How To Help Your Baby or Toddler Clear Their Stuffy Nose

Mucus removal tips from a pediatrician

FACEBOOKTWITTERLINKEDINPINTERESTEmail

When your child’s too young to blow their nose, the job of getting out excess mucus from allergies or illness falls to you. (The joys of parenting!)

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

So it’s time to — ahem — “suck it up” and become a mucus removal expert. It’s not a pretty process (or something you thought you’d add to your parental resume), but a job well done will help your child breathe easier and get better rest — and that’s worth it for the whole family.

What’s the best method for clearing your baby’s congestion? “It depends on the child’s age,” says pediatrician Amy Sniderman, MD.

Dr. Sniderman shares her best snot-removal solutions and throws in a tip to help your child learn how to blow their own nose, too!

How to clear a baby’s stuffy nose

“A nose that’s clogged with mucus can make it hard for babies to breathe and eat properly — especially for young babies who breastfeed or eat from a bottle,” Dr. Sniderman says.

Keeping excess mucus in check can also ward off skin infections caused by leaking mucus around your child’s nose.

“The best way to remove it is with a handy baby nose sucker device like a nasal aspirator or Swedish snot sucker,” Dr. Sniderman says.

With a nasal aspirator, you create the suction by squeezing the bulb and then putting it gently in your child’s nose and releasing it. With a Swedish snot sucker, you create the suction with your mouth — but a long, thin tube with a membrane over it stands between you and the larger vial that goes in their nose. You and your baby might not love the process, but it works.