Children’s Blocked Nose – What You Must Know

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All that you must know about Children’s Blocked Nose- the causes, symptoms and preventive measures.

Isn’t it really heartbreaking to see our kids suffer from any sort of discomfort? Do you know one possible reason for major distress in young kids, especially those below six months, could be nasal congestion?

The blocked nose is a common problem, especially in kids below six months of age. However, most first time parents aren’t aware of its causes, symptoms or the right solution.

My daughter constantly faced the problem of nasal congestion until she turned seven months old. She would get grumpy, restless and unable to feed or sleep. As a new mom, I wouldn’t even know what’s causing her distress. I would find her snuffling and considered it as the common cold. My lack of knowledge about the causes and symptoms of nasal congestion made the situation even more difficult. I then happened to read up a little on children’s blocked nose and even consulted a doctor for its right cure. With a few home remedies and effective tips suggested by the doctor, I finally managed to relieve my girl from this situation.

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Sharing with you some facts and information I gathered on children’s blocked nose.
Causes and Signs of Children’s Blocked Nose

Babies during the first few months of their life are obligatory nose breathers which means they can only breathe through their nose. They can’t breathe through their mouth like adults do. Nasal congestion in kids mainly happens due to a collection of normal mucus in the nose, which is difficult for the baby to discharge on his/her own. It could be caused by multiple factors like irritants, infections, dry air, allergies, common cold, foreign body in the nose, etc. In the early years, a child is unable to express the difficulty he/she is facing. So parents can identify a few symptoms that indicate nasal congestion. Some common signs to look out for are-

  • Snuffing or Noisy Breathing
  • Constant Runny Nose
  • Snoring
  • Nose-picking in older kids
  • Sneezing

How Blocked Nose Can Impact The Child

A longstanding nasal obstruction in kids can impact their quality of life and overall health. It can lead to-

1. Inability to feed properly

If you see an infant, you would find him breathing, suckling and swallowing all at the same time. Nasal irritation can cause difficulties in feeding and food intake which in turn affects their health.

2. Disturbed sleep

Optimal sleep is essential for babies. Nasal congestion can result in breathing difficulties that cause restlessness while sleep.

3. Crankiness

Babies with blocked nose cry, whine and become irritable. They get frustrated, cranky and tired.

4. Impacts Overall growth

Nasal congestion in some serious cases may hinder physical and mental growth. Breathing from the nose is important for facial development in childhood. With a long-standing nasal blockage, a child’s mid-face may not grow as well as the other parts of their face. It may also impact the health of the ears as the drainage pathway for the middle ear is through the back of the nose.

How To Relieve Nasal Congestion

You can try some simple methods, remedies and preventive measures to relieve your child from nasal congestion-

Preventive Measures

  1. Keep the baby’s surroundings clean. Ensure to keep dust and other pollutants at bay.
  2. Try using a humidifier or a vaporizer in the kid’s room that helps to maintain an adequate level of humidity and prevents dryness which can lead to mucus formation in the baby.
  3. Avoid using deodorant or anything with intense fragrance around the baby in order to prevent triggering an excessive production of mucus.


1. Nasal Suction Bulb

Use a nasal suction bulb to suck the mucus out of the child’s nose. This was something I used to do regularly and it really helped. Always sanitize the bulb and learn the proper technique before using. Do not insert it too deep into the nose.

2. Nasal Drops

You can try saline drops like Nasivion Saline Nasal Solution that can help to soften the mucus and drain it out. Instill 2-3 drops / sprays in each nostril 3-4 times daily or as directed by the Physician. If the problem is aggravated, then after consulting your doctor you can opt for specific nasal decongestant drops, as per the age the of your child.

*For kids below one year, you can try Nasivion Mini (Baby 0.01%) Nose Drops use 1 drop of the solution into each nostril 2-3 times per day for infants up to the 4 weeks of age. For babies above 5 weeks till the age of 1 year, instill 1-2 drops into each nostril 2-3 times per day.


These drops contain an active ingredient Oxymetazoline which is well tolerable on the nose and can provide relief up to 12 hours. Always consult a healthcare expert, doctor/pediatrician before using the product. Read more about Nasivion here.

3. Keep the child in an upright or angled position

Something that worked for us apart from the nose drops is maintaining an angled posture. I would keep my girl’s head slightly inclined to keep her in an upright position. That would soothe her and also help the mucus to drain down easily.

It’s hard to imagine the kind of distress a blocked nose can cause to kids. Getting rid of nasal irritation is quite important for their proper development. If you notice any signs of nasal congestion in your baby, try the above-mentioned remedies. If the symptoms are acute, always consult a doctor and seek proper medical guidance on the same.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However the views and opinions mentioned here are my own, based on facts and my personal experience.

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Also read : Tip To Make Brushing Teeth Fun For Toddlers


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