What it is
Newborns breathe through the nose, and the nose is the size of a pea. A little dried milk makes a lot of noise. A congested newborn is often not sick. Breathing is irregular too, 30 to 60 a minute with short pauses. A nasal aspirator, the bulb kind or the tube kind sold as a snot sucker, with a few drops of saline, clears what sneezing does not.
What's typical
Snuffly breathing is most common in the first month. A true cold brings thicker mucus, a cough, and trouble feeding. RSV and other viruses that cause bronchiolitis start like a cold and get worse on day three to five, with fast breathing and wheeze. Under three months, that is a same-day call.
What's known
The AAP and FDA say no cough or cold medicines under age four; they can harm. What is used is saline, suction, a humidifier, and smaller feeds. Pediatricians judge breathing by effort, not noise.
What helps
- Saline drops, wait a minute, then suction before feeds and sleep. A few times a day at most.
- Hold the baby upright on your chest after feeds. Do not prop the crib mattress.
When to call someone
- Nowa pause over 20 seconds, blue lips, over 60 breaths a minute at rest, ribs pulling in, grunting with each breath, or too breathless to feed.
- Todaya cold or cough under three months, feeding less than half of usual, or fewer wet diapers. Fever of 100.4°F or higher under three months is go in now.
- At your next visita squeak on the in-breath, or stuffiness that never clears.
Who helps
Tools: Postpartum Prep Checklist
Related
- Fever in a newborn is an emergencyBaby Basics
- When to call the pediatrician (and when to go in)Baby Basics
- Hiccups, sneezes, grunting, and other normal weird thingsBaby Basics
- Getting sick while postpartumPostpartum: Your Body
- Vaccines: the baby's schedule and who around the babyBaby Basics
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Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org — Caring for your child's cold or flu
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Clinical practice guideline on bronchiolitis
- NHS — Bronchiolitis
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