Stuffy nose: 5 remedies for peaceful nights
Does the newborn have a stuffy nose and cry? Does your child have a stuffy nose and find it hard to sleep? Even us adults when we have a cold and can’t breathe well, feel uncomfortable, let alone a small child!
A stuffy nose can negatively affect your diet and sleep .
You will surely have noticed how colds among children are much more frequent than among adults, with symptoms that include a runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing and sometimes even fever. However, they are quite common events in the little ones because their immune system is still developing.
We remind you that it is always important to consult your doctor even in case of a cold if:
- the baby is less than three months old and has a temperature of 38 degrees
- the baby is between 3 and 6 months old and has a temperature of 39 degrees
- if the child has difficulty breathing
- if you have a sore throat
- if it gets worse instead of better
How to manage a baby’s stuffy nose?
A stuffy nose usually clears up on its own within a week, but steps can be taken to help your child breathe better in the meantime.
1. Nasal washes
Nasal washes are not always well tolerated by either young or older children. However, they help to remove mucus and clear the nasal passages. To prevent the child from being excessively annoyed by these washings, it is good to do them in the correct way.
2. Mucus removal
Your baby’s nostrils may have a “crusted” appearance. To remove thick mucus and crusticine and then clean the nose in the outermost part, you can use cotton wool and warm water.
3.Steam
You can use a vaporizer / humidifier intended for rooms, or try standing in the bathroom for a few minutes with the hot water turned on to produce steam.
4. Hydration
It is important to keep your child hydrated. Hydration helps keep mucus fluid.
If the baby has difficulty drinking, feeding, or if you breastfeed him has difficulty latching on because he is not breathing well, it is important to wash his nose before feeding or eating, to help him clear the airways.
There are also favorable breastfeeding positions when the baby has a cold.
4. Vertical position
The upright position can help drain mucus. During the day you can let the baby sleep in a sling if he is small, or on a bouncer, in safety.
How can I help my child sleep at night when their nose is stuffy?
When adults have a cold, to sleep well at night, they abound with pillows under their heads, or try to sleep sitting up.
Even children find relief as we said before, from the vertical position or in any case from keeping their head raised.
Small children cannot sleep sitting up, and pillows cannot be used.
Help can come from placing something under the mattress, such as a folded towel, on the side of the head to allow for a slightly inclined position of the same. In this way, the child will be able to hold a slightly raised head position with respect to the body. In any case, always keep the child’s sleep under observation, especially when he has a cold.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.