the fact that you really can’t give the baby medicine. However, there are plenty of other more natural remedies that usually do the trick.
One of the most common ways to clear a stuffy nose in infants isn’t fun for the little one, but it is sometimes necessary. All parents should have a nasal aspirator in the house for these times. Although baby probably won’t appreciate having his nose cleared, it is a necessary evil, and he will be breathing much easier afterward.
If you’re having a difficult time using the nasal aspirator, you might try using a bit of warm water inside the baby’s nostrils to help loosen up the mucus. This will help you get more mucus out with the aspirator. There are also some over-the-counter remedies like Little Noses saline solution that can help you loosen the mucus. You can even try making your own saline solution by mixing some salt with warm water. Just be careful that you mix it properly however, because you don’t want to put too much salt in the water you’re about to place in your baby’s nose.
There are also some topical remedies you might try to clear out all the mucus. Products like Vick’s VapoRub use menthol vapors to help clear baby’s nose out. These topical remedies are usually applied to baby’s chest.
To help with a stuffy nose in infants overnight, try running a humidifier in baby’s room. This can greatly relieve overnight breathing problems in little ones and help them to sleep better. Another option for overnight relief is a cool mist vaporizer. It works much the same way as a humidifier, although it uses cool air instead of warm. For a quick fix during the day, you can even try turning the hot water on in the shower and closing the bathroom door. This will trap plenty of steam in the air, which will also loosen the mucus and help you clear out that stuffy nose in infants.
If baby’s stuffy nose is extreme and there is a fever, you should call your pediatrician right away. This could be a sign of a serious infection, and you should always call the doctor if baby’s temperature is over 100 degrees and she’s under a year old. Even if there doesn’t seem to be a serious infection, your doctor can offer some other remedies that are safe for very small babies.
Although dealing with a stuffy nose in infants can be very frustrating for new parents, especially without any real cold medicine to help relieve symptoms, there are plenty of other ways to help baby breathe better. The easier their little one breathes, the better mom and dad will be able to sleep at night also.