One of the most common ailments that newborns face is congestion. If you have a congested baby on your hands, you’re probably concerned and looking for ways to help your little one breathe better. You’re in luck! This post from the baby experts at Mustela will tell you just that.
We’ll start by explaining symptoms to watch for as well as what might be causing your baby’s congestion. Then we’ll show you 13 easy ways to help your congested baby breathe easy.
Two Types Of Congestion And Their Symptoms
It’s important to identify which type of congestion is bothering your baby so you know how to correctly care for them. The two types of congestion that are most likely to affect your baby are nasal congestion and chest congestion.
And regardless of which type it is, congestion can be alarming, especially if this is your baby’s first time coming down with something.
Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion is the most common of the two. With nasal congestion, your baby will have a runny or stuffy nose. This can make it hard for your baby to eat, but they will still show interest in feedings.
Nasal congestion isn’t necessarily a serious concern. The culprit could be a common cold, not an actual infection.
If your baby is still their happy little self — smiling, cooing, eating, and sleeping normally — then the problem is most likely just nasal congestion.
Some other nasal congestion symptoms you may notice in your baby include:
- Noisy breathing
- Possible snoring when asleep
- Coughing
- Sniffling
Chest Congestion
If your baby’s congestion is in their chest, it means there is fluid in their lungs or airways. This type of congestion can be scary, but take a deep breath because this is the least common of the two, especially in young babies.
Look for these chest congestion symptoms in your baby:
- Rapid breathing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Lack of interest in eating
1) Keep Your Baby Hydrated
It’s always a good idea to ensure that your baby is adequately hydrated. This is especially crucial if your little one is congested.
Hydration is beneficial because the extra fluids can help flush out any excess mucus or other substances clogging your baby’s sinuses. Give your child plenty of breastmilk, formula, or both.
2) Remove Irritants From Your Baby’s Environment
As we mentioned earlier, your baby is extremely sensitive to air irritants like pollen, dirt, dust, and pet dander. An effective way to help your congested baby is to remove the obvious irritants from your baby’s environment.
Dust and sweep your home regularly. Leave windows closed when it’s windy and in the springtime when plants are blooming. If your little one seems extra sensitive, consider purchasing an air filter for your home.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a way to freshen up your home, choose products that are non-irritating. These can safely be used to freshen up and perfume your baby’s nursery (or any room!) and linens.
3) Let Your Baby Sit Upright
When your baby is sitting upright, the forces of gravity will help draw out some of the mucus that’s clogging their sinuses. As such, letting your little one sit upright will help clear up their congestion. It’s best to hold your baby in your arms or put them in a supportive device, like a carrier wrap or sling.
4) Give Your Congested Baby Saline Drops
Nothing helps a congested baby like good, old-fashioned saline drops. Just one or two drops per nostril will do the trick. The saline solution will help flush out any mucus that’s causing the congestion in your baby’s sinuses.
5) Run A Humidifier
Dry air can lead to congestion in both adults and infants. One excellent way to clear your congested baby up is to run a humidifier in your baby’s room or nursery. It’s especially helpful to use a humidifier while your little one is sleeping.
6) Use The Right Skin Care Products
All babies have sensitive, delicate skin. This means that you need to use gentle, safe skin care products like Mustela’s, to avoid irritating their nose or throat and causing congestion.
Whether your baby has normal skin, dry skin, very sensitive skin, or eczema-prone skin, we have the product to meet their changing skin care needs! After you discover your baby’s skin type, you can safely and correctly treat their skin with our gentle products.