How to Clean Your Baby's Nose: Tried and True Methods

Does your baby hate having a blocked-up nose?

Most babies get cranky when they can’t breathe properly. They have tiny nasal passages that get blocked fairly easily. So if your baby is snorting, having trouble eating, or seems a little more irritable than usual, it might be because of their nose.

We’ve mastered the best methods for relieving nasal congestion, and we’ll share our medical team’s tips and tricks to help ease your little one’s discomfort.

We’ll discuss the ways you can clean your baby’s nose, so you’ll know exactly what to do next time your infant is all stuffed up.

The Causes of Baby Congestion

Having a newborn who isn’t feeling well can be pretty disheartening. A baby with a stuffed nose sometimes doesn’t even want to eat, which can be very worrisome, particularly for a new mom.

There are many reasons why your baby’s nose could be clogged. Not all of them relate to being sick. Here are five of the more common reasons a baby has difficulty breathing through their nose:

1. The nasal passages are small: Your newborn’s beautiful button nose is pretty tiny. So it takes very little mucus to block the nasal passage, and it can sound quite congested. If your baby is eating without a problem and looks otherwise well, there may not be that much mucus clogging it.
2. Babies can’t blow: Mucus builds up in the nose for many reasons, no matter your age. Older children and adults can simply blow it out into a tissue. However, babies can’t, so they need another way to help clear their nasal passages.
3. Things are irritating the nose: Perfumes, cigarette smoke, pet dander, pollen, or dust can all cause irritation of the nasal passages. Try to eliminate these to ensure your baby is breathing good quality air ⁽¹⁾.
4. They have a cold: Babies are susceptible to the cold virus, just like everyone else. So, if your baby has all the stuffed-up symptoms, especially if someone in the family has recently had a viral infection, it could be the common cold.
5. They have a more serious illness: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause your baby to be congested, along with a cough, and suffer from some difficulty breathing, creating an illness we call bronchiolitis. It’ll usually be accompanied by other signs, like fever, irritability, and disrupted feeding patterns ⁽²⁾. Influenza and pneumonia are also infections that can cause respiratory difficulties and should be monitored closely and treated when indicated. When a baby is very ill and not able to breathe well, they will have a lot of difficulty feeding and can get dehydrated, especially when they also have a fever.

How to Clean Your Baby’s Nose

When your nose is stuffed, the best remedy is to blow it out. However, this is not possible for your baby to do. That’s why you need these alternative clearing methods.

1. Nasal Spray

Saline nasal sprays or drops are a great way to clean your baby’s nose. Saline sprays and rinses work by thinning out the mucus, temporarily clearing the congestion ⁽³⁾. Pediatricians typically recommend the drops for babies, as they give you a little more control over the amount administered and the force with which they go into the nose.

To use the drops, you’ll need to lay your baby down on its back. With a hand or pillow under the neck, tilt the baby’s head back, tilting it at a slight angle.

Next, you should put one or two drops of saline into each nostril. Then wait a few minutes before turning your baby onto their stomach. The mucus should start flowing at this point. If not, it is also helpful to use a nasal bulb syringe.

You can use a soft tissue or cloth to wipe away any excess mucus or saline that runs out of the nose. Your baby will probably not like the process but will usually be much happier when it’s easier to breathe again.

2. Bulb Syringe

Chances are you’ve seen one of these bulb syringes before. They often come in a baby grooming kit, or you may have been given one in the hospital. The rubber bulb syringe is made specifically for clearing your baby’s nose.

Lay your baby on their back on a flat surface, facing upward. Make your little one is comfortable and relaxed.

Squeeze all the air out of the bulb. It should be pretty flat in your hand. Then gently place the tip into your baby’s nose. Take care that you don’t insert it too deeply but enough to make a seal around it to allow some suction to be created.

Release the squeeze on the bulb. This will suck the mucus out of the baby’s nose and into the bulb. Have a cloth nearby so you can squeeze out the bulb’s contents before using it on the other nostril. Watch this video for a demonstration of a good method for using a bulb syringe to clear out your baby’s nostrils.

You need to clean the bulb out after each use to prevent the spread of germs. The syringe must also be properly cared for, allowing it to drain and dry out between uses.

3. Nasal Aspirator

A nasal aspirator works similarly to a bulb syringe. However, instead of using the pressure inside the bulb, you will provide the suction yourself. The aspirator has a tube with a mouthpiece for you to gently suck the mucus out of your baby’s nose.

You will use the same manner as the syringe, being careful not to place the tip too far inside the nostril. When you’re sucking on the tube, you probably don’t want to use too much force. This could cause your baby to have inflammation inside the nose. Once you get used to doing it, you should find you can control it pretty well.

A good tip I learned from my pediatrician is to use some saline drops to loosen the mucus first. Then use the aspirator to bring it out.

Don’t worry — aspirators have a filter inside the tube to prevent the mucus from making its way into your mouth. It may feel weird sucking boogers out of your little one’s nose, but it’s really effective. Just like the syringe, you’ll need to clean it before and after each use.

4. When Should You Clear Your Baby’s Nose?

You can use saline drops, a bulb syringe, or a nasal aspirator 3 to 4 times in 24 hours. Any more than that can carry a risk of damaging the lining of the nasal passages, causing irritation and nosebleeds.

It can be helpful to time these clean-out sessions to be just before feedings to help your baby breathe while nursing or taking the bottle. It’s not possible to suck and breathe through the mouth at the same time, so your baby must have a clear nose to get in a good feeding.

One of the reasons babies do not feed well with respiratory illnesses is that it requires too much effort. So you will notice they feed for shorter periods, just until they get tired of working so hard. You will want to try to feed them more frequently when this is happening.

Another good time to clear nasal secretions is just before bed at night to help everyone sleep better.

5. Keeping Your Baby Safe

When using the bulb syringe or the nasal aspirator, you should take a few precautions. The process should always be very gentle, and you should remain calm to keep your baby relaxed.

Always start the process with freshly washed hands. This will keep you from giving your baby any germs. Also, don’t forget to wash your hands after clearing your baby’s secretions to prevent spreading germs or bacteria to yourself and others.

When you buy a syringe or aspirator, make sure it’s specifically designed for babies. If the tip is too large, it could damage your little one’s nostrils. Ensure you follow any directions that come with your device.

How to Prevent Baby Congestion

Pediatricians recommend only using the suction method a couple of times daily to keep the mucous membranes inside the nose from getting irritated and inflamed. If your baby has allergies or is ill, you may want to use other methods to keep their nose as clear as possible. Here are a few things you can do to help the nostrils drain more easily:

• Humidifier: Dry air from the heater or the air conditioner can dry out noses and produce extra mucus. This problem is especially prevalent in the winter. Run a humidifier in your baby’s room to moisten the mucus membranes in the nose and help alleviate the symptoms ⁽⁴⁾.
• Steam: Steam can also help loosen the mucus inside your baby’s nose. Close the bathroom door and run hot shower water to make the room steamy. Then turn off the water and sit inside the steamy room with your baby for 5–10 minutes to let the steam penetrate the nostrils. You can also try a vaporizer to create warm steam in your baby’s bedroom for a similar effect while sleeping.
• Gravity: While your baby is taking a nap, try propping them up a little bit. You can use a folded or loosely rolled blanket under their head to elevate it. You should only do this when you are awake and can see your baby, not during nighttime. When your baby is awake, tummy time can help the nose drain and help your baby developmentally at the same time!

Remedies to Avoid

There are many treatments for stuffy noses that are okay to use on adults. However, they may not be appropriate for use on your baby.

Neti pots are successfully used to clear nasal passages or deal with sinus infections. But they should not be used on a baby. It will be too difficult to control the amount of saline solution you put in each nostril. The saline drops and bulb syringe work in a similar manner but can be used much more easily and safely with your baby.

Vapor rubs may be okay for older children or adults, but they’re often not good for infants. The rubs usually contain ingredients like menthol or camphor, which are too harsh for a newborn’s delicate skin. Also, a baby may accidentally get some of the ointment on their hands and into their eyes.

Decongestants and cold medicines are used by older children and adults occasionally to alleviate nasal congestion. These medications have demonstrated very little benefit for babies and have not been well-studied in infants and young children. The FDA recommends using caution due to potential overdose and toxic effects ⁽⁵⁾. The American Academy of Pediatrics has taken this a few steps further and, because of reports of harm outweighing the little benefit, recommends that they should not be used until after the age of 6 ⁽⁶⁾.

Editor's Note:

Dr. Gina Jansheski, MD, FAAP

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When to Call the Doctor

Blocked nasal passages are a common occurrence for babies, but there are times when you should call your doctor. Call and make an appointment with your baby’s doctor for any of the following reasons:

• Your baby’s symptoms last longer than a week.
• The condition seems to be getting worse instead of improving over time.
• Any efforts to clear the nostrils show no signs of improvement.
• The stuffiness continues, and you suspect it may be an allergy.

There are other methods your doctor may be able to try. They can look inside your little one’s nose to see if anything obstructs it. Plus, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics if it’s a bacterial infection. But keep in mind that the most infectious causes of runny noses are viruses, and antibiotics don’t kill viruses.

There are a few scenarios that warrant prompt medical attention. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should get your baby to a doctor immediately:

• You notice a blue tinge on your baby’s skin, lips, or nails.
• Your baby is working too hard to take a breath.
• Your baby is running a fever or is coughing a lot.
• Your baby is unable to feed and may be getting dehydrated.
• You’re concerned that a foreign object is stuck in your baby’s nose.

FAQs

How Often Should You Clean a Baby’s Nose?

You should clean your baby’s nose as needed, usually when you notice visible blockage or when they seem uncomfortable due to stuffiness. Daily cleaning isn’t necessary unless they are experiencing a cold or allergies leading to congestion.

Is It Safe to Put Breastmilk In Baby’s Nose?

While it’s a common home remedy, there is limited scientific evidence for putting breastmilk in a baby’s nose to clear congestion.

If considering this, it’s crucial to ensure the milk is fresh and the process is done gently. However, saline drops are a widely accepted and safe method for nasal clearing.

How Can I Unblock My Baby’s Nose Naturally?

To unblock a baby’s nose naturally, you can use saline nasal drops followed by gentle suction with a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. Keeping the air moist with a humidifier and ensuring your baby is well-hydrated can also help loosen mucus.

Is It Safe to Use Nosefrida on Newborns?

Yes, using Nosefrida or similar nasal aspirators on newborns is safe. These devices allow you to gently remove mucus from your baby’s nose, helping them breathe more easily. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and maintain cleanliness to prevent any risk of infection.