For new parents, a stuffy nose causing breathing difficulties in their baby is one of the most worrying situations. Seeing their little one breathing rapidly, with a flushed face, frequently interrupting feeding, and crying incessantly, parents often feel anxious and helpless. Infants have narrow nasal passages and delicate mucous membranes, and nasal congestion can be caused by various reasons such as colds, allergies, or foreign objects blocking the airway. If not treated promptly, it can affect sleep, feeding, and even endanger health.
Emergency Treatment
When an infant has difficulty breathing due to a stuffy nose, parents should immediately take the following measures to quickly improve ventilation:
Adjust the ambient humidity
Dry air can worsen nasal mucosal swelling, leading to increased congestion. Use a humidifier to maintain indoor humidity at 50%-60%, or apply a warm towel to the baby's nose (be careful not to burn them) to soften nasal secretions with the steam. For example, a 3-month-old baby with a stuffy nose due to dryness in an air-conditioned room experienced significantly improved breathing after the parents turned on the humidifier for 10 minutes.
Saline Nasal Drops + Nasal Aspirator Cleaning
Instructions: Lay the baby flat with their head slightly tilted back. Instill 1-2 drops of saline solution (such as Dolphin Nasal Spray) into each nostril. Wait 30 seconds to soften the secretions, then gently suction them out with a nasal aspirator (mouth-suction type recommended for easier control).
Precautions: The tip of the aspirator should be firmly against the nostril to avoid damaging the nasal mucosa. Do not clean more than 4 times per day; excessive stimulation may worsen swelling. A 6-month-old baby with nasal congestion due to a cold had their breathing significantly reduced the next day after the parents cleaned the nasal passages 3 times daily.
Position Adjustment
While sleeping: Elevate the baby's head of the crib 15-30 degrees (a towel can be placed under the mattress) to help drain secretions using gravity and reduce nasal pressure.
When awake: Let the baby lie face down against the parent's chest, with their head slightly higher than their chest. This position opens the airway and relieves breathing difficulties. A 2-month-old baby crying due to nasal congestion stopped crying and fell asleep within 5 minutes after being placed in this position.
Observe Respiratory Status
Normal respiratory rate: 40-60 breaths/minute for newborns, 30-40 breaths/minute for infants aged 1-12 months. If the respiratory rate exceeds 60 breaths/minute or supraclavicular fossa retraction occurs during inspiration (three-recession sign), immediate medical attention is required.
Be alert for warning signs: Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin), apnea lasting more than 10 seconds, refusal to eat, or vomiting. These may be signs of severe obstruction or infection, requiring emergency treatment.
Cause Investigation
The root causes of nasal congestion and difficulty breathing vary, and the treatment methods should also differ:
Common Cold or Influenza
Symptoms: Clear nasal discharge, low-grade fever, cough, nasal congestion lasting 5-7 days.
Treatment: Primarily symptomatic care, such as saline solution cleaning and steam inhalation. If the fever exceeds 38.5℃ or symptoms continue to worsen, antipyretics (such as acetaminophen) should be used as prescribed by a doctor. A 9-month-old infant with nasal congestion after influenza was given medication as prescribed and received enhanced care; the infant fully recovered on the 8th day.
Allergic Rhinitis
Symptoms: Recurrent nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, worsened by exposure to allergens (such as dust mites, pollen).
Treatment: Avoid allergens (e.g., regularly clean bedding, use an air purifier). For severe symptoms, consult a doctor about antihistamines (such as cetirizine drops). A 1-year-old infant with nasal congestion due to dust mite allergy experienced a 70% reduction in symptom frequency after switching to mite-proof bedding.
Nasal Foreign Body
Symptoms: Unilateral nasal congestion, purulent or bloody discharge, foul odor, possibly accompanied by crying or scratching of the nose.
Treatment: Do not attempt to remove the object yourself with tweezers, as this may push it further in. Seek immediate medical attention; a doctor will safely remove the foreign body using a nasal endoscope. A 2-year-old child accidentally inhaled a button battery, causing nasal congestion. After emergency medical attention, the foreign body was successfully removed without serious injury.
Structural Abnormalities
Common problems: Deviated nasal septum, adenoid hypertrophy, congenital nasal atresia, etc.
Treatment: Diagnosis requires nasal endoscopy or CT scan. Mild adenoid hypertrophy can be observed and waited for, while severe cases require surgery (such as adenoidectomy). An 8-month-old infant with chronic nasal congestion due to adenoid hypertrophy underwent surgery; breathing became clear and sleep quality significantly improved.
Long-term Care
Besides emergency treatment and addressing the underlying cause, daily care is crucial for preventing recurrent nasal congestion:
Keep the nasal cavity clean
Wash the nasal cavity daily with saline solution, especially on smoggy days or during pollen season.
Avoid picking or digging into the infant's nose to prevent damage to the mucous membranes.
Strengthen immunity
Continue breastfeeding until 6 months of age; the immunoglobulins in breast milk can reduce the risk of infection.
Follow the scheduled vaccination schedule (such as influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine) to reduce the incidence of respiratory diseases.
Regular checkups
Infants under 1 year old should have a checkup every 3 months to detect any abnormalities in nasal development early.
If nasal congestion occurs frequently without a clear cause, it is recommended to consult an ENT doctor to rule out underlying diseases.
While nasal congestion and breathing difficulties are common in infants, they can usually be quickly relieved with proper scientific management and targeted treatment. Parents should remain calm and prioritize emergency measures to improve ventilation while observing changes in symptoms and promptly identifying the cause. If self-treatment is ineffective or dangerous signs appear, seek immediate medical attention. Remember, patience and attentive care are the best medicine for protecting your infant's respiratory health.
