Newborn blocked nose: causes, care and when to worry
Do you have a snuffly baby struggling to sleep and feed with a blocked nose? Find out how to alleviate your newborn's symptoms including expert advice from our resident GP Dr Philippa Kaye
When your baby has a blocked up nose it's not just upsetting for your baby, it can also be a distressing time for you. Especially if you can hear your snuffly baby finding breathing more difficult. This can lead to lots of broken nights (on both sides), difficulty feeding and a generally unhappy baby.
We feel your pain – you've come to the right place to discover what to do about your snotty baby and how to manage when your newborn has a blocked nose. We also delve into the symptoms to look out for, how to discern if it's merely mild congestion and when it's serious enough to call a doctor.
Why newborns' noses and chests get congested
Contrary to what you might think, mild congestion is normal. Because a baby's nasal passage and airways are so small, they can easily experience some congestion. Additionally, if they are exposed to dust, pet dander, strong fragrances and smoke this can also cause newborn congestion and a blocked nose in babies.
In order for your baby's body to fight off viruses or air pollutants, it accumulates mucus in the nose and airways. Being so young, babies aren't able to clear out mucus buildup on their own.
"Newborn babies are often quite snuffly and congested, this tends to be due to a build-up of mucus and secretions in the tiny nasal passages, which they can’t blow out like you or I can! So they can be snuffly without actually being unwell with an upper respiratory tract infection (such as a common cold) – though, of course, if they do get a cold any congestion might get worse," shares our resident GP Dr Philippa Kaye.
If your newborn's blocked nose is due to a cold, you'll be pleased to know that most colds are treatable with at-home remedies that help to alleviate symptoms. It takes about 5-7 days for children to recover from a cold and sometimes about 2 weeks for newborns and young babies to recover.
Another thing you may be wondering is, whether it's ok to let your baby sleep with a stuffy nose. Dr Kaye says, "Yes, but please follow all the advice about safe sleeping. Do not use a pillow, or put anything inside or under to lift the head of the cot, this can make it easier for the baby’s head to tilt forward and restrict their airways."
Follow our guide on safe sleeping in cold weather or hot weather for your baby, especially if you need guidance on how to help your little one sleep appropriately and comfortably at night.
What are baby congestion symptoms?
Symptoms of chest congestion are:
- persistent coughing (usually wet and phlegmy)
- wheezing or whistling sound (a sign of mucus in the airways)
- rapid or laboured breathing
- grunting
If your baby's cough produces mucus and sounds wet (phlegmy) then it's most likely due to chest congestion. This will usually clear up on its own after 3-4 weeks although if your baby is younger than 6 months it's suggested that you seek medical attention if they have a wheezing-sounding, wet cough or a dry, whooping cough.
Symptoms of nose congestion are:
- runny or stuffy nose (usually thick and yellow, green or clear in colour)
- snorting or noisy breathing
- dried mucus around baby's nose
- difficulty feeding (your baby may be fussier when it comes to feeding and keeps pulling away from your nipple or the bottle)
- a fussier, unsettled baby
There are several reasons why your baby may have congestion in their nose. This could be due to allergies, viruses, poor air quality or dry air.
Young babies aren't yet able to breathe through their mouths as they only develop the reflex to do so from around 4 months old, so these mentioned symptoms will show up and can't be missed. This is also a good reason to follow methods to clear newborn nasal congestion and allow your baby to feel as comfortable as possible.
If they have a virus or bacterial infection on top, they may develop other symptoms such as:
- a fever
- sneezing
- coughing or may become more unwell
"If you are concerned about your baby please seek medical advice and please see a doctor for any fever in the 3 months of your baby's life," advises Dr Kaye.
Different methods to clear congestion
Thankfully, there are things you can try at home to help relieve your blocked nose baby. Our GP doctor shares some advice on how to help your snotty baby and clear congestion.
"Firstly, if your baby is sleeping and feeding well and a snuffly nose isn’t interfering with this then you may not need to do anything to clear your baby’s nose," says Dr Kaye. However, if your baby needs some relief, you can alleviate newborn nasal congestion by following these steps:
- thin the mucus with saline nose drops (you can purchase this from your local pharmacy)
- use a nasal aspirator to unblock the first nostril
- squeeze any snot out onto a tissue using warm water
- repeat on the other nostril
For a thorough explanation of at-home methods to clear newborn congestion, head over to our page that explains in detail how to unclog a baby's stuffy nose with saline drops and a syringe.
"Also try humidifying the air in the room. Either using a humidifier or even a bowl of water near a radiator may help," suggests Dr Kaye. The cool mist from a humidifier can help to loosen mucus in your baby's airways. Another effective method of relief is to run a hot shower and sit in the steamy bathroom with your newborn for a few minutes a day to release those baby bogies.
Newborn congestion – when to see a doctor
If you've tried home remedies and nothing is helping your blocked nose baby or you have some concerns, read more to discover when to worry about newborn congestion.
Colds and stuffy noses aren’t usually serious, but your baby’s immune system is more vulnerable to attack. While uncommon, your baby can be at risk of developing more serious complications, such as a bacterial chest infection.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, other symptoms that indicate that the issue is more than common, mild congestion are:
- a fever (especially if baby is under 3 months old)
- difficulty breathing
- a cough lasting longer than 3 weeks
- coughing up blood or blood-tainted mucus
- whooping cough or wheezing sound when they cough
- your baby is losing weight or generally seems unwell
"Parents know their babies the best so if you are concerned about your child then the best thing to do is to go and see your doctor and get medical advice.
"If your baby is under 3 months old with a fever over 38, or 3-6 months old with a fever of over 39 – please seek medical advice. Also, seek medical help urgently if they are working too hard to breathe, for example, if you can see the muscles in between and under their ribs pulling in with each breath, if they stop passing urine or if they are hard to rouse," says Dr Kaye.
Don’t be concerned if your doctor doesn’t prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Colds, however, are caused by viruses which don’t respond to antibiotics. Your doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics only if your child has developed a bacterial infection secondary to or on top of a cold.
Pic: Getty Images
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Janet is a Digital Journalist for MadeForMums and mother to a boy and girl both under 4. With a keen eye and passion for creating online media content, she enjoys sharing her own journey of motherhood, and providing encouragement for new mums.
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