Babies with a cold will generally feel unwell and miserable (as we all do) and will tend to be more unsettled than usual. You may notice their breathing is noisy (or 'bubbly'), with the mucous they produce in their nose and throat. This is quite common with colds, but if they are struggling for their breath, or wheezing (similar to asthma), you will need to seek medical advice. You may also notice mucous in your baby's bowel motions or their vomit.
If your baby has a blocked nose and is having trouble feeding, they can become quite upset and distressed. In order for them to drink and breathe, they may need to frequently 'pull off' the breast or bottle, to try and catch their breath after sucking.
The following are some treatments that other parents have found helpful to help clear their baby's blocked nose to enable them to feed. They include:
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Using saline (or salt) nose drops to help soften and clear the mucous in their nose before feeding. Saline solution is the same type that can be used to bathe the baby's eyes if they are 'sticky' (or the solution that adults use to clean their contact lenses). A drop or two down each nostril using a dropper, or a clean teaspoon, should work. Your baby may need to feed a little to draw the solution down. Saline is designed to be the same as our normal body fluids (like our tears) therefore does not irritate the baby's nose). |
NOTE: Medicated drops may be suggested by your doctor or pharmacist. These should be used sparingly (if at all). A baby (as can adults) can develop a 'dependence' on the drops (meaning that when you stop using them, their nose will compensate by making more mucous). They can also be irritating and uncomfortable for your baby.
NEVER put cotton buds up your baby's nose as a way of clearing their nostrils, this can damage the delicate lining of their nose (or nasal membranes), as well as irritate them so they make more mucous.