Although a stuffy nose in adults is generally nothing more than an annoyance, a baby with a stopped-up nose is a miserable sight, sometimes coughing and choking, other times gasping and crying as she frantically tries to figure out how to breathe, sleep and eat without using her nose. As a nasal spray that contains only salt and water, saline solution is a gentle, effective remedy that many doctors recommend for babies suffering from stuffy noses.
Background
Stuffy or congested noses in babies result from nasal irritation, which often accompanies an upper respiratory infection, sinus infection or allergies. Your baby's irritated nasal passages swell and the mucus secretions become thicker. This produces a stopped-up-nose sensation and makes nasal breathing more difficult, which frequently becomes a problem for infants and babies, who prefer to breathe through their noses. Saline solution inserted directly in the nostrils thins gummy nasal secretions and can help soothe irritated, swollen nasal passages.
Efficacy
The efficacy of saline spray in minimizing a baby's stuffy nose varies, depending on the severity and cause of the nasal congestion. In most cases, you should notice an improvement in breathing right after using the saline spray. Maximize the effectiveness of the saline solution by using it in conjunction with other home remedies for nasal congestion. Options include dampening the air with a cool-mist humidifier, elevating the head of your baby's mattress to promote mucus drainage and encouraging your baby to drink plenty of breast milk or formula to stay hydrated.
Method
Prepare your baby for a saline nasal-spray treatment by sitting her upright with her head tilted back or laying her on her back with her head slightly elevated. Put two to three drops of saline spray directly in each nostril and leave the child in place for approximately one minute to allow the spray to penetrate deeply into the nose. Encourage the loosened mucous secretions to drain from the nostrils by rotating the child onto his tummy. If you suspect a lot of mucus is present in the nostrils, try removing it manually with a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. If you opt to use a bulb syringe, suction each nostril only once or twice; too-frequent suctioning could further irritate the delicate tissue lining a baby's nasal passes, which might worsen the congestion.
Considerations
Commercially prepared pediatric saline nasal is available for purchase at both brick-and-mortar and online drugstores and pharmacies. If your baby's stuffy nose develops at night and you don't have access to a prepared saline solution, mix your own blend with 1/4 tsp. of plain table salt and 1/2 cup of water, recommends MedlinePlus, an online service of the National Institutes of Health. Use lukewarm or body-temperature water to minimize your baby's discomfort and discard any unused saline solution within 24 hours of making it.
References
- "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child"; Dr. Steven Shelov; 2010
- "Your Newborn"; Dr. Cara Familian Natterson; 2004
- MedlinePlus: Nasal Congestion
