None of this post is sponsored. Any product links are just the exact items I happen to use and love in my own home.

I swear it happens to me about once a month no matter the season—my son gets stuffy, snotty, and turns into a complete fuss monster. Because current guidelines don’t recommend any kind of decongestant medication for children under 6, these little colds leave us all miserable and shit out of luck. However! There are a some things you can do to make it a little easier on them (and everyone else in the house) while you ride out the snot fest.

First off, if there’s a ton of sticky nasty crud coming out of baby’s nose, you want to keep it contained. I like to keep an extra pack of wipes handy to wipe my baby’s face (and hands!) fairly frequently. You’ll have to do this constantly, but it goes a long way to keep baby clean and germs at bay. If snot builds up and gets crusty (like after a nap), I run a washcloth under warm water and (as gently as I can) dab over his face until it’s gone. I use Boogie Wipes when I can, and they’re nice because they aren’t as drying as regular wipes, so if baby’s skin is starting to get irritated from all the wiping, they’re a nice option. I’ll also dab Aquaphor or Vaseline on dry patches.

I’d absolutely recommend using a good saline nasal spray to break up stubborn snots and help open everything up. I really love Boogie Mist the most since the nozzle fits perfectly in the nose and sprays quick, even bursts. Have a wipe handy when you do this since it’ll make baby’s nose run like crazy, but it really helps so much. It’s especially great when there’s a lot of dried and crusty crud stuck up in there. Kids absolutely hate it, but I can’t live without it.

Some people swear by the FridaBaby NoseFrida snot sucker thing, and the ONE time I’ve actually managed to use it, it worked like a dream. However, at least at this stage, my kid fights like hell any time I pull it out so I kinda gave up on it. Maybe when he’s older…if it works for you, go for it!

Warm baths are a must! They really help keep baby clean and relieve some congestion as well since the heat and steam open up the sinuses somewhat. When my son is sick, it isn’t unusual for me to bathe him in the morning AND evening just to keep him as clean as possible. I happen to love adding a few pumps of Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Bath to the water and also using a drop or two to help wash his face. I’m not sure if it actually has any decongestant effects on its own, but it’s really gentle and smells amazing!

An anti-inflammatory medication like Motrin is a good idea to help swelling in the sinuses and relieve any sinus pain or headaches. I personally think that it helps quell my son’s fussiness a good deal. If he’s especially fussy, I’ll give it during the day as needed (no more than once every 6 hours) and always before bed at night–I have found that a bedtime dose seems to provide enough relief for him to sleep much longer than he would without it.

Speaking of nighttime, running a humidifier at night helps to keep the air moist, which helps sooth dry skin and decongest. What you should NOT do is have your baby inhale steam directly…this may be a “traditional” remedy, but warm fluid streaming into the lungs can cause aspiration pneumonia. Just don’t.

It’s a bit retro, but I also happen to love Vick’s Vapo-Rub. A little goes a long way, but a little bit massaged onto baby’s chest as needed helps clear the nose as well. Again, it can make their nose run, so have a wipe or washcloth handy! Do keep in mind, though, that the scent is strong and some babies may not love it—my son definitely will NOT tolerate it at night, so I reserve it for daytime use.

Patience, patience, patience! Viral colds can take 7-14 days to resolve. Even with some of the things mentioned above, baby is still going to be cranky and not feeling like themselves. It sucks. Just do your best and know that it won’t last forever!

Finally, keep yourself healthy! Illnesses definitely bounce around households, and you want to be doing everything you can to avoid catching your child’s cold. Make sure you’re washing everyone’s hands constantly, wiping down surfaces and toys (basically anything baby touches), eating well and staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep (easier said than done, I know!). At the moment I’m also taking a spoonful of Elderberry syrup every morning because supposedly it boosts immunity? I honestly have no clue if it works. Ask me in a few months. But I’ll take all the support I can get 😉

Most cases of stuffy and runny nose alone are viral infections that can really only be treated with time and supportive treatment rather than antibiotics. That said, if your baby has a fever of 100.4F (38C) or more, give the doctor’s office a call. Also consider calling if they are having problems breathing, seem to have a sore throat, are coughing, or seem to be dehydrated.

Image by Myriam Zilles from Pixabay