The arrival of autumn coincides with the return of colds and viruses for young and old alike. Unfortunately, for many of us the quality of sleep decreases when we have a blocked nose, especially for babies who become grumpy and can't blow their nose. Let's see how to make it easier for them to sleep when they have a cold.

Colds, a cause of nighttime awakening for toddlers

First of all, it is important to know that in infants, the respiratory system is not mature enough to allow them to breathe through the mouth. Until the age of two, babies breathe mainly through their nose.

It is therefore very important to clean your baby's nose when it is blocked. This can be due to a cold, flu or other respiratory infection. Babies are unable to blow their nose, so they need help getting rid of the secretions that clog their airways.

To clear baby's nose, you can use a baby blowgun or just rinse one nostril after the other with saline solution or a seawater spray with a tip specially adapted to the morphology of infants.

Which technique to use to blow baby's nose?

By washing your child's nose you are doing 2 things:

  • You will clear baby of secretions to improve air circulation in the respiratory tract to help him breathe better day and night.
  • You will avoid the stagnation of mucus and the development of diseases like otitis or pharyngitis.

Natural products are the most suitable for babies and the most effective. Saline or sea water are not medicines, so they can be used several times a day, whenever needed. Seawater spray retains all its minerals and trace elements even after treatment and allows the nasal mucosa to be decongested in a completely natural way.

The method is simple, it consists in laying baby on his side on the changing table and inserting the washing solution in the upper nostril to expel the secretions, then repeat the operation on the other side.

So that baby is relaxed, take advantage of it to make him a small cuddle or a small massage before the washing of nose. To facilitate the operation, it is preferable to be two.

This operation can be repeated several times during the day and especially before going to sleep.

Breathe better to sleep better!

During the night or during the nap, to avoid that nasal secretions fall in the throat and make baby cough, it can be judicious to raise the top of his mattress. Be careful, do not use a pillow that could be dangerous for toddlers, prefer a sloping surface.

This accessory, specially designed to slightly raise the upper part of baby's body, offers a 15% inclination that is sufficient to facilitate breathing. It has been specially designed for the comfort and safety of toddlers.

It is important to choose a good quality recliner made of natural materials. Choose a recliner with removable covers so that you can wash the cover regularly.

Don't forget to keep your child well hydrated, if he has a fever or a blocked nose, he needs to drink regularly.

A blocked nose can also be the result of a too dry atmosphere in the room, often caused by the heating. If the air in the room is too dry because of the heating, the child may need to cough, which disrupts his sleep (and yours...).

So try to maintain a certain level of humidity in your baby's room. If you have cast iron heaters, you can put a bowl of water on the radiator. For homes with electric heaters, there are humidifiers available, but you can simply hang a damp cloth in the room.

During the whole period when your child is sick, avoid as much as possible to make him sleep in your bed, on the one hand to avoid increasing his temperature, on the other hand to avoid the propagation of viruses, a sick baby needs parents in good shape!