Safe Congestion Relief for Toddlers
Toddler Congestion: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
When your little one is stuffy and miserable, you want to help them feel better fast. The good news is there are safe, gentle ways to ease your toddler's congestion at home. Most congestion clears up on its own with some simple comfort measures.
What's going on?
Congestion happens when the tissues inside your toddler's nose get swollen and produce extra mucus. This is usually your child's immune system responding to a cold virus, though allergies or dry air can cause it too.
Toddlers get congested more easily than adults because their nasal passages are smaller. What feels like a minor cold to you can make breathing feel really difficult for them. The stuffiness often gets worse at night when they're lying down.
Most congestion in healthy toddlers is just annoying, not dangerous. It typically lasts 7 to 10 days and gets better without any medication.
What you might notice
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Snoring or noisy breathing
- Difficulty eating or drinking
- Fussiness or trouble sleeping
- Mouth breathing during the day
- Clear or thick nasal discharge
What helps at home
A cool mist humidifier in your toddler's room can work wonders. The extra moisture helps thin out thick mucus and soothes irritated nasal passages. You can also bring them into the bathroom while you run a hot shower to create steam.
Saline nose drops or spray are completely safe and surprisingly effective. Put a few drops in each nostril, wait a minute, then use a soft rubber suction bulb to gently remove the loosened mucus. Do this before meals and bedtime when congestion bothers them most.
Keep your toddler well hydrated with water, milk, or warm broth. Extra fluids help thin mucus naturally. Elevating the head of their crib or bed slightly can also make breathing easier at night.
Avoid over-the-counter cold medications. Health Canada doesn't recommend cough and cold medicines for children under 6 years old because they don't work well and can have serious side effects.
When to worry
Head to the emergency room if your toddler has trouble breathing, their lips or face look blue, they're unusually drowsy, or they refuse to drink anything for several hours.
Call your doctor or text Arlo if the congestion lasts longer than 10 days, your child develops a fever over 39°C (102°F), you notice thick yellow or green discharge for more than a few days, or they seem to have ear pain along with the stuffiness.
The takeaway
Watching your toddler struggle with congestion is hard, but simple home remedies really do help. Most congestion resolves on its own with patience and gentle care.
You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!
References - [Colds in children](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/coldsinchildren)
- [Coughs and colds: Medicines or home remedies?](https://aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=778&language=english)
- [Cold and flu symptoms in children](https://www.ontario.ca/page/cold-and-flu-symptoms-children)