Being a new parent can be hard. This is especially true when your baby is dealing with the uncomfortable aches and pains of growing up. One of these annoyances is dealing with a baby’s stuffy nose. The stinky thing about a stuffy nose is that they may not let your toddler sleep through the night. The bad news is that no matter how excellent of a mom you are or how well you protect your baby, it cannot be avoided. Your baby’s stuffy nose will make a debut at one point or another in their first year of life.
The good news, however, is that your baby’s stuffy nose will cause your baby no more than a slight discomfort. Not only that, but a baby’s stuffy nose will typically resolve on its own with no harmful side effects. If your baby is suffering from a stuffy nose, then don’t stress out too much. Here are some tried and true tips and tricks to get your little baby’s stuffy nose back to breathing easy.
1. Breast Milk
New moms, here this one out for a sec. While it may sound a little silly, it doesn’t get any more natural than breastmilk. Breastmilk does wonders for any newborn. Whether it be an eye infection or a strange rash. The power of breastmilk is awesome, and it can work wonders. Fighting off a baby’s stuffy nose is no different. Help loosen up your baby’s stuffy nose with some breast milk. All you need to do is put a drop or two in one or both nostrils to help loosen up the gunk. Don’t worry about your baby sniffing up the breast milk either. After you have inserted the drops, let the breast milk do its thing. After a couple of minutes, put your little one on his tummy and let him do some tummy time. Any congestion or drainage will soon come out once your baby starts lifting his head.
2. Nose Frida
A product that many parents swear by the Nose Frida congestion clearer. The Nose Frida advertises the ability to clear your baby’s stuffy nose with ease. Even better, the nose Frida takes away your baby’s stuffy nose without causing him or her much discomfort. Simply insert the tube into your baby’s nostril, and using the attached tube, you will suck out any congestion stuck in your baby’s nose. Don’t worry though, there is a sponge at the end of the tube that will catch all the icky stuff. A lot of mom’s swear by this product. Many expectant moms express that this is one thing they are sure to list on their Amazon baby registry.
3. Saline Spray Or Drops
Saline spray or drops are another great tool to use for your babies stuffy nose. Put just a couple of drops in each nostril to help loosen up any congestion. Much like the breast milk trick, give your baby some tummy time after he has sniffed up the saline solution. The saline will break up any congestion and make it drain out a lot easier. If you don’t have any nasal saline on hand don’t fret. The good news is that you can make it at home.
Saline spray is simply glorified salt water. All you need to do to make some is mix a quarter of a teaspoon of table salt and 8 ounces of bottled water. Just know that you won’t want to use simple tap water either to make your homemade solution. Tap water runs the risk of infecting your child further because it is not 100% pure. Be sure to use purified bottled water to stay clear of any unnecessary bacteria you may introduce to your child.
4. Steam It Away
An easy and very effective way to get rid of your baby’s stuffy nose is by getting some steam into the mix. Go into your bathroom and close any doors and windows so that no air can get out. Next, turn on the water in the bath to the highest setting. You can also turn on the sink as well. You will want to let the water run so that it can steam up the bathroom. This more steam in the room, the more your baby’s congestion will be able to break up and run out. If your child is older, then encourage them to breathe the steam in through their nose. The humidity will help loosen any dry congestion in the nose and drain it out. Mom, it is a good idea to get your baby in the bathroom for as long as you can to help loosen up congestion. Consider setting up camp and breast feeding in the steamy bathroom for about 20 minutes or so.
5. Warm Juice
This next remedy to sorting out your baby’s stuffy nose is some warm juice. Now before you try this, know that you should only do this if your baby is six months or older. Babies who are younger than this should not consume anything other than milk, whether it be breast-fed or bottle-fed. A young infant’s immune system is not yet ready to take on foods that are anything other than milk.
Put the warm juice in a baby bottle or sippy cup. The warm liquid will help soften any mucus that ends up in the back of your baby’s throat. This annoying mucus can be just as frustrating to your baby as your baby’s stuffy nose. For mom’s who are hesitant about giving sugary juices, try feeding your baby some unsweetened apple juice or even warm water.
Final Thoughts
Although it can be frustrating and hard to watch them go through, all will be well. Baby’s will suffer from a stuffy nose whether you like it or not. While you can not do much to avoid it, you can do plenty to get them back on track. Your baby does not have to suffer from a stuffy nose any longer. Use these tips and tricks to get your little one back on track to cooing and giggling.
