The mucus and congestion that typically accompanies colds and flus can make your child's life miserable. Whether it's disrupting sleep at night or making it impossible to go to school, helping your child get rid of the mucus can improve his quality of life while dealing with an infection. Cold medicines can make your child drowsy, so stick to home remedies that can help clear his sinus and nasal passages to find relief without turning to medicated remedies.
Step 1
Purchase saline solution from the drugstore. Always talk to your pediatrician before you attempt to use a medicated nasal spray, as they can carry some risk of rebound congestion and can make the condition worse, says MayoClinic.com. Saline nasal drops are safe for children, and help to loosen the mucus clogging the nose. Spray into the nose with your child's head upright, and wait a few moments.
Step 2
Insert a bulb syringe 1 to 2 inches into the nose and depress the bulb. Swiftly release the bulb to remove the mucus while your child holds still, suggests FamilyDoctor.org. Repeat the process several times until your child can breathe unhindered again. Wash the bulb syringe in hot, soapy water after each use to reduce the risk of reinfection.
Step 3
Turn the shower on in your bathroom as hot as it can possibly go. Shut the doors and windows, and have your child sit on the counter and breathe in the steam for a few minutes, suggests AskDrSears.com. The steam helps to loosen the mucus. Help your child blow the mucus into a tissue afterward.
Step 4
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids when congested, suggests MedlinePlus. Fluids help to thin out the mucus for easier expulsion and less congestion. Offer water, sports drinks, juice and other sugar-free fluids to help alleviate the symptoms of excess mucus.
Step 5
Roll a towel and place it under the head of your child's bed. This will help to elevate the bed in order to keep mucus from pooling in the throat. The KidsHealth website warns that pooling mucus can cause a nightly cough that disrupts your child's sleep throughout the night. An elevated bed--or sleeping in an armchair--can facilitate healthy drainage of the mucus so the child can sleep easier.
Things You'll Need
- Saline solution
- Bulb syringe
- Towel
