All About Newborn and Baby Congestion

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Does your baby have a blocked nose or chest congestion? Newborn and baby congestion is common, as little ones naturally build up mucus but struggle to clear it on their own. Whether due to a cold, allergies or environmental factors, congestion can affect your baby's feeding, sleep and overall comfort.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Common causes of baby and newborn congestion, including colds, dry air and allergies.

• How to recognise symptoms, from loud breathing to difficulty feeding.

• Safe and effective remedies to relieve your baby’s blocked nose and chest congestion, such as encouraging rest, trying saline drops and using a humidifier wherever they sleep.

• When to contact your baby’s GP and when to seek emergency medical care.

Read on to learn how to help your congested baby breathe easier and feel more comfortable.

Why Your Baby’s Nose and Chest Are Congested

Nasal congestion is common in babies under 6 months because they build up mucus without being able to clear it. While colds and infections can worsen congestion, a stuffy nose can occur even when the baby is not ill.

Chest congestion often results from respiratory tract infections (RTIs), like colds. Babies typically experience around eight colds a year as they build immunity, but this usually decreases with age.

Most cases of congestion due to RTIs can be treated at home with simple remedies. While colds usually resolve in five to seven days for older children, it may take newborns up to two weeks to recover.

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Common Causes of Nasal Congestion in Babies

A baby’s nasal congestion can occur for several reasons, including:

• Colds and viral infections. The common cold is a leading cause of nasal congestion, triggering increased mucus production as the body fights off the infection. Babies, who have underdeveloped immune systems, are especially prone to catching colds.

• Dry air and environmental factors. Central heating in winter or air conditioning in summer can dry out a baby’s nasal passages, leading to irritation and congestion. Exposure to cigarette smoke, strong fragrances or dust can also contribute.

• Allergies. Although uncommon in newborns, allergies to dust mites, pet dander, pollen or mould can lead to nasal congestion, sneezing and a runny nose. 

Causes of Chest Congestion in Babies

Chest congestion in babies is typically due to respiratory infections but can also be influenced by other factors. Common causes include:

• Colds and other viral infections. The most common reason for chest congestion in babies is a viral infection, such as the common cold or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These infections cause mucus buildup in the airways, leading to coughing and congestion.

• Bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection in babies caused by RSV, which leads to inflammation and mucus buildup in the small airways, resulting in wheezing and congestion. This usually affects babies under a year old, especially during the winter months. 

• Pneumonia. Pneumonia is a bacterial or viral infection that inflames the lungs and can cause severe chest congestion, fever and difficulty breathing. This requires medical attention. 

• Exposure to smoke and pollution. Secondhand smoke or high pollution levels can irritate a baby’s delicate airways, leading to inflammation and increased mucus production.

By understanding these common causes, you can take steps to help relieve your baby's congestion and monitor for any signs that medical care may be needed.

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Baby Congestion Symptoms

Your baby can't verbally tell you when they’re congested, but you may notice specific changes in their behaviour and breathing patterns. Whether it’s nasal congestion or chest congestion, the symptoms can impact your baby’s feeding, sleeping and overall comfort. It’s more difficult for babies because they’re unable to clear their airways on their own. 

Understanding the signs of both nasal and chest congestion will help you take the necessary steps to ease your baby’s discomfort and know when to seek medical advice.

Signs of Nasal Congestion in Babies

The most common symptoms of baby nasal congestion are:

• Increased noise while breathing 

• More difficulty with feeding.

Your baby may sound congested if they ‘snort’ while breathing. Since children under six months cannot breathe through their mouths, nasal congestion can make feeding more challenging. This may also cause your baby to be more fatigued than usual and disrupt their sleep, especially if they have a blocked nose at night.

If your baby’s blocked nose is caused by a respiratory tract infection, you might observe some of the following additional symptoms:

• Runny nose 

• Sneezing 

• Coughing (wet with green or yellow mucus) 

• Wheezing and/or breathlessness 

• Fever 

• Difficulty sleeping 

• Crying from discomfort (body aches, headaches, sinus pressure, etc.).

Signs of Chest Congestion in Babies

Chest congestion in babies can cause discomfort and affect their breathing. Here are common signs to watch for:

• Coughing. A wet, phlegmy cough may indicate mucus build-up in the chest. 

• Wheezing. A whistling sound when breathing may suggest narrowed airways due to mucus or inflammation.

• Fast or laboured breathing. Rapid breathing, flaring nostril or visible chest retractions (sucking in the skin between ribs) could indicate respiratory distress. Grunting sounds. A low, grunting noise while exhaling can signal difficulty clearing mucus from the lungs.

• Reduced feeding. Congestion can make it harder for babies to feed properly, leading to decreased appetite.

• Irritability or lethargy. A congested baby may seem fussier than usual or unusually tired.

• Fever. A temperature over 38°C (100.4°F) may indicate an infection, such as a cold or bronchiolitis. 

If your baby has severe difficulty breathing, a persistent high fever or appears very unwell, seek medical attention immediately. 

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The Difference Between Dry and Wet Coughs

If your baby’s cough sounds wet (wheezing) or accompanies mucus, it’s most likely due to chest congestion. Coughs tend to last about three or four weeks and typically clear up on their own. Respiratory tract infections are the main causes of chest congestion, as they infect sinuses, throat, airways and/or lungs.

If your baby’s cough doesn’t accompany other symptoms or sounds dry or irritated, they most likely don’t have chest congestion. Dry coughs are often characteristic of conditions like whooping cough, which can produce a ‘whoop’ sound when gasping for breath between coughs, or croup, which can have a barking sound to the cough.

Although coughs can clear up on their own in a matter of weeks, it’s best to contact your doctor or call 111 if your baby is younger than 6 months and has a dry, persistent cough or a wet cough that involves wheezing. 

It’s important to note that experts don’t recommend decongestants for children younger than 6 years old or certain over-the-counter cough medicine for children younger than 12 years old, so always check with your doctor before giving your child medication.

How to Help a Congested Baby

Sometimes, you don’t need to do anything to combat baby congestion. If nasal or chest congestion isn’t interfering with your baby’s feeds or sleeping, you can simply wait for the mucus or infection to clear on its own. However, if your baby seems or feels unwell, can’t sleep or has trouble with feeds, the following remedies might provide some relief.

Quick Solutions for Your Baby’s Blocked Nose

Here are some tips on how to help a newborn or older baby with a blocked nose: 

• Remove the mucus. If your baby is congested but no mucus is coming out of their nose, you can try stroking the inside of their nostril with cotton wool to prompt a sneeze. If that doesn’t do the trick to remove the mucus, talk to your health visitor or doctor about using bulb syringes.

• Use saline drops. Talk to your doctor about using saline drops to help thin out the mucus, making it easier to remove. Only use these drops if your baby’s nostrils are fully blocked and remove the mucus with a bulb syringe immediately after using the saline drops. 

• Give extra feedings. If feeding is difficult for your little one, you may need to provide extra feedings throughout the day and remove mucus before feeding. Extra feeds can also increase fluids to prevent dehydration in babies, especially if they have a respiratory tract infection.

• Humidify the air. Loosen the mucus by using a humidifier in the room where your baby sleeps. This is especially useful in helping your baby’s blocked nose at night.

• Create a mini baby steam room. Sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom. Close the door and let the hot shower run for a few minutes. The steam can help loosen mucus, providing natural relief for your baby’s nasal congestion.

• Encourage rest. Ensure your baby gets plenty of rest by keeping them warm and comfortable. You can help soothe your baby by rocking them gently or giving them a warm bath.

Remedies for Chest Congestion in Babies

If your baby is experiencing chest congestion, several methods may help provide relief. Babies are more susceptible to chest congestion because their airways are smaller, making it harder for them to clear mucus compared to older children or adults.

To help your baby breathe easier and reduce discomfort:

• Use a cool-mist humidifier in the room where your baby sleeps. Set the machine close to your baby, making sure it is out of their reach. The additional moisture provided by the cool mist can help relieve the congestion by thinning the mucosal secretions and clearing your baby’s stuffy and/or runny nose at night. Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the humidifier every day as recommended by the manufacturer so that you can prevent any bacterial or mould growth.

• Create a baby steam room. As we mentioned for nasal congestion relief, sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom. Close the door and let the hot shower run for a few minutes. The steam can help loosen mucus, providing natural relief for nasal and chest congestion.

• Try a hot lemon and honey drink. If your child is 1 year old or over, you can try giving them a warm drink with half a squeezed lemon and 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey. It’s important to note that babies under a year old shouldn’t have honey as it carries the risk of infant botulism.

• Pain relief medication. Talk to your doctor first, but if your little one appears to be feeling unwell, your GP may recommend infant paracetamol or using liquid pain relief to help reduce pain, aches or pressure due to baby congestion. Always ask your baby’s GP for advice before giving your child any medication as restrictions and dosages vary depending on a child’s age.

Another important thing to remember is to avoid smoking around your baby. If you smoke around your baby, they have a great risk of developing serious chest illnesses that can cause nasal congestion and coughing, such as bronchiolitis, asthma, croup and pneumonia.

The above remedies can be highly effective for providing relief, but if your baby’s symptoms persist or worsen, always consult their GP to ensure they get the appropriate care.

What Does the Colour of Your Baby’s Mucus Mean?

Your baby’s nasal mucus (or ‘snot’) colour can offer clues about their health. While clear mucus is usually normal, variations such as white, yellow or green may indicate different conditions. However, changes in mucus colour should not be taken as definitive indicators of the severity or type of illness. Here’s a general overview of what the colour of your baby’s nasal mucus might mean: 

• Clear mucus: normal or mild congestion. Clear mucus is common and helps keep nasal passages moist. It can also be associated with mild congestion due to colds or allergies. ​

• White or light yellow mucus: possible viral infection. Nasal mucus may thicken and appear white or light yellow when your baby is fighting a viral infection like the common cold. ​

• Bright yellow to green mucus: ongoing infection. Nasal mucus that turns yellow or green can indicate that the body is continuing to fight an infection. However, the colour alone doesn't specify the type or severity of the infection. 

• ​Red, pink or blood-tinged mucus: irritation or dryness. Blood-tinged nasal mucus may result from nasal passage irritation or dryness, often due to frequent wiping or dry air. While usually harmless, if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult their GP. If your baby is coughing up blood-tinged mucus, it may indicate something more serious, so it’s recommended to seek medical attention by calling 999 or visiting the A&E.

In most cases, mucus changes are normal but contact your baby's GP if you notice dark-coloured mucus or any colour that concerns you, especially if the cold persists for more than a week, your baby has a persistent high temperature (over 38°C), or they have difficulty breathing. 

Find out more about when to contact your baby’s GP or seek immediate medical attention in our section below.

When to Contact Your Baby’s GP

You should contact your baby's GP if you notice any of the following symptoms:​

• If your baby's cough persists longer than three weeks or worsens over time 

• Any wheezing or a whooping sound accompanying the cough. A ’whooping’ sound indicates whooping cough (pertussis) which is generally treated with antibiotics depending on your baby’s age or the severity of the symptoms. It can also be prevented with your child’s routine vaccinations. 

• A fever that lasts more than five days or a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen

• If your baby is feeding less than usual or has fewer wet nappies, indicating possible dehydration

• If your baby is more irritable than usual, difficult to console, unusually drowsy or hard to wake up​

• Noticeably swollen glands or unexplained weight loss.​

If you're concerned about your baby's health and are unable to reach your GP, you can call NHS 111 for advice. 

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention (Call 999 or Visit A&E)

Seek emergency medical attention if your baby exhibits any of the following symptoms:​

• Rapid breathing, panting or if your baby is finding it hard to get their breath and is sucking their stomach in under their ribs

• Blue, pale or blotchy skin, especially on the lips, tongue or face

• If your baby is hard to wake up, appears disoriented or is unusually floppy

• Any seizures or convulsions​

• If your baby coughs up blood or has blood-stained mucus

• A spotty, purple or red rash that doesn't fade when you press a glass against it, which could be a sign of sepsis

• A high fever:

  • Under three months old with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher

  • Three to six months old with a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) or higher.​

In these situations, it's essential to act promptly by calling 999 or taking your baby to the nearest A&E department. 

It’s natural to worry about your baby when they have congestion or are seeming or feeling poorly. Always trust your instincts as a parent. If you're concerned about your baby's health, seek medical advice promptly.​

The Bottom Line

Congestion is something your baby will experience from time to time, as it’s a common symptom of natural mucus accumulation or a cold. Easy home remedies and treatments, like clearing your little one’s nose with a saline spray and using a cold-steam humidifier in the room where your baby sleeps, can help ease your baby’s congested nose or chest.

You can also talk to your baby’s GP about clearing the nasal passages with saline drops, followed by suctioning out the mucus with a bulb syringe. If the GP gives you the go-ahead, try doing this before feeding and bedtime so it’s easier for your baby to feed and sleep. Before you know it – with your gentle care and lots of cuddles – your little one will be back to their old self again!

Contact your baby’s GP if you have any concerns about their health, including a persistent or worsening cough, a high fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen glands, wheezing or a whooping sound accompanying the cough, feeding less than usual, or they seem more irritable than usual, difficult to console, unusually drowsy or hard to wake up.​

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the National Health Service (NHS). You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}