Clap (percuss) your child's chest or back with your cupped hand. This loosens mucus and helps it move. Be sure the area is covered with thin clothing or a cloth.
One of easiest ways to clear a baby's or toddler's nose is to use a saline nasal spray. Nasal spray works by thinning out the mucus, allowing the nose to clear out and ease congestion. If you can't run to the store for saline drops or spray, try mixing one cup of warm, filtered water and a ½ teaspoon of salt.
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 setting 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.
Usually, newborn stuffy nose goes away on its own within a few days. In babies, nasal congestion or stuffy nose happens when the tissues inside the nose swell. Use salt water nasal drops or an infant nasal aspirator or suction bulb to help clear mucus from your baby's nose.
If your child has a wet cough, it might be from a respiratory illness causing the airways to produce phlegm or mucous. This respiratory illness can be caused by a virus or bacteria, which can usually be identified by your pediatrician.
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.
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.
Mucus at Work
Then little hairs called cilia go to work. They push the mucus up and out of the lungs with all the trapped bacteria, viruses, and dust. “It comes up at sort of a nice slow rate to the back of the throat,” Boucher says. “And if you're normal and healthy, you never feel it and you just swallow it.”
Your hips should be higher than your chest. To do this, place pillows under your hips. This posture tilts your lungs and gravity moves the mucus out. If you want to empty the lower part of your left lung, lie on your right side.
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.
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.
If your baby is congested and exhibits any of the below symptoms, call your doctor immediately: Your baby is younger than three months old. Your baby isn't having as many wet diapers as usual. Your baby has a temperature of 100 degrees for more than three days.
That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping stuffed animals, blankets, and other soft objects away from where a baby sleeps until they are 12 months old — these objects can lead to sudden infants death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, and strangulation.
Using your index and middle fingers, apply pressure near your nose between your cheekbones and jaw. Move your fingers in a circular motion toward your ears. You can use your thumbs instead of your fingers for a deeper massage. This should take 30 seconds to a minute.
Chest congestion symptoms can be the result of multiple ailments, but if your chest congestion is a result of a cold then it should typically last less than 10 days. When coughing up mucus and phlegm, the color of the fluid may be an indication of underlying issues.
Gravity The No. 1 factor that makes your cough worse at night is simple: gravity. Mitchell Blass, MD, a physician with Georgia Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, says, “When we lie down, mucus automatically begins to pool.” The best way to counteract this gravitational pull is elevation.
Use your stomach muscles to forcefully expel the air. Avoid a hacking cough or merely clearing the throat. A deep cough is less tiring and more effective in clearing mucus out of the lungs. Huff Coughing: Huff coughing, or huffing, is an alternative to deep coughing if you have trouble clearing your mucus.
Mucus usually clears itself out of the body as we've discussed, but sometimes it needs a little help. Coughing and blowing your nose are the best ways to help mucus fight the good fight. “Coughing is good,” Dr. Boucher says.
Controlled coughing loosens mucus and helps it move through the airways. Uncontrolled coughing fits may trap mucus in your airways. Postural draining. You can lie down in different positions to help clear the mucus.