Most stuffy noses in children are due to colds or other viruses, although bacterial infections and allergies can also be to blame. Nasal congestion, which might be worse at night when your child is lying flat, can interfere with breathing during sleep, resulting in a crankier child and sleep-deprived parents. Help clear your child's stuffy nose before bed to speed her recovery and ease her discomfort. Consult your child's doctor if her symptoms fail to improve after several days of home treatment.
Step 1
Mix 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized table salt in 1/2 cup of warm water to create a saline solution to help your child's stuffy nose. Add a pinch of baking soda to minimize burning.
Step 2
Administer a couple of drops of saline solution to each of your child's nostrils before bedtime. The saline will loosen congestion to improve breathing during sleep.
Step 3
Suck thick mucus out of your toddler 's or young child's nose using a rubber bulb syringe. If your child is old enough to blow her nose, have her do so several minutes after using the saline nose drops.
Step 4
Help clear congestion high in the nose or in the sinuses by turning your shower on hot, closing the bathroom door and allowing the room to fill up with steam. Sit with your child inside the steamy bathroom for 20 minutes before bedtime. Supervise your child at all times to prevent burns and drowning.
Step 5
Run a humidifier inside your child's bedroom at night while she sleeps. The humidifier will increase moisture in the air to soothe nasal irritation and break up congestion.
Step 6
Elevate your child's head during sleep by propping her up on several pillows. For toddlers still in cribs, place the pillows under the head of the crib mattress to prevent suffocation.
Step 7
Give your child an over-the-counter antihistamine — but only with her pediatrician's approval. Antihistamines can reduce the amount of congestion in your child's nose and they have the added benefit of inducing drowsiness, which may be particularly beneficial if your child is having trouble sleeping while ill.
Things You'll Need
- Non-iodized table salt
- Baking soda
- Rubber bulb syringe
- Humidifier
- Over-the-counter antihistamine, with doctor's approval
