Newborn babies can choke on things like curdled milk, mucus or vomit. As they get older, they move on to solids and explore by putting things into their mouth.
Young babies may choke if they swallow breastmilk or formula too quickly or if they have too much mucus. Any object small enough to go into your baby's airway can block it.
For a congested nose, you can help your baby by using saline drops or a saline spray in each nostril, followed by clearing out any mucus using a bulb syringe. For a congested chest and nose, you can help by using a cool-mist humidifier in your baby's room.
Gagging after trying solid foods is normal in four- to six-month-old babies. There are a number of things that can cause children to cough while sleeping, including sleep apnea, colds, allergies, and asthma. Your baby may also choke on their saliva due to infant reflux or swollen tonsils.
What should I do if my baby is choking on mucus? If your baby appears to have too much mucus, you can gently suction the nose and mouth with a bulb syringe to help clear the excess secretions. If your baby gags or spits up mucus, turn them on their side and firmly pat their back as if you're burping them.
Call Your Doctor If:
Cough lasts more than 3 weeks. You think your child needs to be seen. Your child becomes worse.
Your child has a fever or swollen glands. If nasal mucus or coughing is accompanied by either of these symptoms, she may have a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics. Her nasal discharge is bloody.
Call Your Doctor If:
Any fever if under 12 weeks old. Nasal discharge lasts more than 14 days. Cough lasts more than 3 weeks. You think your child needs to be seen.
Elevating your baby's head while they sleep is a common recommendation for alleviating congestion, as it encourages mucus drainage and improves breathing. This can lead to a more comfortable sleep experience for your congested baby.
Chest percussion is clapping of the chest with percussor cups, which are similar to suction cups. This vibrates the airways in the lungs. The vibration helps loosen mucus so it can be coughed out.
A ruttle is a coarse, crackling sound which some babies make even when they are well. It is caused by secretions ( snot, saliva, gunk etc) being allowed to pool in the back of the throat. Babies can allow this fluid to collect there but adults would have to cough it out or swallow it down.
Mild to moderate congestion is common in babies and should only last for a few days. If a caregiver is concerned about a baby's ability to breathe or their baby is under 3 months old and has a fever, they should seek medical help as soon as possible.
If your child has a green or yellow runny nose in the first three to four days of a cold, that's normal and not considered a sinus infection — it's just that the mucus has been sitting in the nose for so long. That generally fades away within seven to 10 days and the fever is usually gone in two to three days.
Children with RSV typically have two to four days of upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as fever and runny nose/congestion. These are then followed by lower respiratory tract symptoms, like increasing wheezing cough that sounds wet and forceful with increased work breathing.
Q: Is it dangerous for a baby to sleep with a blocked nose? A: While it might be comfortable for your baby to sleep with a congested nose, it's considered safe for most children.
Baby cough with no other signs of illness
Why: A cough that has persisted for a week or more without any other signs of illness (like runny nose, fever, or lethargy) or allergies (clear discharge) could mean that your child has something stuck in his throat or lungs.
With plenty of rest and fluids, most coughs in younger kids and babies tend to clear up within three to four weeks.
Steam inhalation
A warm, steamy room can help loosen thick mucus and make it easier for a child to breathe. Try giving a child a warm bath before bed. Then take the child out of the tub, turn the shower up to its hottest setting, and close the door. Allow the steam to fill the room while sitting with the child.
Snorts and grunts happen because babies breathe through their noses . This allows them to feed at the same time as breathing. As your baby can't blow their own nose yet, mucus stays there and produces a whistle, sniffle or a snort as air passes through.
Your doctor or therapist will recommend certain positions to use. Clap your child's back or chest with your cupped hand quickly and rhythmically. This loosens the mucus, allowing it to drain. Do not clap directly on the skin—cover the area with thin clothing or a cloth.
First things first, you may find that your baby's congestion seems worse at night when they're lying on their back, but don't be tempted to put them down to sleep propped up or on their side.
Our bodies react differently to allergens at night and as much as we need gravity, it is not helpful when it comes to a baby's stuffy nose at night. Mucus builds up and has nowhere to go, increasing nasal congestion.
To keep a congested baby sleeping, you may want to begin your bedtime routine with a warm steamy bath. Be sure to elevate their crib mattress by placing rolled Woolino blankets at the head end of the crib to assist gravity in draining mucus more efficiently.