What should you do when your baby has green snot? How can you clear a baby's stuffy nose? Maybe you don’t need to do anything at all?
Babies can catch a cold an average of 12 times a year, regardless of the season. Your baby might have a cold or a runny nose even in the middle of summer. In comparison, adults experience colds around three times a year.
The real problem is that when a baby has a runny nose, the parents suffer along with them.
It’s not really an illness, and it doesn’t stop them from being active, but a baby with green snot who hates having their nose wiped, or a baby with a stuffy nose who struggles to swallow - it’s simply not pleasant.
Not just a stuffy nose. Cold symptoms in children
A cold is a viral illness that causes inflammation of the upper throat and nose. It’s highly contagious among children, partly because their hands are always busy, and the runny nose helps germs spread easily from place to place. Young children also lack the awareness or ability to wipe their nose properly.
Sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, sore or scratchy throat, phlegm, headache, fatigue, and chills can all be signs of a cold. There are about 200 different strains of rhinovirus. Once we’ve had one, we’re unlikely to get it again because our body has developed immunity.
If your baby or child has two or more of these symptoms, it’s likely they have a cold.
A cold usually lasts about a week.
Even when the symptoms are mild, a runny nose in babies and children can still be a nuisance:
- Coughing and phlegm can cause loss of appetite.
- Babies with blocked noses may have difficulty breastfeeding.
- Sleep becomes short and shallow.
- Wheezing in a baby can be worrying.
Different colours of nasal discharge and what they tell us
- Clear nasal discharge – normal, early-stage secretion.
- Yellow nasal discharge – shows that immune system components have joined the secreted fluid.
- Green nasal discharge – indicates that contaminants are present in the mucus. Antibiotics are usually not necessary.
- Pink or red nasal discharge – small amounts of blood are probably mixed in, often from the nose itself.
- Brown nasal discharge – old, clotted blood has mixed with clear mucus and coloured it.
Baby with a stuffy nose. The main concern
Babies and children breathe mainly through their nose (unlike adults, who also breathe through their mouth). A stuffy or runny nose can significantly reduce food and fluid intake, which may lead to dehydration - a real concern for babies and young children.
What to do - relieving nasal congestion in babies
In most cases, medication is not necessary. Treatment is symptomatic, meaning it focuses on easing discomfort and helping the body recover naturally.
Saline solution (for babies up to six months old) helps open a blocked nose and clear mucus from the breathing passages.
Natural formulas and “grandmother’s” remedies
Symptoms can also be eased with natural substances that support breathing and strengthen the immune system. Gentle essential oils - adjusted in dosage and ingredients for different ages - can provide significant relief:
- Easy Breathy Essential Oil – from birth
- Restore Essential Oil – from 5 months
You can use them in a diffuser that disperses the oils, or place a drop on the corner of the bed, nursing apron, or muslin cloth.
Traditional natural remedies:
- Raw chopped onion with honey – place in a bowl overnight next to the bed.
- Onion and honey mixture – soak chopped onion in honey and eat a teaspoon daily (for age 1 and up).
- Cook pears and drink the water they were cooked in.
What else can help?
- Raising the head of the bed
- Hot steam (for short periods)
- Good hygiene
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Exposure to sunlight
- Ventilating the room regularly
Just like Winnie-the-Pooh and the Cold, it’s not a serious illness - but for small babies and children, it can mean days of sleeplessness, fussiness, and discomfort.
*Disclaimer:
The recommendations for using essential oils do not constitute professional medical advice and are based on natural medicine traditions and literature. Essential oils are not medicines, and their use is the sole responsibility of the user. Please consult a doctor or certified therapist before use, especially if you have any health concerns.
Bila Harel Goren
Experienced Aromatherapist and Doula
Certified in Infant Massage and Massage for Pregnant Women