Colds, flu or allergies are the main causes of stuffy noses in children. In a healthy baby, the mucus keeps the nasal membranes hydrated and cleansed; however, when the child becomes ill or is exposed to irritants, his mucus production increases, in one case to fight infection, in the other in reaction to inhaled substances. The end result is always the same: stuffy nose. Many children do not learn to blow their nose on their own before the age of 4; that's why relieving their stuffy noses requires special attention.
Steps
Step 1. Make sure the child's environment is free from irritants
The most common irritants are cigarette smoke, pollen and animal dandruff.
- Ask people living in the home with the child to stop smoking, or at least not to smoke inside or in the immediate vicinity of the home.
- Change the air conditioner and cooker hood filters often. Filter manufacturers recommend changing them every 30 to 60 days, but it's best to renew them more frequently if you have pets or if you or one of your family members have allergies. To determine if you need to replace filters, check how clean they are - pet hair and dandruff can clog a filter quickly.
- If your child is allergic to pollen, consult local weather forecasts for pollen spreading bulletins before planning outdoor activities. Try to go out with the baby only when the forecasts show a low percentage of pollen in the air.
Step 2. Make sure your baby is always hydrated
Drinking plenty of water helps keep the mucus fluid and easy to swallow, avoiding the risk of choking.
Give your baby water, milk, juice and broth to drink regularly throughout the day
Step 3. Use a nasal aspirator to remove excess mucus from the baby's nostrils
Since many children under 3-4 cannot blow their nose on their own, they need help getting rid of the mucus that clogs their nose. A nasal aspirator sucks the mucus from the nostrils. Aspirators have a bulb-shaped base and a longer, thinner section that fits into the nostrils.
- Have the baby lie down on your lap. You need to be able to reach his nostrils easily and hold him still in case of need.
- Grab the vacuum and press the bulb base.
- Insert the nozzle into the baby's nostril, keeping the base pressed.
- Slowly release the bulb, so as to suck up the excess mucus.
- Remove the nozzle from the nostril and empty the bulb into a tissue.
- Repeat the process for the second nostril.
Step 4. Give the baby a nasal irrigation of saline water
Since many cough and cold medicines are unsuitable for young children, saline is an absolutely safe neutral agent for babies and children to use against their stuffy noses.
- Have the baby position so that his head is lower than his feet.
- Gently spray a drop of saline into each nostril.
- Wait a minute or two to allow the saline solution to flow into your nasal passages. The baby may sneeze or cough mucus, so have a tissue handy.
- Use a nasal aspirator in case the child does not cough or sneeze the mucus.
Step 5. Use the steam to relieve a stuffy nose
Hot steam can unblock nasal congestion by softening secretions accumulated in the airways.
- Use the boiling water from the shower to generate steam.
- Have the baby sit in the bathroom with you.
- Close the bathroom door to keep the steam in the room.
- Stay in the bathroom for 10 to 20 minutes.
Step 6. Lift the baby's head as he sleeps
By keeping the baby's head raised above the body, you can make it easier for the baby to breathe while sleeping.
Raise the mattress of your cot by placing a tilted pillow or towel under the head area
Step 7. Place a humidifier or vaporizer in the baby's room when he sleeps
These steps will humidify the air, making it easier for the sleeping baby to breathe.
- Put the baby to bed.
- Place the vaporizer or humidifier on the floor or other stable surface.
- Insert the plug into the socket.
Advice
- Spread a small amount of Vaporub under the sole of the baby's foot and slip the wool socks on. This will help him sleep even if his nose is very stuffy.
- Apply petroleum jelly around the baby's nostrils to prevent wounds, dry skin and irritation from forming.
- If you want to use a homemade saline solution, you can give it to your child using an eye dropper.
Warnings
- Clean the vaporizer or humidifier often, otherwise bacteria and fungi will proliferate on the device. Rinse the humidifier with boiling water every day. After every three days of use, clean it with a very diluted bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly with running water after using the bleach.
- Do not use the same nasal irrigation applicator on multiple children. You risk passing germs from one child to another.
