Our newborn has a stuffy nose. Is there a safe decongestant for him?

Question

He is 11 weeks old but was 10 weeks premature. We have been using an nasal aspirator which works but we want to know if he can take something to keep him clear. Since it's Sunday we can't call our Pediatrician. Thanks for any advice

Answer 1

You can always call the er and ask to speak to a nurse on call. Thats what I did when I had questions with my little one. Or call the birthing unit at the local hospital and ask to speak to a nurse about a medication for your little one. You have to be careful when they are that young giving them any over the counter medicine. Good luck! I hope he gets better soon.

Answer 2

I was never a fan of giving my babies any meds that I could avoid. If you call your peds office the answering service should either contact the Dr on call to call you back or let you know where to call for assistance. I know this sounds old fashioned but while my babies were young we spent lots of time sitting in the bathroom while the hot shower ran and the steam helped to break up the congestion. Keep up using the nasal aspirator and there is always the old standby of holding the little one up in your arms because laying down makes the congestion worse. I know this is hard on the parents, between the lack of sleep and worrying but this will pass. Good Luck to you both and congratulations on your new baby.

Answer 3

you definitely need to keep your babies nasal passages clear, baby's are not born knowing that they have to breath threw their mouths when they can't breath threw there nose's.
I know this because I went threw my baby less then a month old stop breathing and turning colors because he couldn't breath threw his nose and wouldn't open his mouth, which I had to open.
You should take your baby to the doctor if you can't use a nasal plunger to keep it clean, and clear.
follow the directions closely when you give your infant any meds of any kind, because doctors go by weight and they don't give certain things to them cause it can harm them more.
You can call and talk to your pediatrician or who ever is on call and get some advice over the phone without having to take your baby in.
Doctors like this because you are better off to be safe then sorry, if something really needs to be taken care of. I wouldn't take any risk of something hurting the baby.
I ended up in the hospital for three days because the stuffy nose thing ended up being Bronchitis and he ended up on breathing treatments...and if I waited it could have harmed him more.

Answer 4

When my daughter was newborn she had the same type of congestion. the doctor told me a way to clear it without meds and not harm the baby in any way. he said mix about 1/4 teaspoon salt in about 1/2 cup water. makes a home made saline solution. use a dropper put a drop or two in baby's nose. wait for a second and use baby bulb nose sucker and suck all saline solution out of the nose. it clears the congestion. baby does not like it much and they swirm and cry during it but it works really well. cheap no meds no doctor visit. just don't let the saline sit in the nose for to long. you can do this once every four hours it will clear it up.

Answer 5

One thing you can do that helps alot, is to get a room humidifier and place it in the room where the baby spends most of his time. Then, on the port right where the mist comes out, put a dollup of Vicks Vapour Rub. It works like a charm. It helps moisten the air because the summer months can be really dry, so as the air is breathed in, it adds a moisture lining...it actually is good for everybody, not just the baby! Good luck!

Answer 6

You can safely use saline nasal drops for his nose.

My boys' pediatrician said never to use a bulb syringe. If the mucous is right around the rim of their nostrils, or just inside (so it's visible to your eyes) that's fine...but if it's down inside and you have to stick the bulb syringe way back down there, that's not good. Their mucous membranes are very sensitive/delicate, and can be damaged easily. L&D nurses and doctors know what they're doing when they use them. Most adults don't. :) I was using one on my first son for a while before his ped. told me this. No wonder he used to scream and scream. Oops. :) Saline is safe to use as often as you want...just make sure you get actual saline and NOT nasal spray (Oxymethazolinone hydrochloride [i.e. Afrin, NeoSenephrin, etc.]).

Answer 7

generally there is nothing you can give a baby that young, especailly a premie. generally decongestants aren't recomended for babies under 6-12 months. my son was full term but with being born in the fall he did have a cold right around that age. You could try a baby aroma bath with natural decongestants like eucalyptus. I have one that is life brand, but I know that gerber and johnson and johnson both make a baby aroma bath that is safe to use on babies of any age.

Good luck, my son wasn't a premie but all the same it can be nerve racking when they are soo little and get sick, there is really nothing you can give them before 6 months.

Answer 8

try a saline nasal spray. all it is is salt water so there's no medicine in it but it will help loosen stuff up so the aspirator works better. look by the nose sprays the has a coup[le brands just for babies.Also turn the shower on straight hot and sit in the steam with him. hope this helps.

Answer 9

You should call the hopital where your doctor is on duty. They might need you to take the child in to the hospital because premies have a much higher risk of getting RSV. A disease that could be very dangerous in newborns. Don't give any medicine unless your doctor gives it to you! Also you could try using a vaporizer or a humidifier.

Answer 10

Never give your baby any medication without talking to your doctor first. You just don't want to take the chance with someone so small. Even if they are allowed to take a medication the dosage should always be approved by a doctor and carefully measured out.