Saline guides · Part 1 of 2
Saline nose drops for babies and toddlers
Plain saline nose drops, gentle suction, feeding observations and safe sleep for babies and toddlers with a stuffy nose.
When congestion gets in the way of a feed
A baby who usually settles into a feed may keep stopping when their nose is stuffy. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes plain nasal saline drops as one way to loosen mucus. Gentle suction can then help move it. The aim is to make feeding and breathing through the nose easier for a while.
Choose the product by its age directions
Start with drops labeled for your child's age, or ask the pediatrician which product to use. The AAP advises using plain saline without medication added. Look for instructions you can follow while holding a squirming child, including how to open the container and when to discard it. If the age range or the instructions are unclear, the pediatrician or pharmacist can help you check the exact package.
The Steralis Labs 0.9% directions describe nasal care and single-use handling. The public instructions reviewed for this guide give no infant-specific dosing directions. Use your child's product label and pediatrician's guidance for the details.
What the suction bulb adds
Drops loosen mucus. A bulb or nasal aspirator can help remove it. The AAP suggests gently using a bulb after the drops when appropriate. Squeeze the bulb before bringing it to the nostril, and follow the device directions. A parent can ask the pediatrician to show the technique, especially when caring for a very young infant or when the child becomes upset during suction.
A stuffy nose also changes what caregivers notice. Is your baby taking the usual amount? Are they pausing more often? Those details help the next caregiver and are worth writing down. The second page covers a simple handoff and the symptoms that need medical attention.
Sources and instructions
- American Academy of Pediatrics guide to stuffy noses and safe sleep
- American Academy of Pediatrics guidance for a child's cold
- American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on when to call for a fever
- Steralis Labs 0.9% instructions
AI-assisted editorial article published by Steralis Labs, which sells saline products.