Easing your baby’s stuffy nose – practical tips and tricks...

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A stuffy nose is no fun for little ones – it can make it hard for them to breathe freely and eat properly, and it’s just generally an uncomfortable feeling.

And although a runny nose isn’t the best fun either, at least it has a purpose: de-stuffing that head and ridding the body of nasty germs.

No mum wants to see their baby upset and overtired, so to help you, we’ve compiled top tips and tricks to ease your baba’s stuffy nose:

1. Visit your GP

If your baby is under four months old and is displaying a stuffy nose, fever or cough, we suggest you pop into your GP.

2. Make a judgement call

If your little one’s nose is stuffy, but they’re in good form and eating, drinking and playing as normal, just keep a close eye on them and wait it out. However, if the stuffy nose is accompanied by a fever, or if they’re out of sorts, make an appointment to see the doctor.

3. Keep them hydrated

Hydration is so important when your little one has a cold, so offer them extra fluids in the form of milk feeds, and for older babies, you can also try water, juice and soups. Their appetite will probably be off, so feed them little and often, trying different foods and drinks each time.

4. Wipe away the icky stuff

Yep, this is where mums earn their ‘mum stripes’ – removing the crusty, sticky goo from around your baby’s nose. Well, no one said motherhood would be easy! Use a damp cotton bud and gently work away on the mucus, breaking it down and wiping it away.

5. Elevate your baby’s head

Resting your baby on your chest so their head is upright will help drain that stuffy head of theirs – plus being so close to mum will make them feel comforted and secure. And if they’re sleeping, pop a mini cushion or folded towel under the mattress of their crib to give it a slight incline.

6. Stock up on the essentials

It’s always better to have what you need on hand, rather than worrying about getting out to the chemist when baby’s out of sorts – so prepare a handy drawer of head cold essentials, like a specially-for-children pain and fever reliever, such as CALPOL® Infant Suspension. You can also use a Saline Nasal Spray to help wash away built up mucus, gently reducing nasal congestion to help your little one breathe, sleep, eat and play.

(CALPOL® Infant Suspension contains paracetamol for pain & fever relief. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. CALPOL® Saline Nasal Spray is a non-medicine for congestion relief)

7. Sit them in a steamy bathroom

Steam is an effective, natural way to loosen up mucus in a congested child. So, either run them a bath, or turn on a hot shower and sit with them in the bathroom while they get the benefit of all that head-clearing steam.