When your baby's throat and chest are congested, your whole household misses out on sleep. Congestion usually occurs due to the common cold or the flu, when phlegm builds up in the mucous membranes in the nose and drips down into the throat and chest. In some cases, congestion in babies may be the result of a serious medical complication, like croup or pneumonia -- talk to your baby's pediatrician before trying any home remedies or over-the-counter care to address your child's symptoms.
Home Remedies
Your baby's congestion might worsen when you put him down for bed; this is because a horizontal position does not allow the mucus to drain, making breathing more uncomfortable. Prop your child's head up with pillows to help him breathe more easily. If your baby is a restless sleeper, placing folded towels underneath the mattress to create an incline might be more effective. Alternatively, let your child sleep in his car seat if he feels more comfortable in an upright position.
When your child is congested, the mucus in his nasal passages and chest gets thick. To thin out the mucus, run a humidifier -- it releases water vapor into the air, making it easier for your baby to breathe. Run the humidifier at night while your child is sleeping, but empty it during the day and clean it regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria in the device.
Herbal Remedies
When your baby is congested, an herbal chest rub might help loosen chest and throat congestion at bedtime if she is over the age of 3 months. Over-the-counter chest rubs typically contain paraben and petroleum. To avoid these extraneous ingredients, purchase an herbal chest rub at a health food store or drugstore. These chest rubs are made with essential oils like peppermint, menthol or eucalyptus and may help relax your baby and help her breathe more easily.
Over-the-Counter Care
Because your baby is too young to blow her nose, suctioning the mucus out of her nose manually might help her breathe more comfortably. Purchase a rubber bulb syringe, available at drugstores, and depress the bulb at the end of the syringe. Place the tip 1/4 inch into your baby's nostril, then release the bulb to suck up the mucus. Squeeze the bulb into the sink to remove the mucus, and repeat with the opposite nostril.
Food and Drink
Liquids like water, diluted juice and herbal tea thin out the mucus, making it easier to suction out with a rubber bulb syringe, and making it easier for your baby to breathe. Although it is not necessary to give your child more liquids than usual, ensure that he is adequately hydrated and is not refusing to drink. Continue breastfeeding your baby if you usually breastfeed -- the vitamins in your milk provide additional germ protection.
If your baby is over the age of 6 months, offer him spoonfuls of lukewarm chicken noodle soup to loosen his congestion and provide him with vitamins and nutrients to help him recover more quickly, BabyCenter suggests.
