Tips and Remdies for Dealing with Stuffy Noses and Congestion in Babies and Children

Infants and young toddlers who become ill with even a simple cold can become miserable very quickly because they cannot blow their noses. Congestion can cause sleeplessness, irritability, and feeding difficulties. A few tips for clearing stuffy noses can be just the thing the doctor ordered to remedy congestion in a baby or toddler.

First, one easy trick is to use a saline spray. Just spray a small amount of saline in your baby's nose, then use a bulb syringe to suck out built up mucus. Try this technique to remedy stuffiness before every feeding for best results, but avoid doing it after a feeding because it may cause vomiting.

In addition, a cool mist humidifier or a regular vaporizer may moisten the air enough to alleviate congestion and make a child more comfortable. Sometimes just sitting in a steamy bathroom for 15 minutes or so really helps open stuffy noses too, at least enough to nurse or get a bit of rest. A bit of eucalyptus oil breaks up congestion, and may even fight the infection.

Another easy to try remedy a stuffy baby nose is to elevate the baby's head at night and during naptime. The baby may sleep most comfortably in an infant swing or safely secured in a car seat. For older babies, try a pillow under the baby's crib mattress or a special wedge designed just for elevating the baby's head.

A natural remedy for older toddlers and children with congestion is an onion poultice. An onion poultice is an old remedy used to break up thick, uncomfortable mucus and help children breathe easier. Simply mince a raw onion, then put the minced onion in a thin cloth or paper towel. Fold the towel over the onion in a rectangle, then heat it in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds, watching the mixture carefully to make sure it gets warm but not burnt. The onion pieces can also be heated in a pot over the stove if you do not have a microwave.

Before placing the onion poultice on your child, test the wrapped mixture on your own chest first to ensure that it is comfortably warm but not too hot. Then place the wrapped mixture on the child's chest with a hot water bottle (wrapped in a plastic bag if you are worried about the onion smell) over it to keep it warm. Then lay a towel over the water bottle. Let the child breath the onion mixture deeply. Leave the poultice in place for about 30 minutes to get the most benefit and clear up stuffiness and congestion.

Having a stuffy, congested child is exhausting for everyone. These simple remedies may do just the trick to clear a stuffy nose and help everyone in the family get a good night's sleep.