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To see your newborn suffer from a nasal congestion can be the hardest thing for you – but not just as hard on your little one! The fact is that babies have nasal congestion very often. You might want to clear that cute little nose, but don’t know how to do it. Or you might try cleaning it up, but might get a bit crude. What’s the best way to clear up your baby’s nasal congestion? Is it alright to let the stuffy nose settle by itself? Read on to know more:
1. The Natural Sneezing Mechanism In Babies
You might have noticed that babies sneeze often. Sneezing is just one way for your baby to clear off its nose naturally. The nasal passages in babies are small. On top of that, they can get clogged with lint from dust, spit up residue, fur, clothing, pet hair, or other airborne dirt. To eliminate them from the body, babies tend to sneeze a lot. Also, you need to remember that babies are more of mouth-breathers and don’t easily alternate between breathing through the nose and breathing through their mouths. You should get concerned about your baby’s sneezes only if you see other signs of an illness.
2. The Causes Of Nasal Congestion
There can be some nasal irritants that can cause nasal congestion in babies. The nasal irritants are usually environmental factors. These can be:
- Smoke – cigarette smoke, smoke from incense sticks/dhoop/samrani, etc.
- Dust
- Fur from pets and stuffed toys
- Perfumes and scents
- Hair sprays
- Emulsions or Paints
- Gasoline fumes
- Aerosol sprays etc.
3. Treating Stuffy Nose In Newborns
A lot of doctors might recommend against treating stuffy nose in newborns unless there are other accompanying symptoms. As mothers, you will be bent upon making your child feel better and breathe better. While the doctors think that you might actually irritate their little noses with saline or objects that might actually end up harming their noses, you might think that with caution, you can still manage to clear off their noses and help them breathe fine. As a mother, you might also argue that your baby would be able to nurse better if it has a clear nasal passage.
4. Over-The-Counter Saline Nasal Drops
Saline nasal drops certainly help in loosening the mucus in your baby’s nose. When you apply the nasal drops, they loosen the snot and make your baby sneeze, so the blockages are pushed outwards through the nasal passage. With the help of a nasal aspirator or a bulb syringe, you will be able to remove the sticky stuff that had been an obstruction in your baby’s nose. You need to bear in mind that you have to be gentle while cleaning your baby’s nose. Being aggressive might only harm the baby’s nose than help it.
5. Use A Humidifier
It might be a good idea to get home a humidifier so that the moisture in the air will enable your baby to breathe with more ease.
6. Keeping Your Baby’s Head Elevated
You might want to put your baby a bit reclined while sleeping. Or you might just help your baby by elevating his head while sleeping. Don’t use pillows. You could add a cushion under the mattress or just under his head or simply hold him a little upright while he sleeps. Don’t use pillows as quite a few babies have been at the risk of sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS by using pillows.
It is common for babies to have a stuffy nose, so there is little that you can do to prevent it. It is also something which babies can cope with on their own. You can, however, help your little one breathe better with these little tips.
