Baby Stuffy Nose
What to do for a Baby Stuffy Nose
Having a baby in the house will make what to do for a baby stuffy nose an inevitable question. At some point during a baby’s young months parents will face one many common maladies, everything from a runny nose to a stuffy nose to colic, to name a few. Parents who are prepared and know what to do to help provide relief will find themselves in a much better frame of mind and able to handle the situation without panic.
The first thing not to do is self-diagnose. The Internet is full of symptom checkers that can lead to the wrong conclusion and the wrong treatment. The best bet is to find temporary relief for a baby stuffy nose and then take the infant to the doctor when the office opens. A baby stuffy nose is not the same as an adult stuffy nose and should not be treated the same.
To help provide the baby with relief and help the household get some sleep, the air needs to be moist to help loosen the nasal passages. If there is not a humidifier available or if the congestion is severe and needs to be broken up enough to allow the infant some rest, the bathroom is an excellent interim solution. Turn the shower on hot and close the bathroom door. Allow the bathroom to steam up. Sit in the bathroom for fifteen or twenty minutes with the baby to open the nasal passages. If there is a humidifier available put it in the room with the baby.
Saline drops are often helpful in opening up the nasal passages. Saline drops can be purchased at the drug store or made at home with a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water. Don’t over salt the water as it can burn if there is infection in the nasal cavity. Use an eyedropper to put one or two drops in the stuffed up side of the baby’s nostril and gently massage.
All nurseries should have a bulb syringe for suctioning baby’s nose. Infants do not know how to blow their nose and so it is up to the parents to suction out mucous when they have a baby stuffy nose. The baby is not going to be particularly fond of having its nose suctioned and so it must be done carefully. Squeeze the bulb before placing it in the tip of the baby’s nose. Don’t try to stick the tip of the bulb syringe too far up the baby’s nose, just far enough to reach the mucous. Release the bulb once it is in baby’s nose to suck out the mucous. Squeeze the mucous out onto a napkin and rinse the bulb in saline water to clean it out after use.
Reassure the baby with comforting words and soothing pats no matter what method is used to relieve the stuffy nose. The baby will most likely be scared due to not being able to breathe properly and will most likely be anxious. Offer comfort and reassurance as you either use steam or suction to provide relief until a doctor can be reached.