Let your baby sleep – Best remedy to unblock congestion

Someone having an issue with breathing is the worst to struggle on. When I or my husband used to get ill sometimes having coughed cold or congestion, we never took it seriously. After becoming a mother, my life has completely changed.

But when it comes to your babies, I am sure you are not letting anything happen to them. It’s very hard to watch your infant/kids finding it hard to breathe through his nose because of nasal congestion. Children between the age group of 0-1 year old are obligatory nose breathers and congestion and a stuffy nose can commonly cause anxiety in your baby, which can result in restlessness, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite (breastfeed). It also affects their mental and physical growth.

Nasal congestion in toddlers can be because of many reasons. Generally, infants’ and toddlers’ nasal passages are not yet fully developed to a size where they can be cleaned easily. And the bigger issue is that they aren’t old enough to know how to clean or blow their nose.

Causes of Nasal Congestion:

• Hay fever and other allergies
• Allergic rhinitis
• Cold
• Influenza
• Sinus infection or sinusitis
• Overuse of some nasal sprays

Signs of Nasal Congestion

We used to watch out for these chest congestion symptoms such as:

• Tongue feeling thick
• Swelling of lips
• Breathing becoming more labored
• Swallowing becoming more difficult

It’s always a tough decision for me, as a parent, to decide whether or not to go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Center because not all children can tell you just how they feel.

So here are some signs which I look to know when to seek care.

• Congestion you can hear easily
• A Fever
• Bluish color on fingernails and around the mouth.
• Watch chest movement
• Is your child just nasally congested or is it deeper?
• Feel the child’s head, palm, and feet; is it warm or hot.
• Listen for nasal congestion or deep-coughing congestion.
• Is there any drainage?

Nasal blockage Treatment:

Many over-the-counter medicines can provide relief and make breathing easier for kids and infants.

These suggestions are non-invasive and may, in fact, help ease your infant’s nasal congestion.

• Nasal Drops – In certain situations, the use of a steam inhaler would help in clearing the system. But with babies, you need to be very careful as it will be very hot. So, you could use Nasivion Mini (Baby 0.01%) Nose Drops for babies up to the age of 1-year-old, but only after you consult a pediatrician. I personally found them to be effective and easy to use.

You can find more information here: https://www.nasivion.com/en_IN/home/products/kids-babies-001-nose-drops.html

• Uses: Up to the age of 4 weeks, instill 1 drop of the solution into each nostril 2-3 times per day. From the 5^th week till 1 year, instill 1-2 drops into each nostril 2-3 times per day or as directed by the physician.
• Organic Bedding and Clothes-Sometimes congestion are caused by a reaction to chemicals or man-made fibers in clothes, bedding, carpeting and rugs that are in the nursery, and that your baby is exposed to constantly.
• Sleeping Position – Babies and small children suffering from congestion can be made to sleep by raising their heads, i.e. placing something under their beds or mattresses to raise their heads while sleeping, as it helps in preventing nasal congestion.
• Wooden Floors-If your baby seems to become more congested when playing on a carpeted floor, he could possibly be sensitive to mold and mildew spores or other chemicals used in the carpet manufacturing process. Put him on a wooden floor instead.
• Use an Air Purifier to Filter the Air-Regardless of how much you have a clean house, and how many precautions you take, there are always going to be pollutants that come into your home through the air.
• Baby-Friendly Products – Choose surfaces that can be easily cleaned. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, drapes, and lots of upholstered furniture. Although these are extremely comfortable, they hold more allergens that are responsible for triggering stuffiness.
• Home Remedies: There are many easy spices that can help in nasal congestion. You can use Ginger, Garlic, Honey, black pepper etc. But be careful while giving it to babies as the amount should be less.

 
Sick or congested children/babies tend not to want to drink or eat as much as usual. Babies will not be comfortable while breastfeeding. So lack of food or fluid in their diet means the secretions will be thick and may start to dry. So encourage them to drink fluids as much as possible, and use a Nasivion nasal drop only after consulting a physician/pediatrician.

Here are some more information in below related pages.

http://happynosehappymom.com/

https://www.nasivion.com/en_IN/home/kids-babies.html