It's actually normal for babies to be a little bit congested, because they have no way of clearing their nostrils, and sometimes we need to do it for them. Even babies that aren't sick might experience a little congestion, so if you think that this might be the case for your little one, you can put 1 to 2 drops of saline in each nostril, wait about 30 to 60 seconds (and that's when all the magic happens and the secretions are loosened by the saline), and then use a bulb syringe to suck all the extra secretions out. Don't do this more than 1 to 2 times a day, and if you feel like you need to do it on a regular basis, talk with your pediatrician. You can also use cool mist vaporizers at night if you feel like the air is extra dry, and the extra humidity helps your baby breathe a little bit better.
If your baby's congestion is ever associated with other symptoms of illness, like if they're running a fever, if they have a cough, if they are very lethargic, or not eating well, especially if they're having difficulty breathing, they need to be seen by a doctor. And after performing an assessment and asking you more specific questions, they'll be able to give you tailored information and advice about what needs to be done. Some parents have heard that using vapor rub can actually help with infant congestion, but it is not recommended for use on infants. In fact, it's actually been associated with cases of respiratory distress, because it increases secretions in the baby's nose, and that (on top of inflammation from being sick) can make it very difficult for a baby to breathe. So avoid using that unless your pediatrician has given you the green light to do so. If you have more questions for me in the future, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at [ Ссылка ], and recommend us to your friends and family too.
