Ensuring your baby stays clear of a stuffy nose

Most medical authorities advise against the use of over-the-counter cough and cold remedies when it comes to infants typically under two years of age. That is the reason why more and more parents are looking for natural therapies to help their babies deal with stuffed noses and blocked sinuses.

Congestion of the nasal passageways can be very uncomfortable for infants and this tends to worry many parents. A blocked or stuffy nose is generally caused by an inflamed nasal passage lining. What is most distressing about this congestion is that it often leads to headaches or difficulties breathing through the nose. It sometimes also triggers sneezing or coughing, all which can be unsettling, especially for newborns. It is important to note that congestion can also be caused by allergies, common colds, and other illnesses so parents ought to be aware of these facts and be prepared to seek the help of licensed medical professionals to assist them with finding the most appropriate solutions for their specific cases. 

Top 10 natural therapies for babies with congested nasal airways

Please note that the ideas listed below should not be deemed professional medical advice, but instead a compilation of tips that other parents have found useful in dealing with children with blocked and stuffy noses.

These ideas are not medical advice and you are advised to seek proper medical attention should your baby become ill or you’re not sure how to effectively clear your infant’s clogged nasal passages.

However, some of the natural ways parents have been able to address the problem of mucus ridden noses include the following.

 

Allowing a baby to cry

Although this sounds unusual, tears may actually end up in the nasal passageway and help with dissolving a baby’s mucus. A child’s tears can effectively soften and help eliminate dried-up bits of boogers from its nasal passageway.

Parents can also use a soft cloth to dab at the baby's nostrils regularly when so that the nasal passageway can be cleared naturally.

 

Decongesting using an onion 

A freshly sliced raw onion can be disturbing to most but it has been proved to help solve congestion problems in minors who are suffering from congested noses due to colds. What you need to do is simply slice up an onion and place it on a plate in close proximity to the baby’s crib.

Lauren Feder, MD, author of Natural Baby and Childcare and a medical professional has been quoted stating “The sulfur content in the onion draws out mucus and fluids in body.

If your baby has a stuffy nose, it can loosen that up with no side effects except for the obvious odor in the room.”

 

Letting your baby breathe in steam 

This is another fascinating natural way of dealing with a baby’s congested nose. Author of The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative Care for Common Health Problems, Randall Neustaedter, OMD, LAc, states that you should “steam up the bathroom, not the bedroom, to decongest little ones.”

To effectively manage this, steam up your bathroom with some hot running bath or shower water, hold your baby carefully and enter the steamed up room for a few minutes to let your baby breathe in the humid air. Some people say that this method is better than using humidifiers which tend to leave rooms wet.

 

Breastfeeding 

Has always been dubbed the best medicine for any ailment in small babies and it’s quite amazing how this natural therapy works for congested and stuffy baby’s noses.

To help your baby get stronger so that it can maintain healthy air passageways, mothers need to simply feed their children the natural way. When babies suck at their mother’s breasts, they pass the infection on to the mothers whose bodies in turn produce antibodies to fight the infections and these same antibodies are ultimately passed to babies through breast milk.

Also, if your baby’s nose is totally congested, you can try squirting a little breast milk into baby’s nostrils as this will help in relieving blocked and stuffy nose while clearing up infections.

MORE TIPS FOR NEW MOMS: 5 Natural Baby Fever Remedies for Your Little One

 

Using eucalyptus oil

Don’t use this directly on your baby but instead put a few drops on a wash cloth which you can then keep at your baby’s beside baby while they sleep to make breathing easier. This will significantly help decongest your baby’s stuffed nose using natural ingredients.

 

Elevating your baby’s head when they are sleeping 

Positioning your child’s head carefully at an angle allows any mucus buildup to flow out of the nostrils naturally and it’s another way of solving the problem of stuffy noses in children.

Using a saline water solution 

This is one of the most common natural ways of helping clear your baby’s blocked or stuffy nose.

Nasal saline drops help significantly by relieving congestion and because the solution is a simple salt and water combination most people see it as an effective and safe option.

 

Massaging your baby and acupressure

Massaging baby after a warm bath or shower can help to relieve the pressure of congestion on their airways. Acupressure can also be used gently on baby's face to promote blood flow and encouraging the nasal passages to decongest.
Karen Stoner, owner of A Caring Touch: Massage Therapy, who specializes in prenatal, infant and fertility massage, recommends using the fingertips to apply gentle pressure on the sinus points alongside the bridge of the nose and down either side of the nose, followed by long strokes with the fingertips back up along the same path.

“Similar pressure can be applied along the top ridge of the cheekbone, just under the eyes,” she added. “This can help relieve the sinus pressure and encourage mucus to flow out more easily or be removed more easily with a nasal aspirator.”

Occasionally, she applies similar strokes along the top ridge of the eye socket around the eyebrows. These small press and release motions, followed by long firm, but gentle, strokes along the same paths work to agitate and loosen, then sweep out the mucus.

 

Using natural liquids 

If your child is older than 6 months, and no known allergies, you can try giving them diluted chamomile tea, according to Dr. McClafferty, a pediatrician in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Let it steep and then add to boiled and cooled water in a bottle. 

Giving your child some probiotics may also strengthen your baby’s immune system and also help fight blocked nasal passages and stuffy nose.

 

Keeping a baby's sleep and play areas free of dust 

Hygiene goes a long way as far as naturally promoting good health including keeping your baby’s nasal passages clean and clear so that they inhale only fresh air.

When breathed in regularly, dust can contribute to larger bits of dried-up mucus. Dust is also said to stimulate allergic reactions which can cause nasal congestion.

MORE TIPS FOR NEW MOMS: How To Ensure Your House Is Clean To Keep Your Baby Healthy

Natural home remedies are the best form of medicine for infants, especially for those under the age of 2. And when it comes to baby’s stuffy nose, natural is the way to go. Nasal congestion is no fun for anyone, especially for your little one who has no way of unblocking their nose on their own.

Use a Nasal Aspirator to remove mucus manually

Using a nasal aspirator like Bubzi Co.'s Premium Baby Nasal Aspirator allows parents to unblock baby’s nose quickly and easily, providing them with instant relief! And if you combine the nasal aspirator with any one of the 10 tips above, your little one will be feeling better in no time. They’ll be able to get the sleep they need to get back to their happy and adorable selves!

Bubzi Co Baby Nasal Aspirator is trusted by parents around the world to quickly, naturally and effectively unblock baby's nose congestion. See more

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