how to overcome nasal congestion in babies

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How to Help a Congested Baby

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• When to See the Pediatrician

Frequently Asked Questions

If your baby has a stuffy nose, you're probably wondering what you should do—and if you should be concerned. Rest assured that it's very common for babies to have nasal congestion from time to time, especially when they are a newborn. In fact, typically, newborn congestion is nothing to worry about and can easily be treated with home remedies.

Keep in mind that newborn noses are small with tiny nasal passages. Because of that, your baby might sneeze often , too. These sneezes don't necessarily mean they have a cold, but instead are their body's natural way of clearing the nose of irritants. Below is everything you need to know about newborn congestion, including how to help your baby when they have a stuffy nose and when to call the doctor.

Click Play to Learn How to Help Your Baby With Uncomfortable Congestion

What causes newborn congestion.

As long as your newborn's congestion is not accompanied by other symptoms or interfering with their eating or breathing , there is most likely no reason for concern. At birth, it's normal for babies to be congested. They typically get some amniotic fluid in their noses that can result in stuffiness for the first few days after birth.

Saliva, breast milk, or formula can also make their way into your baby's nose, causing them to sneeze in an effort to clear it out. Other causes of congestion include airborne substances, such as dust, pet dander, hairspray, perfume, and cigarette smoke, all of which can irritate nasal passages.

Finally, dry air, colds, viruses, and allergies are common causes of nasal congestion, as well. With so many potential reasons for congestion in babies, it's not surprising that they may have a stuffy nose more often than not.

Congestion vs. Runny Nose

Congestion is when nasal passages are swollen with excess mucus, while a runny nose is characterized by fluid coming out of the nose. "Stuffy noses are on the opposite spectrum of the runny nose," says Dr. Stempel.

"An upper respiratory infection, or the common cold, is the most common cause of a runny nose in babies," says Hilary Stempel, MD, MPH , a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Colorado and assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Congestion, on the other hand, is not necessarily a sign of infection. "Nearly all babies will get a stuffy nose and this can sound very dramatic! Just a tiny bit of snot can block a baby’s tiny nostril and make loud 'snorky' sounds," explains Dr. Stempel.

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin

How to Prevent Baby Congestion

While some congestion is inevitable, especially in newborns, there are things you can do to help prevent bothersome congestion, especially from colds. The first step is knowing what congestion culprits to avoid. For instance, keep your baby away from the following common nasal irritants:

• Aerosol sprays
• Cigarette smoke
• Hair sprays
• Lint and dust
• Paint or gasoline fumes
• Perfumes or scented body lotions

For babies under 3 months old , it's important to keep them away from anyone who is sick. Avoiding crowds can help, too. This practice is especially important in the winter months when more people are sick with colds and other viruses. Keep in mind that a virus that only causes a mild illness in an adult can result in a serious situation for an infant.

Hilary Stempel, MD, MPH

To prevent colds in babies, have plans in place when your baby meets new people. For example, make certain everyone washes their hands, is current on their vaccines (flu, Tdap, COVID), and is free of cold symptoms when being with your baby.

Also, make sure you are frequently washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If you have older children in the house, be sure they are also frequently washing their hands and covering their coughs. You also should stay up-to-date on your vaccines, including the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine . Doing so will help protect your baby from exposure to these illnesses.

What to Consider When Helping a Baby With Congestion

Some doctors advise against treating your newborn's stuffy nose, especially if they're feeding well and urinating normally. They argue that it usually isn't necessary to further irritate a baby's nasal passage with salt water or bulb syringes.

Others may recommend simple solutions to clear nasal congestion. These include using a humidifier, saline drops, and/or a bulb syringe. "It can be most helpful to remove mucus from your baby’s nose before feeding so your baby can eat more easily," explains Dr. Stempel.

How to Treat Congestion in Babies

If your newborn is particularly congested and appears distressed, there are some things you can do. "Helping remove the mucus from your baby’s nose should make them more comfortable," says Dr. Stempel.

If you decide to try one or more home remedies, here's what you need to know about helping clear your baby's congested nose.

Invest in a Humidifier

A humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer in your baby's room will add moisture to the air and help your baby breathe more easily. Be sure to clean the humidifier regularly in order to prevent mold growth. Avoid the use of warm-mist vaporizers as they have the potential of burning your baby.

Start With Saline Nasal Drops

Over-the-counter saline nasal drops can be helpful for loosening a mucus-filled baby nose. "Putting nasal saline in your baby’s nose will often help them sneeze to remove the snot on their own," says Dr. Stempel. These drops thin the mucus and help your baby move it out of their nose.

Use a Bulb Syringe

After using saline drops, you can then use a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator to suck out the mucus and clear your baby's nose. Don't be overly aggressive with these devices though, as it's easy to do more harm than good.

While it may be tempting to vigorously remove snot from your baby’s nose, this can be problematic. Too much irritation from a suction tool (using bulb suction too often or using a powerful motorized suction tool) can cause swelling and irritation of your baby’s nostrils. This irritation can make breathing even more difficult.

When it comes to addressing nasal congestion, there are some things you should steer clear of regardless of how congested your baby's nose is. Here's what to avoid.

Cough and Cold Medicines

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend cough and cold medicines for children under 4 years of age. Meanwhile, children 4 to 6 years of age should only be given cough and cold medications if their pediatrician recommends it.

Menthol Rubs

Rubs (such as Vicks VapoRub ) are not recommended for children under 2 years of age. Experts warn that these products can irritate and cause dangerous narrowing of the airway in infants and young children.

Wedges Under the Crib Mattress

The AAP's safe sleep recommendations include placing your baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface like a crib or a bassinet. The use of wedges or other devices is not recommended, as propping up your baby may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

When to See Your Baby’s Pediatrician

Be sure to see a doctor right away if your baby is younger than 3 months old and their stuffy nose is making it difficult for them to breathe comfortably or nurse or drink from a bottle, says Dr. Stempel. If the congestion is related to a cold, you should contact a doctor right away. Colds in babies this young can quickly become dangerous problems like croup , bronchiolitis, or pneumonia.

For children older than 3 months, call for a medical appointment if their nasal congestion lasts longer than 10 to 14 days. You also should contact a doctor if your baby has a fever over 102 , is lethargic or cranky, appears to have ear pain, or has a cough that won't go away.

Regardless of your baby's age, get help right away either by going to the emergency room or calling 9-1-1 if your baby's congestion is making it difficult for them to breathe.

Signs that your baby is struggling for air include:

• Fast breathing
• Lips or nails that are turning blue
• Nostrils that get larger with each breath
• Skin around the ribs sucking in with each breath

A Word From Verywell

Often, your baby's stuffy nose bothers you more than it bothers your baby. Stuffy noses are very common, especially in newborns, and babies can cope quite well on their own. Of course, if the congestion is lingering you can use a cool-mist humidifier to make their sleeping environment more comfortable.

Saline drops along with a nasal aspirator are other options, but they should not be used aggressively or too often. The best course of action is often to simply wait it out. If you're concerned about your baby's stuffy nose, contact a pediatric healthcare provider for advice. But as long as they don't have any other symptoms or a cold, a stuffy nose is usually nothing to worry about.

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. Fortunately, this congestion should clear on its own within a few days to a week.

Moist air not only helps relieve your baby's nasal congestion but it also can make for a more comforting sleep environment. When selecting a humidifier for your baby, it's best to opt for a cool-mist humidifier over a warm-mist one.

Although they both accomplish the same thing, a cool-mist humidifier is safer because the steam from a warm-mist humidifier could get too warm or burn your baby if they get too close. Even an accidental spill from a warm-mist humidifier can cause burns.

When a young baby is congested due to a cold, sleeping can be a challenge. But there are things you can do to improve their sleep. First, try using a cool-mist humidifier in their room. Not only is the moist air comforting, but it also can keep mucus flowing and prevent it from clogging your baby's nose.

Before bed, try using saline drops to thin the mucus and a nasal aspirator to clear away any excess mucus. If your baby wakes in the middle of the night to feed, you can clear their nasal passages again if they seem particularly stuffy.

Saint Luke’s. Stuffy nose, sneezing, and hiccups in newborns .

American Academy of Pediatrics. Sinus pain and congestion .

Sears W, Sears M, Sears R, Sears J. The Baby Book, Revised Edition. Everything you need to know about your baby from birth to age two . Little, Brown and Company, 2013.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Children and colds .

American Academy of Pediatrics. Caring for your child's cold or flu .

Chirico G, Quartarone G, Mallefet P. Nasal congestion in infants and children: A literature review on efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological treatments . Minerva Pediatr . 2014 Dec;66(6):549-57. PMID:25336097

American Academy of Pediatrics. Colds: What you need to know .

American Academy of Pediatrics. How to keep your sleeping baby safe: AAP policy explained .

Foster JP, Dawson JA, Davis PG, Dahlen HG. Routine oro/nasopharyngeal suction versus no suction at birth .  Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2017;4(4):CD010332. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010332.pub2

Trabalon M, Schaal B.  It takes a mouth to eat and a nose to breathe: abnormal oral respiration affects neonates' oral competence and systemic adaptation .  Int J Pediatr . 2012;2012:207605. doi:10.1155/2012/207605

By Jennifer White Jennifer White has authored parenting books and has worked in childcare and education fields for over 15 years.

• Second Opinion

Solutions for Your Newborn’s Stuffy Nose

When you have a baby, there are many sounds you can’t get enough of like those adorable squeaks, coos, and grunts. But if your baby has a stuffy nose and sounds like he or she is having trouble breathing, it can make even the most experienced parent worry. Fortunately, there are a variety of steps you can take to help clear up your baby’s congestion so you can all breathe easy again.

Nose Drops and Suction

Squeeze one to two drops of saline nose drops in each nostril to help loosen up any dried mucus and then use a rubber suction bulb. To use it, first squeeze the bulb. Next, gently stick the tip of the bulb into a nostril. Finally, slowly release the bulb and it will pull out clogged mucus. Repeat on the other nostril. You may want to use saline nose drops before each feeding to help your baby breathe more easily while eating.

Raise the Humidity

Adding moisture to the air can keep mucus from drying up inside your baby’s nose. One way to add humidity is with a humidifier. Set up a cool-mist humidifier in your baby’s room near the crib, but out of the baby’s reach. Regularly clean and dry it to keep bacteria or mold from growing inside. You could also try running a warm shower and sitting in the bathroom with your baby while he or she breathes in the warm, misty air.

Wipe It Away

Use a wet cotton swab to wipe away sticky mucus that may be blocking your baby’s nostrils.

When to Call the Doctor

If you have any concerns about your baby’s congestion or he or she has any other signs of illness, such as a fever or cough, contact your pediatrician. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell when a newborn is sick. A simple cold can become something more serious such as croup or pneumonia. If your baby is struggling to breathe or seems to be breathing rapidly, contact your pediatrician right away.

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All About Baby and Newborn Nasal Congestion

Newborn babies will experience nasal congestion (snuffles) quite often, as they naturally accumulate mucus in their noses but can’t easily clear it out. Chest and nasal congestion are also typical symptoms of colds, flu and other respiratory infections, to which your newborn baby is more susceptible. Find out how to help a congested baby at home and when you may need to call your doctor.

Your Baby’s Congested Nose and Chest: Why It Happens

Nasal congestion is common in babies younger than 6 months, as they naturally build up mucus without a way to clear it – your newborn can’t simply blow their nose like older children and adults can. So, although common colds and other infections can make baby congestion worse, a stuffy nose can also happen without your little one being ill.

Chest congestion or congestion that affects your baby’s nose and throat is typically caused by respiratory tract infections (RTIs), such as a cold. With hundreds of different cold viruses – none of which your little one has been exposed to yet – it’s not surprising that babies tend to have about eight colds each year. As they grow older and build immunity, colds will be less frequent.

In most cases, baby congestion caused by respiratory tract infections can be treated at home with simple remedies that help alleviate symptoms and gradually move the virus out of the body. Although most colds go away in about five to seven days for children, it could take up to two weeks for newborns and younger babies.

Baby Congestion Symptoms

The most common symptoms of newborn nasal congestion are

making more noise when breathing

having more trouble with feeds.

Your baby sounds congested if they ‘snort’ while breathing, and because children younger than 6 months can’t breathe through their mouths yet, nasal congestion will make feeding more challenging. This can also make your baby more tired than usual and interrupt sleep.

If your newborn’s stuffy nose is due to a respiratory tract infection, you may notice some of the following additional symptoms:

Coughing (wet with green or yellow mucus)

Wheezing, breathlessness

Difficulty sleeping

Crying from discomfort (body aches, headaches, sinus pressure, etc.).

Baby Chest Congestion: Dry or Wet Cough

If your baby’s cough sounds wet (wheezing) or accompanies mucus, it’s most likely due to chest congestion. Coughs tend to last about three or four weeks and typically clear up on their own. Respiratory tract infections are the main causes of chest congestion, as they infect sinuses, throat, airways or lungs.

If your baby’s cough doesn’t accompany other symptoms or sounds dry or irritated, they most likely don’t have chest congestion. Dry coughs are often characteristic of conditions like whooping cough , which can produce a ‘whoop’ sound when gasping for breath between coughs.

Although coughs can clear up on their own in a matter of weeks, it’s best to contact your doctor or call 111 if your baby is younger than 6 months and has a dry, persistent cough or a wet cough that involves wheezing.

It’s important to note that experts don’t recommend decongestants for kids younger than 6 years nor certain over-the-counter cough medicine for children younger than 12 years, so always check with your doctor before giving your child medication .

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How to Help a Congested Baby

Sometimes, you don’t need to do anything to combat baby congestion. If nasal or chest congestion isn’t interfering with your baby’s feeds or sleeping, you can simply wait for the mucus or infection to clear on its own. However, if your baby feels unwell, can’t sleep or has trouble with feeds, the following remedies might provide some relief:

Remove the mucus. If your baby is congested but no snot is coming out, you can try stroking the inside of their nostril with cotton wool to prompt a sneeze. If that doesn’t do the trick to remove the mucus, talk to your health visitor or doctor about using bulb syringes.

Humidify the air. Loosen the mucus by using a cold-steam humidifier in your baby’s room. This can especially help if your baby is congested at night.

Use saline drops. Talk to your doctor about using saline drops to help thin out the mucus, making it easier to remove. Only use these drops if your baby’s nostrils are fully blocked and remove the mucus with a bulb syringe immediately after using the saline drops.

Encourage rest. Help your baby to rest and sleep, staying as warm and cosy as possible. You can do this by soothing your baby with rocking or a warm bath.

Give extra feedings. If feeding is difficult for your little one, you may need to provide extra feedings throughout the day and remove mucus before feeding. Extra feeds can also increase fluids to prevent dehydration in babies , especially if they have a respiratory tract infection.

Pain relief medication. Talk to your doctor first, but if your little one appears to be feeling unwell, your GP may recommend using liquid pain relief to help reduce pain, aches or pressure due to baby congestion.

Don’t smoke. If you smoke around your baby, they have a great risk of developing serious chest illnesses that can cause nasal congestion and coughing, such as bronchiolitis, asthma, croup and pneumonia.

Baby Congestion: When to See Your Doctor

As mentioned above, contact your doctor when your baby’s cough gets worse, persistent or accompanies wheezing or a whooping sound. Call 999 or take your baby to A&E if you notice the following symptoms, which may indicate a more serious illness:

A fever , especially when your newborn is less than 3 months old

If your baby has trouble breathing or is breathing rapidly or irregularly

Your child appears to be very unwell, seems extra tired and floppy or is pale and sweaty

A cough that lasts longer than three weeks

Your little one coughs up blood or has blood-stained mucus

Your baby has swollen glands or is losing weight.

FAQS AT A GLANCE

How do you decongest a baby.

There are a few things you can try to help your baby’s congestion:

• Use saline drops and clear out any mucus using a bulb syringe
• Place a cold-steam humidifier in your baby’s room
• Encourage rest and give your baby extra feeds to stay hydrated
• Don’t smoke around your baby.

When should you worry about your baby’s congestion?

If your baby has the following symptoms in addition to having congestion, you should contact your doctor:

• A persistent cough that gets worse or lasts longer than three weeks
• Bloody mucus
• Weight loss
• Appearing unwell, pale or sweaty
• Swollen glands.

How can you help a baby congested at night?

Try using a cold-steam humidifier in your baby’s room. Humid air may help to moisten and loosen the mucus and make it easier for your baby to breathe while sleeping.

The Bottom Line

Congestion is something your baby will experience from time to time, as it’s a common symptom of natural mucus accumulation or a cold. Easy home remedies and treatments, like clearing your little one’s nose with saline spray and using a cold-steam humidifier in the bedroom, can help ease your baby’s congested nose or chest.

You can also clear nasal passages with saline drops followed by suctioning out the mucus with a bulb syringe. Try doing this before a feeding and bedtime so it’s easier for your baby to feed and sleep. Before you know it – with your gentle care and lots of cuddles – your little one will be back to their old self again!

• NHS: Respiratory Tract Infection
• NHS: Colds, Coughs and Ear Infections in Children
• NHS: NAPC Colds and Nasal Congestion
• NHS: Decongestants
• NHS: Soothing a Crying Baby
• NHS: Whooping Cough
• NHS: Chest Infection

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How To Clear Congestion From Your Baby’s Nose & Throat

Sometimes less is more when it comes to remedying Baby’s congestion.

For some babies (and their parents), cold season seems as if it’s every season — especially since trying to relieve a baby’s congestion often feels like a futile task. (Let’s face it, getting snot out of an infant’s nose is no easy feat.) But while caregivers want to do everything they can to comfort their little munchkins when they are congested (meaning ridding that mucus from baby’s throat and nose), they need to make sure they are doing it safely — and when it is appropriate.

“The most important question in deciding if and when and how to remove mucus is whether or not the mucus is bothering your baby,” Dr. Rebekah Diamond, M.D ., pediatrician and author of Parent Like a Pediatrician , tells Romper. “If your baby is congested but comfortable and there’s nothing else you or your pediatrician are worried about, it’s really OK to leave it there.” Of course, parents and pediatricians alike know it’s hard to hear your baby sniffling and coughing — but it’s important to understand the causes of infant congestion, when to contact a healthcare provider, and, if necessary, how to get mucus out of baby’s throat and nose naturally (and with minimal tears).

Why your baby is congested

“Unfortunately, babies do get sick. This is a normal part of childhood, especially for infants in the first year of daycare,” pediatrician Dr. Krupa Playforth , M.D., FAAP, tells Romper. “Washing hands often and well, and keeping children away from sick people — or keeping them home when they're sick — can go a long way to minimize their exposure to illnesses, but it may not fully prevent it.”

Playforth explains that almost anything can result in an irritation of the nasal passageways (and thus an increase in mucus) — including a viral or bacterial infection, environmental factors that can cause rhinitis (or a stuffy nose), and reflux, which can cause a buildup of mucus secretions. While she adds that it is important to rule out or address any underlying health issues that may be contributing to congestion in the nose and throat, this condition in itself is pretty common in babies.

Also, a little congestion can often sound like a whole lot. “Many young infants, especially, can sound very congested because of a build-up of mucus — not because the volume of mucus is excessive, but because they have tiny nasal passageways which are easier to occlude,” Playforth adds. This, she explains, becomes less problematic as both the size of the passageways increases and the child is better able to clear them. Diamond also notes that babies’ breathing physiology — newborns breathe almost solely through their noses — is different from older kids and adults, making normal congestion (which a lot of babies are born with) that much more apparent.

But while common in babies, congestion “should be checked by a pediatrician or health care provider if it is causing issues with feeding or accompanied by a fever or irritability,” pediatrician Dr. Sara Siddiqui , M.D., FAAP, advises. Babies under 3 months should be examined for any congestion or cough (and before administering any of the home remedies or interventions below), and persisting symptoms in older infants should be addressed by a healthcare professional, as well. Basically, if a parent is concerned at all, getting your child examined is always the correct course of action.

How to remove mucus from baby's nose naturally

“The best thing to do is to focus on your child's comfort level,” advises Playforth. “Some parents get obsessive about removing mucus for the sake of removing mucus — and overdoing the removal can actually cause irritation and swelling of the nasal passageways, too. So do only as much as needs to be done.”

Of course, clearing the nasal passageways (after making sure there is no nasal trauma or bleeding and that the baby is breathing well) makes sense “if your child has thick secretions that are interfering with the ability to breathe comfortably or to feed (which is something we often see in young babies who are feeding from a breast or a bottle) … or interferes with the baby's ability to sleep ,” she says. [Note: There is a difference between noisy breathing due to congestion and respiratory distress. Signs of respiratory distress (breathing fast, using muscles to breathe which causes the ribs to be exposed, nose flaring, or the neck skin tugging in) or any big breathing issue (for example from bronchiolitis ), requires immediate medical attention, says Diamond.

So aside from letting a non-threatening viral infection run its course, here’s what caregivers can do to remove mucus and make their little ones a bit more comfortable.

Use non-medicated saline drops

Getting store-bought non-medicated saline drops into tiny noses is an art form (kids usually hate them) — but Siddiqui says that they’re often the best way to start clearing mucus congestion. In fact, sneezing away the gunk after use is actually good. “Using saline drops can decrease the thickness of the mucus, making it easier to clear on its own,” she explains, adding that they can be administered three to four times a day as needed and caregivers should make sure the packaging clearly states non-medicated . “If the nasal congestion is not too thick and not causing other symptoms, like difficulty feeding or sleeping, then it would be all right to let it resolve naturally.” Again, she does note that use of these and any at-home interventions for babies under 3 months should only be under the supervision of a pediatrician or health care provider.

Carefully suction with a syringe bulb

A small, clean suction bulb (or a nasal aspirator like the popular Nose Frida) — in conjunction with saline drops to first loosen or thin out the mucus — can literally help suck out some of the snot, especially before feeds or sleep time. Siddiqui, though, emphasizes that extracting mucus should be done gently. “Sometimes overuse of the bulb syringe may cause irritation in the nasal passage,” she explains. “If the nasal passage is getting irritated or becoming red then it is best to continue saline nose drops without using a bulb syringe. Using a non-medicated ointment such as Vaseline or Aquaphor would help skin irritation secondary to mucus congestion around the nose area.”

Turn on a cool mist humidifier

They might be a pain to clean (and ridding them from bacteria is super important), but a cool mist humidifier , says Playforth, can help keep the air moist and therefore help ease stuffiness. (Keeping babies well-hydrated and the environment free from irritants also helps.) Playforth does, though, warn against the use of “essential oils or other aromatherapy as some of those products have been associated with bronchospasm [a tightening of the airways] and airway irritation, and they are not effective.”

How to help clear baby's throat congestion naturally

Getting phlegm (often the thicker secretions from the lower respiratory tract) and mucus out of a baby’s system is often challenging, notes Playforth. But there are ways to make your baby a bit more comfortable if the symptoms seem to be bothering them.

Address congestion in the nose

“Postnasal drip happens as a result of excess mucus which goes backwards rather than out of the nares,” explains Playforth. “For babies, this is a common way that mucus goes because they aren’t able to blow their nose.” Siddiqui also notes that postnasal drip, and subsequent coughing, can be caused by “increased congestion from the adenoids that sit above the tonsils and may drip down the back of the throat causing irritation and pain.”

So what can be done? Playforth suggests using saline drops, and — if necessary — suctioning out the nose to help decrease the amount of postnasal drip that can occur. And while sleeping with congestion often leads to a lack of sleep (for both babies and parents), she reminds caregivers to “not raise the head of the bed [or] incline the baby in an effort to try to help prevent postnasal drip,” as guidelines state the importance of babies being put to sleep on a flat surface and on their backs.

Keep baby well hydrated

There simply isn’t an easy way to remove mucus from the throat, but Playforth notes that “hydration will help wash down sticky mucus that is hanging out because of postnasal drip … and the natural mechanism of coughing serves to do this to some extent as well.” Siddiqui also explains that even a small amount of clear fluids (with medical supervision for babies younger than 4 months) will help to thin out whatever mucus is in the back of the throat.

Sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom

Think of it as a baby-and-me spa day! Well, not exactly, but this natural remedy for breaking down mucus is a favorite among pediatricians. “Steam inhalation can work to help break up some of the thicker secretions,” advises Playforth of how to loosen congestion in the nose and the throat. “The best way to do this is to turn on the shower and wait until the bathroom mirrors get foggy. Then sit in the bathroom with the baby for 10 to 15 minutes.” Playforth adds that, in terms of breaking down mucus, “some gentle rubbing or patting of the back may help, especially if you also hold your baby upright — but it is important to make sure you are not shaking the baby vigorously.”

Use a syringe bulb in the mouth — gently

While Diamond says that “just a gentle suctioning of the mouth is fine with those little bulbs,” she notes that it can be irritating and there is often no need, unless recommended by the pediatrician. Playforth emphasizes this should be done in the cheek and absolutely nowhere near the throat.

Are there any decongestant medicines safe for babies?

The short — and long — answer is no. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) generally does not recommend these types of medications for children under 6, but in some instances, doctors might recommend it for children between 4 and 6, says Playforth. Says Diamond, “the reality is that they just don’t work and they have a lot of side effects.”

Diamond also cautions against companies that market their medicinal products as natural. “I just like to remind parents that anything that is going to treat anything is a medicine,” she says. “If it says natural or over-the-counter, it probably means it’s just found a loophole to skip FDA testing. So, again, I would check with your pediatrician.”

For babies over the age of 1 (which is important because honey can be dangerous before then), Diamond suggests a spoonful of honey as the only cough medicine to go down for young children. “It is a great way to help a toddler with a cough,” she says, adding that it is “a true scientifically-proven cough suppressant.”

Of course, when it comes to babies and congestion (and barring any concerns or dangerous warning signs), Playforth reminds caregivers that anything you are doing to remove mucus should be done to improve a baby’s comfort level — not just for the sake of removing mucus. Adds Diamond, “Sometimes kids just want to sleep and rest and they’re safe and they’re going to be noisy [while breathing], and in a few days they’re going to be better.”

Dr. Rebekah Diamond , M.D., a hospital pediatrician in New York City, assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University, and author of Parent Like a Pediatrician

Dr. Krupa Playforth , M.D, FAAP, pediatrician based in Virginia and founder of The Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Sara Siddiqui , M.D., FAAP, pediatrician at the NYU Langone Huntington Medical Group and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York

This article was originally published on November 3, 2022

Chest and Nasal Congestion in Newborns and Babies

Chest and nasal congestion are common symptoms of the common cold and other respiratory infections. However, because your baby can’t simply blow their own nose, you’ll have to take steps to help relieve your little one’s congested nose and chest. Find out how you can help treat your baby’s congestion at home and when you may need to see their healthcare provider.

Why Your Baby’s Nose and Chest Are Congested

Nasal congestion happens when the nose and surrounding tissues, including the blood vessels, become swollen with excess mucus. This, in turn, results in what’s commonly called a stuffy nose, often described as a "plugged” feeling. Sometimes, nasal congestion also includes discharge, more commonly called a runny nose. Congestion that affects the nose and throat is typically caused by an upper respiratory tract infection such as a cold. Similarly, chest congestion happens when the airways of the lungs swell and then fill with mucus, which can make breathing difficult. It often leads to a wet-sounding or productive cough. Congestion that affects the chest is caused by a lower respiratory tract infection . It’s very common for babies to develop upper respiratory infections, such as colds, or lower respiratory tract infections, sometimes even in their first few months. These infections can easily spread through respiratory droplets in the air or by contact with contaminated surfaces or family members who are ill. Since congestion is only a symptom of an underlying illness, your child must first get over the infection causing the illness for the congestion to completely clear. In most cases, you can treat a cold at home with simple remedies to help alleviate symptoms like congestion and make your baby feel more comfortable. If it’s more than a cold, such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, your child’s healthcare provider may prescribe medication to treat the underlying infection, which in turn can help relieve the congestion.

How to Tell If Your Baby Is Congested

Your baby can't tell you they're congested, of course, but you may notice that they are making more noise than usual when they breathe or having more trouble taking liquids. Sometimes you can see that your little one has a stuffy nose and may even have mucus dripping from their nose as well, which is another sign of congestion. When your baby is experiencing congestion, they have likely developed an upper or lower respiratory tract infection. Here are additional symptoms of respiratory infections to look out for:

Nasal discharge that may be clear at first but then thickens and turns yellow or green

Difficulty nursing or taking a bottle

Wet or productive cough

Difficulty sleeping

Slightly elevated temperature (a high fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is rare, but if that’s the case, contact your baby’s healthcare provider).

Newborns and babies younger than 3 or 4 months have a tough time with congestion, which can cause discomfort in many ways. A baby can't blow their nose, so the mucus in the nasal passage has no way of coming out without help from an adult. Not only that: a young infant isn't able to breathe well through their mouth, so any congestion can interrupt sleep, causing them to wake up. It can also make feeding more difficult, as the baby must stop sucking to take a breath now and then.

The Difference Between a Dry and Wet Cough

If your baby’s cough sounds wet, it’s most likely due to chest congestion. The cough will often last longer than a runny nose if your baby has that symptom as well. It’s best to consult your baby’s healthcare provider if your little one has a cough, especially if younger than 2 months old. If the cough sounds dry or irritated, your baby most likely won’t have chest congestion. Dry coughs are often characteristic of conditions like croup or whooping cough , both of which can have a barking sound. If your baby has a dry cough with a barking sound, or if your baby makes a wheezing sound when breathing, contact their healthcare provider, who may prescribe medication to treat the underlying cause. Be aware that experts do not recommend over-the-counter cough medicine for children younger than 6 years old as it may cause serious side effects such as slowed breathing.

Immediate Relief for Your Baby’s Nasal Congestion

If it appears that your infant has nasal congestion and it is bothering them, you can follow this two-step process to help clear their nose. Do this every few hours, and ideally 15 to 20 minutes before feeding or bedtime:

Use saline (salt water) drops or spray. Two drops or sprays per nostril are enough. Avoid nose drops or sprays that have any additional medication.

Use a bulb syringe to clear out any mucus. Clear your baby’s nose immediately after using the saline drops or spray. To use a bulb syringe, squeeze the bulb part first before gently inserting the syringe into your baby’s nostril. Then slowly release the bulb in order to suction out the mucus.

Before using the nose dropper, spray, or bulb syringe, make sure that the item has been thoroughly washed with soap and water, then rinsed with clean water and allowed to dry completely.

How to Help Relieve Your Baby’s Chest and Nasal Congestion

To help relieve both your baby’s nasal and chest congestion, try the following:

Use a cool-mist humidifier in your baby’s room . Set the machine close to your baby, making sure it is out of their reach. The additional moisture provided by the cool mist can help relieve the congestion by thinning the mucosal secretions and clearing your baby’s stuffy and/or runny nose at night. Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the humidifier every day as recommended by the manufacturer so that you can prevent any bacterial or mold growth.

When to See Your Baby’s Healthcare Provider

Contact your baby’s provider right away if you see any of the following symptoms, which may indicate a more serious illness:

A cough that’s painful, persistent, and/or accompanied by a whooping sound, vomiting, or turning blue, which means your child is having difficulty breathing

Loss of appetite (signaled by your baby refusing several feedings)

Fever —if your baby has a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit

Irritability

Being sleepier than usual, or if your baby is hard to wake up.

The Bottom Line

Your baby will experience congestion from time to time, as it’s a common symptom of a cold. Easy home remedies and treatments can help ease your baby’s congested nose or chest and help them feel more comfortable until the cold passes. Try clearing your baby’s nose with saline spray and using a cool-mist humidifier in their bedroom.

Congestion can make it difficult for your baby to feed or sleep. Ensure your little one's nasal passages are cleared using a saline spray or drops, followed by suctioning out the mucus with a bulb syringe before feeding and before bedtime.

If, in addition to congestion, your baby has other symptoms like a high fever, a persistent cough, sleepiness, or refusing to feed, contact their healthcare provider for advice and treatment.

How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

• Mayo Clinic: Nasal congestion
• Kids Health: Bronchiolitis
• Mayo Clinic: Common cold in babies
• FDA: When to Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds

Dr. Terri Major-Kincade is a double-board certified neonatologist and pediatrician. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UT Health, Houston, McGovern Medical School where she serves as the Medical Director for Pediatric Palliative Care at C...

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Everything to Know About Newborn and Baby Congestion

As a new parent, you look forward to all the things your little one will learn to do: walking, talking and reading, just to name a few. But come cold and flu season, there’s another important skill that’s woefully underrated: knowing how to blow your nose. Once they’re older, this simple action will let your child breathe easy and manage colds like they’re no big deal. But for now, you’ve got to find safe and effective methods to help a congested baby get some relief. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can deal with infant congestion. Here, pediatricians break down everything to know about congestion in babies and how to make a little one more comfortable.

What is Baby Congestion?

Baby congestion occurs when a breathing airway is narrowed due to mucus buildup or inflammation, explains Krupa Playforth , MD, a pediatrician at Warm Heart Pediatrics in Northern Virginia and founder of The Pediatrician Mom. So, when dealing with a newborn stuffy nose, it means the nasal passages are partially blocked. “Because infants have smaller nasal passages to begin with, it doesn’t take as much to obstruct them—which is why baby congestion can be more challenging and more common than congestion in older children,” she adds. (And, FYI, if baby has baby chest congestion, it means the airways in the chest are narrowed and partially blocked.)

What Causes Infant Congestion?

Several issues can lead to a congested baby. As mentioned, younger and premature babies have smaller air passages, and are more likely to have newborn congestion, Playforth says. But infant congestion typically occurs for two primary reasons: increased mucus production by the body and inflamed or swollen tissues surrounding the airways. The primary culprit overall? Viruses (i.e. including the cold or flu virus), says Gina Posner , MD, a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Along with viruses, the body may also produce more mucus to help “trap and remove types of irritants,” in the nose, Playforth adds, such as allergens, pollutants, cigarette smoke, dry air or even a little bit of breast milk.

Congestion in babies is most prevalent when they’re prone to reflux and spitting up . “Sometimes that spit-up comes up so forcefully that it can eject from the nose and the mouth. The spit-up can irritate nasal passages and lead to inflammation,” Playforth says. Some parents also note their baby sounds congested but doesn’t have any mucus in their nose. So why might this be happening? Sometimes inflamed or narrow airways can sound like congestion in babies. “We frequently hear about this in newborns,” she adds.

How to Tell If You Have a Congested Baby

Wondering if you have a congested baby on your hands? The signs of congestion in babies and adults are quite similar and include:

• Snoring. If baby is congested, you may notice more snoring, or they might have trouble drinking milk.
• Baby stuffy nose: A newborn stuffy nose occurs when the nasal passages are narrowed and blocked. “This can be a result of thick mucus, but sometimes is simply a result of that inflammation in the tissue surrounding the nasal passage, such as the sinuses, blood vessels, etc.,” Playforth explains.
• Runny nose: On the flipside, a runny nose—which occurs when there’s too much runny mucus—is also a sign of a congested newborn or baby, Playforth says.
• Coughing : Playforth notes that congestion usually causes a wet cough, and it may be worse when baby’s laying down due to postnasal drip. That said, she emphasizes that you should never elevate baby or their crib when dealing with a congested baby. “This is not a safe intervention because it can actually force baby’s airway to occlude,” she explains. “Babies should always be placed to sleep on their back on a flat surface.” (For more infant safe sleep practices, click here .)

Baby Congestion Relief: How to Help Baby With Congestion

It can be tough for any parent to watch their little one suffer from newborn and baby congestion. Fortunately, many treatments are quite effective at making baby more comfortable. Here are a few easy home remedies to help a congested baby:

• Breast milk: It doesn’t get more natural—or easier—than this. “A drop or two in the nose can help loosen congestion,” says Tanya Altmann , MD, FAAP, a Los Angeles–based pediatrician. “Let baby sniff it up, then give them tummy time ; when baby lifts their head, it’ll drain out.” You can also drain the mucus by holding your congested baby upright.
• Nasal saline: As with breast milk, to clear baby’s nose add a drop or two in each nostril. You can buy nasal saline or make it at home: “Mix a quarter teaspoon of table salt and 8 ounces of bottled water,” Altmann says. (Tap water could introduce an infection, especially for a young infant.)
• Cool mist humidifier : Fill up the humidifier with plain water—no Vicks or other substances—and run it in baby’s room while they’re sleeping. “It really makes a difference,” Posner says.
• Steam room: “Steam up the bathroom and sit baby on your lap or breastfeed in there for 20 minutes,” Altmann says. “The humidity loosens any dry congestion in the nose to help it drain.”
• Nasal aspirator : When looking for how to get phlegm out of baby’s throat and nose, nasal aspirators can help. Instead of loosening the mucus, aspirators physically remove it (so it helps to apply saline or breast milk drops into the nose first to loosen things up). You probably already have a bulb suction, which is often part of the baby care package from the hospital. If you use one, make sure to replace the bulb every other month, since it’s impossible to clean the interior, advises Danelle Fisher , MD, a pediatrician with Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. A nasal aspirator that parents—and Playforth—swear by: the NoseFrida (aka, snot sucker), which unclogs a congested baby’s nose via a tube connected to a mouthpiece; parents place one end of the tube at the nostril and the other end in their mouth to suction out the mucus. (Don’t worry—the tube has a foam reservoir so the mucus can’t enter the parent’s mouth, and the device can be cleaned out periodically.) “It’s more effective—sometimes with a traditional bulb suction, it’s more challenging to remove the mucus and I find that there is an increased risk of irritating or traumatizing the nasal tissue,” Playforth says.
• Chamomile tea. This is another throat soother for older babies, the Children’s Hospital for the King’s Daughters in Virginia notes. But unlike with adults, don’t add honey if your child is under a year old; it can contain botulism spores that can only be destroyed by more mature stomachs.

While infant decongestant medicine might seem like an obvious go-to, it’s actually a major no-no. The FDA warns against using over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children younger than 2 years old. In fact, many manufacturers have warning labels for kids younger than 4 years old. “Traditional cold and cough medicines can have unpleasant or dangerous side effects, and research shows they aren’t helpful,” Altmann says.

When to Worry About Newborn Congestion

Is baby eating well? Is there any sign of fever or cough? If they seem otherwise happy, aside from the infant congestion, then just let your little one be and simply keep a close eye on them. “It’s usually safe to watch at home for a few days,” Fisher says. If baby’s congestion is interfering with their eating, sleeping and breathing abilities, however, then parents should intervene and remove the mucus, Playforth adds. Moreover, call your pediatrician if newborn congestion persists, or if your child starts to heat up with a fever, develops a cough or loses their appetite. Get immediate help if you see the following conditions:

• Breathing using stomach muscles
• Flared nostrils
• Quick breaths
• High-pitched wheezing
• Pale or blue skin

It’s tough to watch your little one helplessly suffer from baby congestion. Soon enough they’ll learn to blow that little nose. In the meantime, try to keep them as comfortable as possible.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

What to Do When Baby Gets Sick

Essential Winter Safety Tips for Baby

Cold vs. COVID: Difference in Symptoms and When to Get Tested

Krupa Playforth , MD, is a pediatrician at Warm Heart Pediatrics in Northern Virginia and founder of the Pediatrician Mom. She earned her medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Georgetown University.

Tanya Altmann , MD, FAAP, is a Los Angeles–based pediatrician and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to founding Calabasas Pediatrics , she’s also an adjunct clinical professor at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Altmann has authored several books on children’s health and wellness. She earned her medical degree from Sackler School of Medicine in New York City.

Gina Posner , MD, is a board-certified pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. She has spent more than a decade volunteering with a number of organizations in both the US and the Dominican Republic, educating both parents and children on topics of health. She earned her medical degree from New York Medical College and completed her residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Danelle Fisher , MD, is a pediatrician in Los Angeles, California and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Providence St. John's Health Center. She received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds? , January 2023

Boston Children’s Hospital, Cough , 2023

Children’s Hospital for the King’s Daughters, Home Remedies for Sick Kids , January 2023

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When to seek medical advice

Seek immediate medical care if your child has nasal congestion accompanied by:

• A fever in a child younger than 3 months
• Fever that lasts more than five days in a row
• Chills or sweating
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Greenish or bloody nasal discharge
• Unusual sleepiness
• Severe headache
• Persistent crying

Nasal congestion in children

Find possible causes of nasal congestion in children based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your child's symptom.

• New or recent
• Ongoing or recurrent
• Recent and worsening
• Clear or watery
• Mainly from one side ("unilateral") only
• Yellow or greenish
• Blue-colored skin under the eyes
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Delayed growth
• Enlargement or rounding of fingertips or toes
• Failure to thrive (infant and toddler)
• Foul odor or bad breath
• Foul-smelling stools
• Headache or facial pain
• Itchy eyes, nose, mouth or throat
• Mild body aches
• Object in nostril
• Recurrent, severe respiratory infections
• Reduced sense of smell or taste
• Sore throat
• Upper jaw or tooth pain
• Watery eyes
• Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
• Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
• UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
• Zeiter D. Abdominal pain in children. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2017;64:525.
• Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
• Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
• AskMayoExpert. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
• Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 2, 2017.
• Zitelli BJ, et al., eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2017. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
• Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
• Muncie HL, et al. Dizziness: Approach to evaluation and management. American Family Physician. 2017;95:154.
• American College of Emergency Physicians. https://www.acep.org. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
• Schmitt BD. Fever. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version 15th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015.
• Mannenbach MS (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
• Goyal DG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
• Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 28, 2017.
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
• Petty RE, et al., eds. Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
• Elsevier Point of Care. https://www.clinicalkey.com.  Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
• Kasper DL, et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
• Wein AJ, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com.. Accessed Dec. 2, 2017.
• National Eye Institute. https://nei.nih.gov. Accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
• Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 8, 2017.

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• Nasal Congestion

16 Ways to Clear Nasal Congestion

Last Updated: January 2, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Monica Kieu, DO, FACS and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising . Dr. Monica Kieu is a board certified Otolaryngologist and Specialist in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Kieu received a BS in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside and earned her medical degree (DO), with honors, from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. She then completed her residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Michigan State University/Detroit Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Kieu also completed a prestigious fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto. She is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Rhinologic Society. Dr. Kieu was recently named one of LA’s Top Docs by Los Angeles Magazine. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,256,517 times.

When you have a cold or when your allergies are acting up, we know you're looking for any way to get rid of the nasal congestion that comes along with it. The inside of your nose swells up when it's irritated and gives you that stuffy feeling, but there are so many effective home remedies for you to try. Keep reading for all of the best things you can do when you're stuffed up so you can start feeling better again.

Things You Should Know

• Blow your nose gently to get rid of loose mucus. Be sure to stay hydrated and rest to speed up your recovery.
• Breathe in moist air by inhaling steam, taking a hot shower, or running a humidifier in your home.
• Try rinsing out the mucus using a saline spray or Neti pot .
• ​​Take an over-the-counter decongestant to help alleviate swelling in your nose. If congestion is caused by allergies, use an antihistamine instead.

Blow your nose.

• Just don’t try blowing too hard if no mucus is coming out since you could force it into your sinuses and cause an infection.
• If you’re trying to help a baby or toddler with congestion, use a bulb syringe to suck out the mucus. [2] X Research source

Put a warm compress on your nose.

Breathe in steam.

• Avoid using boiling water or hot steam since it could burn you.

Do light exercise for quick, temporary relief.

• Reduce the intensity of your regular workouts since you could stress your body out and take longer to recover.
• If you start to feel sick or uncomfortable when you’re working out, take a break and give yourself some time to recover.

Take a hot shower.

• Use a eucalyptus shower melt for added relief. The essential oils in the shower melt will make breathing with congestion feel easier.

Wear a nasal strip.

Try a nasal saline spray.

• You can make your own saline nasal spray at home with 8 fluid ounces (240 ml) of boiled water and ¼ teaspoon (5.8 g) of sea salt.

Rinse mucus out with a Neti pot.

• When you finish one nostril, turn your head to the other side and rinse out your other nostril.
• Avoid using water straight from your tap since it could contain bacteria.

Apply a vapor rub.

• Vapor rub won’t treat the underlying cause of your congestion but it’s still effective for helping you temporarily feel better.

Run a humidifier.

• Just be sure to clean out the humidifier to prevent mold from forming.

Use over-the-counter decongestants.

• Look for non-drowsy products so you don’t feel tired after taking the medication.
• Avoid using any decongestant sprays for longer than a week since it could make you feel stuffier.
• If you take a decongestant labeled as “all in one,” they also contain painkillers and antihistamines, so avoid taking other medications.

Take antihistamines if you have allergies.

Drink fluids to stay hydrated.

• Avoid alcohol since it can make your congestion feel worse.

Rest to speed up recovery.

Elevate your head.

See a doctor if you’re stuffy for more than 10 days.

• If a newborn or infant has congestion that prevents them from nursing, take them to the doctor.

Clear Your Sinuses With This Expert Series

Expert Q&A

• Avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol since they can dehydrate you and make you feel more congested. [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
• Stay away from pools and chlorinated water since it could make your congestion feel worse. [19] X Research source Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2

Tips from our Readers

• Eat hot soup, like chicken noodle soup or pho, to loosen up any mucus.
• I find that eating something spicy helps relieve my stuffy nose.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://medicine.uq.edu.au/article/2017/06/health-check-what%E2%80%99s-right-way-blow-your-nose
• ↑ https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=778&language=english
• ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/sinus-infection.html
• ↑ https://www.nhsfife.org/media/35666/steam-inhalation-leaflet.pdf
• ↑ https://www.lung.org/blog/can-you-exercise-with-a-cold
• ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003049.htm
• ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2000/1215/p2695.html
• ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/rinsing-your-sinuses-neti-pots-safe
• ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/health-wellness/vicks-vaporub-is-the-love-justified-a2637443413/
• ↑ https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2018/01/humidifiers-for-respiratory-infections-are-they-helpful-or-harmful
• ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/decongestants/
• ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/21223-antihistamines
• ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17980-nasal-congestion
• ↑ https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/10/cold-flu-or-allergy
• ↑ https://uhs.princeton.edu/health-resources/common-illnesses
• ↑ https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/4/652

About This Article

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Read More...

If you need to clear nasal congestion, apply a warm compress to your face, take a hot, steamy shower, or use a humidifier to loosen up the mucus. Over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines are easy options that can help with sniffling, sneezing, and sinus pressure. You can also try irrigating your nasal passages with a neti pot, which may offer some quick, much-needed relief from your sinus symptoms without the use of medications. For tips on using essential oils to treat congestion, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Clearing up congestion: Options to treat infants in first three months of life

From birth to death, the nose provides several functions. Oxygen inhaled from the air into the lungs needs to be prepared to encounter the alveoli appropriately. The nose and sinuses humidify and warm the air before it reaches the lower respiratory tract.

They also filter and trap foreign particles through the mucociliary clearance of the aqueous layer on top of the respiratory epithelium lining the nose. The aqueous layer catches impurities, and the cilia sweep them into the back of the nose and nasopharynx within 10 minutes, passing them into the pharynx, where they are swallowed and neutralized in the stomach.

Clearing nasal congestion is important at any age but especially in the first two to three months of life when infants are obligate nasal breathers.

Obstruction at this age can cause significant feeding and breathing issues. In addition, infants younger than 3 months of age who contract an upper respiratory tract infection are at risk for developing pneumonia. Therefore, fever, apnea and tachypnea should be treated as medical emergencies.

Causes of congestion

Nasal congestion occurs when thick or dried mucous is in the nose, when the nasal lining is swollen, when the normal structures in the nose are too large or in an abnormal position or when an abnormal structure is present.

The most common cause of congestion in all infants from day 1 of life to 1 year of age is increased thick or dried mucous and secretions. Excess amniotic fluid in newborns’ noses just after birth also can cause congestion. Often, they will sneeze to try and expel this nasal fluid. It often clears in several days to a week.

Other common causes of congestion include airborne substances, such as dust, pet dander, hairspray, perfume, cigarette smoke and pollution, viruses and gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Treating congestion

Saline is the first line of treatment for nasal congestion.  Sixty scientific studies in all age groups support the benefits of various forms of saline such as mists and rinses. Studies performed in Italian infants 10-15 years ago showed that using saline alone was helpful to decrease congestion. The use of saline plus suctioning provided the best relief, resolving congestion in 80% to 90% of infants in a week. Saline is beneficial since it can help replenish the aqueous layer on top of the cilia that catches the polluting particles, irritants and pathogens. Suctioning helps by mechanically removing them.

If saline and gentle suctioning with a bulb syringe or nasal suction device does not work, the infant needs to be assessed for other conditions that could cause congestion such as GER, chronic sinusitis, chronic adenoiditis with adenoid hypertrophy, septal deflection, pyriform aperture stenosis, nasal lacrimal duct cysts, mid-nasal narrowing and unilateral or bilateral choanal atresia. Flexible fiberoptic nasal endoscopy and laryngoscopy can help make these diagnoses.

Children with significant GER can regurgitate the refluxate to the back of the nose, causing congestion of the nasal lining by the irritating effect of the gastric contents. Saline and suctioning can help the effects of GER on the nasal cavity by clearing the refluxate through manual manipulation as well as supporting the cleansing action of the nose with extra saline to keep the aqueous layer robust. If congestion is severe, the infant can be placed on anti-reflux medication to limit the exposure of the nose to the refluxate.

Occasionally, swelling that blocks the sinuses can lead to chronic sinusitis requiring a three-week course of antibiotics.

Treatment with more aggressive medications that normally are not recommended in infants is based on the risk/benefit evaluation of the effect of the severe congestion on the infant, the safety profile of the medication and the consequences of not resolving the condition.

For severe congestion in newborns, 0.25% phenylephrine or 0.05% oxymetazoline often is used topically for a few days in the hospital to allow feeding and relieve airway obstruction, providing time for evaluation and diagnosis of other abnormalities.

For less severe but significant congestion in an older infant, topical nasal steroids with insignificant bioavailability and bioactivity in the body, such as fluticasone or mometasone, can be used for a few weeks along with saline and suctioning to help relieve congestion caused by GER or chronic sinusitis, while the anti-reflux medications or antibiotics take effect.

Dr. McClay is a chair of the education committee of the AAP Section on Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

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The ultimate baby reflux survival guide

More than half of all babies experience reflux. It usually begins at 2 weeks of life and peaks at 4 to 5 months of life.

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Does my baby have GER or GERD?

Most infants spit up frequently, and these events are known as Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER). GER occurs when stomach contents (undigested or digested formula) pass up into the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) during or after a meal. More than half of all babies experience reflux. It usually begins at 2 weeks of life and peaks at 4 to 5 months of life. Most infants who spit up are healthy and sometimes referred to as “happy spitters,” even though it might not seem like they are all too happy about it at the time. Even the tiniest spit up can cause quite a large mess and requires patience. Going through the stage of GER with your baby can be exhausting and stressful. Fortunately, most babies will outgrow reflux by 12 to 18 months of age.

When GER leads to troublesome symptoms and/or complications, we call it Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). An infant with GERD may experience:

• Coughing, choking or gagging
• Fussiness during or after feeding
• Arching away from bottle/nipple
• Difficult sleeping
• Nasal congestion or noisy breathing occurring soon after or during eating

Occasionally, a baby with GERD can develop serious complications. Alarm symptoms to watch for are poor weight gain (due to inability to hold down enough food or feeding refusal) and breathing problems (such as wheezing or recurring pneumonia).

Fortunately, serious GERD complications are rare. The vast majority of babies have uncomplicated GER.

What causes GER?

Because your baby’s diet is mostly liquid, it is easy for stomach contents to reflux up the esophagus. Up until 6 months of age, the length of your baby’s esophagus is short and the stomach is small. So milk feeds are easily regurgitated up. There is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, which opens and closes like a trap door, allowing food to enter the stomach and preventing the food from regurgitating back up into the esophagus. This ring of muscle is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). In infants, this sphincter is not as strong as that in older children. The LES can transiently open allowing regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus.

What is the safest sleep solution for my baby with reflux?

There are many myths and misconceptions out there when it comes to sleeping position. Here are four sleep safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

• Back to sleep – even with reflux! Back sleeping is the best way to reduce the risk for SIDS and is the recommended position until babies can roll over fully on their own – even for babies with reflux.
• Placing your baby in a semi-inclined position does NOT make reflux better! In 2019, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fisher-Price issued a recall of 4.7 million Rock’n Play infant sleepers following reports of over 30 infant deaths. Death was associated with infants turning over while sleeping in these inclined sleepers leading to an increased risk of suffocation and strangulation. The AAP does NOT recommend letting infants sleep in inclined products that require restraining a baby. AAP policy calls for infants to sleep on their back, on a separate, flat and firm sleep surface without any bumpers, bedding or stuffed toys.
• Gadgets are not recommended. There are many gadgets that are marketed for treating reflux. Wedges and sleep positioners are not needed and although these are sometimes marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS, research is lacking.
• Avoid devices designed to maintain head elevation in the crib! Elevating the head of a baby’s crib is NOT effective in reducing GERD. It’s also not safe as it increases the risk of the baby rolling to the foot of the bed or into a position that may cause a serious breathing problem. This recommendation is supported by the AAP and North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).

Will antacids help GER?

No randomized placebo-controlled trials have identified significant differences in symptom improvement (including symptoms such as crying, arching, cough, visible regurgitation, vomiting) with antacid vs placebo. NASPGHAN does not suggest the use of antacids/alginates for GER treatment.

How to prevent mild reflux?

Here are five tips to reduce mild reflux:

• Hold your baby in upright position during feeding. Continue to keep your baby upright after feeding up to one hour.
• Overfeeding can aggravate reflux. Try smaller volume with more frequent feeding sessions.
• Frequently burp your baby your baby for a few minutes during feeding.
• Avoid tight fitting clothing around your baby’s tummy.
• Handle your baby gently and try to refrain from jiggling within the first hour after a meal. Avoid bathing and do not change your baby’s diaper within the first hour after a meal.

What about managing more severe reflux?

Here are a few ideas to discuss with your doctor to help manage more severe reflux:

• Babies who have cow milk protein allergy may experience similar symptoms of GERD. Consider a 2-week cow milk elimination trial. Breastfeeding moms can avoid ingestion of cow’s milk in their diet to avoid any traces of it in breastmilk. Ask your doctor about a hypoallergenic formula trial.
• Thickened feeding may improve slightly the occurrence of regurgitation and spit up. For formula thickening, use rice cereal with low or no arsenic. You will not be able to thicken breastmilk with rice cereal since it will be digested by amylases found in breastmilk. Discuss with your doctor the safety profile for various commercial thickeners. Carob bean thickeners are approved for use in infants after 42 weeks’ gestation.
• If your baby is having trouble gaining weight, feedings with higher calorie content or tube feeding may be recommended.

Take Home Message about GER and GERD in infants

• The majority of infants do NOT experience problems from reflux.
• More than 50% of babies spit up regularly in the first months of life.
• Reflux usually peaks at 4 – 5 months of life and stops by 12 – 18 months.
• Spitting up crosses the line into GERD when the infant develops troublesome symptoms.
• Rarely, serious complications of GERD can lead to weight loss or significant respiratory difficulty.

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Spring Allergy Season Is Getting Worse. Here’s What to Know.

Experts explain how to tell if you have allergies, and how to find relief if you do.

By Nina Agrawal

Spring is here — and if you’re among the estimated one in four adults in the United States who suffers from seasonal allergies, your sneezing and scratching may have already started.

With climate change affecting temperatures and plant growth, you may need to be on the lookout earlier than ever before. It can be hard to distinguish allergy symptoms from those of a cold, but experts point to a few telltale signs.

Is allergy season getting worse?

Spring allergy seasons are beginning about 20 days earlier than they had, according to an analysis of pollen count data from 60 stations across North America from 1990 to 2018.

That shift can have significant health consequences, said William Anderegg, who is an author of the study and an associate professor of biology at the University of Utah. Other research has shown that very early onset of spring is associated with higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever. When people end up sick or in the hospital from uncontrolled allergy symptoms, he said, “it’s because they didn’t expect it, and didn’t have medications in hand.”

The researchers also found that pollen concentrations have risen about 20 percent nationwide since 1990, with Texas and the Midwest having the greatest increases. Warmer temperatures, higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and increased precipitation can all contribute to plants’ growing bigger and producing more pollen over longer periods of time, Dr. Anderegg said.

Dr. Gailen Marshall, chair of the allergy and immunology department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said that when he began practicing nearly 40 years ago, allergy seasons were confined to about eight weeks each. Tree pollen hit in the spring, grass pollen increased in spring and summer and ragweed pollen picked up in late summer and early fall.

Back then, people “could at least get some relief” between those cycles, said Dr. Marshall, who is also president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, a professional organization. “Now, these seasons end up becoming one long season.”

How can you tell whether it’s allergies or a cold?

Many people with nasal congestion or a runny nose may assume that they have a cold. Though allergy and cold symptoms can be similar, allergies often make the eyes, nose, throat, mouth or ears itchy, said Dr. Rita Kachru, chief of clinical allergy and immunology at UCLA Health. With allergies, the immune system mistakes a trigger, like pollen, for a harmful substance. When repeatedly exposed to that trigger, Dr. Kachru said, immune cells release chemicals, including histamine, that cause itchiness and inflammation.

Patients also often experience congestion and postnasal drip, or mucus dripping down the back of the throat. Some people may develop coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

With a viral infection, by contrast, you might have muscle fatigue, joint aches or a fever.

If your symptoms flare up every year around a certain season and last more than a week or two, then there is a good chance they’re being caused by allergies. A personal or family history of allergies, eczema or asthma can also be an important clue, doctors said.

What if I’ve never had allergies before?

Most people first develop symptoms in childhood or young adulthood. But several experts said it’s not uncommon for someone to have seasonal allergies for the first time as an adult.

Moving to a different part of the country and being exposed to different allergens may provoke a response, Dr. Kachru said.

New allergy symptoms in adulthood could also be “an inevitable consequence of really soaring pollen counts,” said Dr. Neeta Ogden, a New Jersey-based allergist.

The increase in winds associated with climate change could be distributing pollen farther, potentially exposing people to new varieties of it, said Dr. Mary Johnson, a research scientist at Harvard.

Research has also shown that hormones, including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, can affect how allergic diseases develop.

Boys often have food allergies or eczema as babies and seasonal allergies or asthma in childhood but then have those conditions disappear when they hit puberty, Dr. Kachru said. But symptoms can return when they reach their 30s and 40s.

For some women, major hormonal shifts, including those that happen during puberty, pregnancy and menopause and while on birth control, can affect the onset and severity of allergy symptoms, Dr. Kachru said.

How do I manage the symptoms?

The first step is to reduce exposure. Keep your windows shut to prevent pollen from blowing into your home.

“The key is to prevent the outdoor allergens from becoming indoor allergens,” said Dr. William Reisacher, a professor of otolaryngology who treats allergies at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian.

To help do so, take off the clothes you’ve worn outside when you get home and store them outside your bedroom. Then take a shower to rinse the pollen off your skin. Doctors recommend a saline nasal rinse to flush the pollen out of your nose. (If you make your own, be sure to use boiled, sterile or distilled water. )

Over-the-counter medications fall into two main categories: antihistamines and steroids. Both act on your immune system’s inflammatory response. Antihistamines are available as nasal sprays, eye drops and oral pills, including loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal) and fexofenadine (Allegra).

Steroids come as nasal sprays, including fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide (Benacort), triamcinolone (Nasacort) and mometasone (Nasonex).

If you have symptoms for the first time and aren’t sure how bad they’ll be or how long they’ll last, Dr. Kachru said, try an antihistamine to see if it helps.

If the symptoms persist, or you know that you get hit hard with allergy symptoms every spring, doctors recommend nasal sprays. Unlike antihistamines, which should be used only as needed, these steroids work best if you start using them a week or two before symptoms begin.

Doctors caution against using products with pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed, for more than a day or two because they can increase heart rate and blood pressure. In 2020, a task force of physicians that issues guidelines for treating allergies recommended against using Benadryl to treat allergic rhinitis; doctors said it can have sedative effects and cause confusion.

If avoiding environmental triggers and taking medication don’t work for you, allergy shots or tablets that build your tolerance to allergens might help.

“It’s the only option available that actually makes the body less allergic,” Dr. Reisacher said.

A Guide to Surviving Allergy Season

For many people, springtime equals seasonal allergies. here is some guidance to deal with pollen-induced symptoms..

There are several steps you can take to prevent a bad allergy season. But you have to act early enough .

Studies suggest that allergens could play a role in mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Here’s what to know and how to get help if you need it.

The right products can go a long way in preventing allergy symptoms. Here are a few options for minimizing the allergens  around you.

Is your sneezing, sniffling and coughing a sign of allergies or a cold? There are some simple ways to tell what’s causing your symptoms .

When spring comes around, it can be difficult to know if fatigue is the result of allergies or something else. Here’s how to tell what’s making you tired .

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