Stuffy Nose or Nasal Congestion In Toddlers – 3 Causes, 6 Symptoms & 5 Treatments You Should Be Aware Of

Does your toddler have trouble breathing? Does he always seem to have a stuffy nose? Does he often snore while sleeping? Do you worry if nasal spray or OTC medicines are safe for your little one?

If you are one of the worried parents, who nodded in agreement to these questions, read this post and find out how to help your toddler overcome nasal congestion.

Nasal Congestion:

Toddler stuffy nose occurs due to nasal congestion.Nasal congestion occurs when nasal and adjacent blood vessels and tissues swell up with excess fluid. It is an annoying condition and often leads to stuffy nose in toddlers. Nasal congestion doesn’t usually lead to a runny nose. [1]

As toddlers don’t know how to breathe through their mouths or sniff or blow out their nose, nasal congestion is that bit more annoying for them. Nasal congestion also leads to trouble in sleeping or eating.

[ Read: Nose Bleed In Toddlers ]

Causes Of Nasal Congestion:

The Common cold is often the cause of toddler nasal congestion. Other factors that lead to nasal congestion include:

1. Flu
2. Allergies – Pollen, Dust mites or food items
3. Sinus

[ Read: Sinuses In Toddlers ]

Symptoms Of Nasal Congestion:

If your kid suffers from nasal congestion, he may exhibit symptoms like:

1. Coughing
2. Sneezing
3. Runny Nose
4. Snoring
5. Noisy Breathing
6. Fever [in case there is some respiratory infection][2]

Treating Nasal Congestion:

Nasal congestion usually occurs due to allergies, cold, flu, and other such factors. Some ways of preventing and curing nasal congestion include:

1. Sterilize The Environment:

If your toddler is allergic to certain substances, keep them away from him.

• Don’t let people smoke in the house.
• Keep the carpets and rugs clean and dust free.
• Change your AC or furnace air filter frequently.
• Keep pets away, if possible in another room.
• Before planning for outdoors, check on the pollen report from the weather department.
• Keep windows shut if your toddler is allergic to pollen.

[ Read: Treatment For Whooping Cough In Toddlers ]

2. Keep Your Toddler Hydrated:

A well-hydrated toddler is a healthy toddler. More water thins the mucus and helps relieve stuffiness.

• The best drink is lukewarm water, but plain drinking water would also do.
• If your toddler finds plain water boring, try giving him juices, smoothies or soups.

3. Use A Nasal Aspirator:

If the stuffiness troubles your toddler too much, consider getting him a nasal aspirator [available at most medical shops] to remove excess mucus.

4. Use A Saline Solution As Nasal Drops:

A saline solution is one of the best home remedies for treating stuffy noses in toddlers. Administer the saline solution to your toddler through his nose. A saline solution is just salt and water. Make your toddler sniff this solution thrice in a day for best results.Toddler with stuffy nose can be treated with this type of nasal drop.

[ Read: Pneumonia In Toddlers ]

5. Elevate Your Toddler’s Head While He Sleeps:

When your toddler goes to sleep, make sure you elevate his head so that he sleeps soundly. The toddler stuffy nose can be treated by elevation.With the head a little higher than the rest of the body, he would be able to breathe better.This position also helps relieve stuffiness.

A Word Of Caution:

The remedies listed here help your toddler overcome nasal congestion. However, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician immediately, if your toddler exhibits symptoms like:

• High fever, which keeps recurring.
• Nasal dirt/mucus is green or yellow in color.
• Your toddler is breathing very fast. If he is under two, and taking more than 45 breaths per minute, you should seek immediate medical aid.
• Your toddler keeps rubbing his ears frequently, indicating an infection.

So, the next time your toddler contracts nasal infection, you know what to do. Share this post with your friends and family so that they too can protect their little ones from nasal congestion.

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