How to Sooth My Baby’s Blocked Nose

Let’s be real: baby sniffles sound worse than they are.

Hearing that stuffy breathing through the monitor at 2 a.m. can make your heart race. You want to fix it immediately — but half the advice online feels extreme or confusing.

Here’s what actually worked for us — and what didn’t.

What Helped:

• Saline spray before naps and bedtime — gentle but effective.
• A warm bath before bed to loosen congestion.
• Slightly elevating the mattress with a towel under the crib sheet.
• A cool-mist humidifier running through the night.

What Didn’t:

• Overusing nasal aspirators — just made things sore.
• Essential oils — too harsh for tiny lungs.
• Panicking — it sounded bad, but breathing stayed normal.

Our Lifesaver:

Steam from the shower. We’d sit in the bathroom with hot water running — five minutes, instant relief.

If you’re in the middle of those sleepless, sniffly nights: you’re not doing anything wrong. Babies get blocked up. They also get better.