Colds, flu allergies, or a dry environment can all cause stuffy noses in toddlers. Mucus acts to moisturize and clean the nasal passages in healthy children, but when a child is sick or exposed to an irritant, mucus production increases to help fight infection or respond to an irritant that causes a stuffy nose. Children generally can't blow their nose until about 4 years old, this is the reason why relieving a stuffy nose in toddlers requires special steps to help him clear the nasal cavity.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Removing Mucus
Step 1. Use a nasal aspirator to remove excess mucus from the toddler's nasal cavity
Since toddlers are generally unable to blow their noses on their own, they need additional help to clear a stuffy nose. Nasal aspirators, known as bulb syringes, use a suction to suck mucus from the nostrils. Nasal aspirators have a spherical shape and a long narrow section for insertion into the nostrils.
- Lay the child on the thigh. This way you can easily reach your toddler's nostrils and hold him back if necessary.
- Take the nasal aspirator and squeeze the ball.
- Insert the tip of the aspirator into 1 nostril while continuing to squeeze the ball.
- Gently release the pressure on the ball to suck up the excess mucus.
- Remove the aspirator from the toddler's nostrils and squeeze the syringe ball over a facial tissue to remove mucus.
- Repeat the same process on the other nostril. Be sure to wash the bulb syringe with soapy water, then rinse after each use.
- You can also use the NoseFrida, which is a suction device shaped like a flexible straw that parents use to suck excess mucus from their baby's nose.
Step 2. Rinse the child's nasal cavity with a saline solution
While most cough and cold medications are not acceptable for young children, saline solution is safe for babies and toddlers and can help relieve stuffy noses. If you make your own saline solution at home, be sure to use purified or boiled water, not tap water. Mix tsp of salt in one cup of warm water. Also, keep in mind that you can buy a ready-made saline solution in the form of drops or spray at the pharmacy, or buy the kit you need - just add the water at home.
- Lay your toddler with his head lower than his feet and you can reach the child's head easily.
- Take a saline solution and slowly insert two or three drops of saline solution into each nostril.
- Wait a minute or two for the solution to drain into the nasal cavity. Toddlers may sneeze or cough up mucus, so keep a facial tissue nearby.
- Suck your toddler's nostrils with the aspirator if the child is not sneezing or coughing up mucus.
Step 3. Use steam to help clear a stuffy nose
Warm steam can clear the blockage by loosening the mucus. Go to the bathroom with your toddler, then close the door. Turn on the shower in the bathroom, use hot water to generate steam. Wait in the shower for 10 to 20 minutes.
Method 2 of 4: Improving Environmental Conditions
Step 1. Remove irritants from the environment around your toddler
Common irritants include cigarette smoke, pollen, and animal dander. Ask everyone who lives with the toddler to quit smoking or refrain from smoking in the house or around the exterior of the home. Smokers should change their clothes immediately when they return, if smoking outside the house.
Step 2. Change the air filter of the fireplace or air conditioner regularly
Air filter manufacturers generally recommend using a new filter every 30 to 60 days, but you're better off replacing it more often if you have pets at home or have family members with allergies. To determine if the air filter should be replaced, check the display to see if the filter is dirty - animal hair and skin debris can easily clog the air filter.
Step 3. Consult your local authority regarding the amount of pollen circulating each day
Toddlers who are allergic or sensitive to pollen should stay indoors if circulation levels are high. Try planning outdoor activities on days with low pollen circulation.
Step 4. Wash your child's hands regularly
This can help prevent your child from being exposed to more germs and making the illness worse. In addition, this method can help get rid of germs that have gathered on the child's hands.
Method 3 of 4: Eat and Drink to Recover
Step 1. Make sure your toddler stays hydrated
Adequate fluid intake helps keep mucus thin and easier to swallow, thereby reducing blockages. Water and electrolyte drinks, such as Pocari Sweat or Mizone, are best choices. Children should drink four cups of water in total (including water in food).
Step 2. Offer foods that can support the child's condition
Fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins such as apples, oranges, and green vegetables are very good for keeping the child's immune system strong. Even if your child doesn't have an appetite, warm whole grain cereal can also help. In addition to being rich in fiber, the steam and warmth of the cereal can help clear a stuffy nose.
Step 3. Give the child chicken soup
The traditional saying turns out to be right - chicken soup and other broth-based soups can help your child recover from a cold. Chicken soup can support the immune system, and based on its ingredients, can add electrolytes and a number of vitamins to the body, and help thin mucus.
Method 4 of 4: Helps Relieve Stuffy Nose when Child Sleeps
Step 1. Make sure your child gets enough sleep
When you feel unwell, your child will likely sleep more than usual, which is one way the child's body recovers. Allow your child to get more rest than usual, both at night and during the day.
Step 2. Elevate your toddler's head while sleeping
Keeping the head higher than the body can make it easier for a child to breathe while sleeping with a stuffy nose. Elevate the head end of the child's mattress by placing a wedge-shaped crib or towel underneath.
Step 3. Place a cool mist vaporizer or ultrasonic humidifier in the toddler's room at night
A humidifier can help humidify the air, making it easier for your child to breathe and sleep soundly when the nose is stuffy. Clean the cool air vaporizer or humidifier regularly as mold and bacteria can build up in them. Rinse the dehumidifier in hot water daily and use a bleach solution with added water to clean it after three uses. Rinse the appliance thoroughly with water after cleaning it with a bleach solution.
Tips
- Use tar oil (petroleum jelly) on the outside of your toddler's nasal cavity to reduce dry, cracked, and irritated skin due to nasal congestion.
- If you want to use a homemade saline solution, you can insert it into your nose using an eye dropper or bulb syringe.
Warning
- Do not use the same saline solution bottle on different children. If the tip of the bottle touches a child's nostril, you can pass germs from one child to another by sharing the bottle.
- If symptoms worsen, mucus changes color to green or yellow, child appears short of breath or is breathing rapidly (more than 40 breaths per minute), has a high fever, or is difficult to feed, seek medical attention immediately.
