6 things that help with your baby's stuffy nose

When your baby has a blocked nose with a cold, you want to do whatever you can to help relieve the congestion. We’ve got six techniques to help you unblock baby’s nose, from over-the-counter solutions to baby blocked nose home remedy treatments.

1. Clear a baby’s blocked nose with a tissue

The first step in helping to clear a newborn’s blocked nose is to remove any crusty, hard mucus that has gathered at the outer edge of the nostrils. This sticky snot can block the nostrils, so simply wiping it away with a soft tissue dipped in warm water can really help.

2. Unblock baby’s nose with saline drops

Saline nose drops are a common treatment for a baby’s stuffy nose. They can help relieve a blocked nose by loosening dried snot in the nostrils. Your health visitor, GP or pharmacist will be able to give you more information about how to use them. Some parents use a few drops of breast milk on the nostrils as an alternative to saline drops.

3. Use a nasal aspirator to clear a baby’s blocked nose

Parents often use saline drops in conjunction with an infant nasal suction aspirator. The saline drops help to soften the mucus, and then the aspirator sucks it out. You can pick one up from your local pharmacy and follow the instructions on the packet.

4. Treat a baby’s stuffy nose with steam

Steam is a great option if you prefer a baby blocked nose home remedy that takes a hands-off approach. Turn the hot tap on, close the door, and let the bathroom fill with steam. Then sit your baby on your lap and sit in the steamy bathroom together for a few minutes.

5. Keep upright to help unblock baby’s nose

You’ll often find a newborn’s blocked nose is worse when they sleep. That’s because when your baby lies down, the mucus isn’t able to escape from their nostrils. So use gravity to your advantage to help the snot flow!

Some parents put a towel under the top end of their baby’s mattress to slightly raise the head at night. You might also find your baby naps more easily securely propped up in a car seat or sitting up on your lap during the daytime.

6. The importance of hydration in easing a newborn’s blocked nose

Our final tip is all about hydration. By keeping their fluids up – whether that’s with breast milk or water – you’ll help prevent your baby’s mucous membranes from drying out. Your baby gets rid of any germs in their system through mucus, so by thinning the mucus with fluid you’ll be encouraging it to flow quickly and easily.

Of course, this is easier said than done, as little ones often struggle to feed when their nose is blocked. Try sitting them up, and take plenty of breaks so that they can catch their breath between swallowing sessions.

With these approaches (and plenty of cuddles), your baby’s blocked nose should get better soon, and they’ll breathe easy again. If it lasts longer than a couple of weeks; you’re wondering whether your baby’s stuffy nose is down to allergies; or you think your child has something stuck up their nose, contact your GP for advice.