Watching your babe wriggle and wiggle around uncomfortably with a mild case of congestion can take a toll on both you and your baby. If you notice your sweet baby is sniffling, coughing, has a runny nose (with a color other than clear), or is breathing noisily while they sleep, they are probably experiencing congestion.
Have no fear! There are plenty of natural and supplemental ways to cure congestion in babies. These remedies are tried-and-true, curated from countless parents who experienced the same anxieties you are currently experiencing.
Let’s talk about congestion!
Tips for Curing Congestion in Babies
The most effective ways to cure congestion in babies are: regular use of a humidifier, a steamy shower (not what you think),saline drops, and a handy nasal aspirator. Use one or use all, whatever gets your little bean to breathe easy.
Tip #1: Use a Humidifier
A humidifier is a very helpful tool to keep in your child’s nursery. To ease congestion during your infant’s slumber, turn the humidifier on and place it adjacent to their crib. The humidifier will replace the moisture in the air and ensure a restful sleep.
Tip #2: A Steamy Shower
Steam is a miraculous tool for congestion.
Turn on the shower in your bathroom to the highest setting. Close the bathroom door and sit down with your lovebug directly next to the shower for 10 to 20 minutes. The steam from the shower will lubricate your munchkin’s nasal passage and release any trapped mucus.
Tip #3: A Few Drops of Saline
Saline drops can help to loosen dried up mucus in your baby’s nose and create a clear pathway for easy breathing. Make sure to consult your pediatrician for saline product recommendations; it is always best to get doctor approval before introducing any medicated solutions to your child.
A natural alternative to saline drops is, surprisingly, breast milk. If you are nursing, you can put a few drops of breast milk in your infant’s nose. This will help to loosen mucus in a similar fashion as the saline drops.
Tip #4: Try a Nasal Aspirator
A nasal aspirator is an important tool to keep in your first aid kit. You can use a traditional suction bulb (you usually get one of these in your “Good Luck” bag from the hospital) or you can explore updated versions of this device. Either way, they both execute the far from glamorous task of removing snot and build up from your babies nose.Whether you choose the old school bulb or the new age aspirator, make sure to read the instructions carefully before using your device.
How Humidifiers Help Congestion in Babies
The cognitive development of infants during their first year of life is astonishing. From holding their head up to sitting up, crawling, walking, grabbing objects, and so many more incredible milestones... The first year is very busy for both baby and parents!
What we don’t think about as often is how much internal development babies experience in their first year. Newborns and young infants start their life with a brand-spanking new respiratory system; their nasal passages are tiny and very sensitive to the surrounding environment. Dry air or common household allergens that rarely impact our finely-tuned, adult airways can wreak havoc on your infant’s body.
Babies can, and often will, develop congestion frequently in their early life. A humidifier can help your mini cope with inevitable congestion helping both you, and your baby rest a little easier.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air. The hydrated air enters the nose and throat as your little one breathes. The added moisture helps to lubricate their airways, which increases comfort and improves breathing.
What is the Best Humidifier for Your Baby?
A humidifier can improve congestion in babies from dry indoor air year round,and reduce the severity of cold or flu symptoms if your sweet pea gets sick.
There are three major factors to consider when finding the best humidifier for your baby: cool mist vs. warm mist, ease of maintenance, and noise levels.
Cool Mist
Cool mist humidifiers are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in your baby’s nursery. While warm mist is healthy if your humidifier is cleaned properly,, vaporizers or warm mist humidifiers pose a burn risk. Curious hands tend to pull on any object in sight; a gentle tug on a running vaporizer can spill extremely hot water directly on your child’s hands or face.
The safest humidifier for your child is a cool-mist, evaporative humidifier such as Canopy. Canopy’s anti-microbial filter catches bacteria and metals and uses a no-mist technology to produce invisible, clean moisture.
Simple Maintenance
Properly caring for and cleaning your humidifier will prevent your device from growing mold or harboring harmful bacteria. Your humidifier will require proper cleaning and daily wipe-down to operate safely and efficiently.
Finding a humidifier with simple maintenance requirements is essential. Being a parent is a job in itself, and let’s be real; who has time to spend hours cleaning their baby's humidifier? Canopy is not only easy to break down but is even easier to clean (have you ever heard “easy to clean” and humidifier in the same sentence)? Simply toss Canopy’s parts in the dishwasher and you’re ready for continued hassle-free hydration.
Soothing Sound
A humidifier can be an incredibly soothing or disruptive tool. Some humidifier devices have a calm “shushing” sound that can lull your lovebug into a restful sleep. Other devices are obnoxiously loud and may interfere with your baby’s sleep cycles.
As any new or seasoned parent can attest, messing with sleep is a major “no-no.”
When choosing the best humidifier for your infant or toddler, you should find a device like Canopy that sounds like a white noise machine or one that emits a calming “sh” sound. If you are purchasing a humidifier online, make sure to read through the product reviews for a better understanding of the noise level of your desired device.