What to do when a baby has a stuffy nose?

The article is professionally consulted by resident Doctor Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital and Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Pediatrics Department - Newborn - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Newborns have a stuffy nose, difficulty breathing, so they often cry, stop eating, and ask to be held constantly. Many parents, especially those who have children for the first time, often feel confused about what to do with their newborn baby's stuffy nose. Here are ways parents can apply to help children feel comfortable and quickly recover from illness.

Nasal drops with physiological saline help clean the nose, disinfect, prevent bacteria from continuing to attack the nasal cavity, making the disease worse. In addition, nasal drops also help soften hard scales, dilute mucus in the nasal cavity, making it easier for mucus to be excreted. Nasal drops make the nose more open, at least for a short time, helping children feel comfortable, easy to breathe.
Wash the baby's nose with 0.9% physiological saline and clean it about 3-5 times a day, especially before feeding and going to bed.
How to drop the baby's nose: hold the child lying on his back, put a few drops of physiological saline in each nostril, wait for a few minutes, wipe the excess salt water out.
Attention, do not use saline nasal drops for more than 4 days in a row because it can dry out the baby's nasal secretions.

Nose suction helps to remove mucus in the child's nasal cavity, the child will feel easier to breathe. After instilling physiological saline, the mucus is more diluted, parents can conduct nasal aspiration for the child. Use a special nasal aspirator. Clean before use so as not to make the baby's rhinitis worse. Do not suck the child's nose too many times in a day, which can irritate the nasal mucosa of the child.

The steam will thin the mucus in the baby's nasal cavity. At the same time provide moisture and make the baby's nose warmer. Steam helps to clear the nose, relieve cough, especially suitable for stuffy nose due to cold..
Steam your baby with a dedicated steam generator or you can discharge hot water into the basin and hold the baby next to him so that the baby can smell the steam rising. Be careful not to burn the child.

Air that is too dry in the winter or keeping babies in an air-conditioned room for too long can be the cause of a stuffy nose in babies and a contributing factor in making their stuffy nose worse. Parents should add moisture to the air by running a humidifier so that the child's nostrils do not dry out and reduce pain.

Elevating the baby's head when sleeping will help the child breathe easier and sleep better. A towel can be placed under the baby's head to raise the head slightly.

Aspirating children by mouth: can cause bacteria from the smoker's mouth to spread to the child Arbitrarily giving the child vasoconstrictor drugs, antibiotics When the symptoms of nasal congestion do not improve, the child may have a medical condition and need to be examined. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children. ,....With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread.
In addition, parents should also add some supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins, ... to help fully meet The need for nutrients at the same time supports the immune system, enhances resistance, reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, flu.
Lysine is very necessary for the development of children, Lysine promotes the production of digestive enzymes to stimulate children to eat better and digest easily and effectively, increase food metabolism, maximize absorption of nutrients. Nutrition from food.Strengthening lysine for babies helps the body create antibodies, develop resistance to help reduce cough, thin phlegm in children.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
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