Nasal irrigation

Babies and young children can’t blow their noses properly. You can use nasal irrigation to clear their nose.

This technique involves gently rinsing your child’s nostrils with saline solution (salt water). The solution is easy to make at home (see Saline solution (salt water) recipe to treat stuffy noses below). Or you can buy it at your local pharmacy. Make sure to get saline solution and not medicated nasal drops or sprays (such as decongestants). Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Nasal irrigation reduces congestion and hydrates the nasal passages. It reduces the frequency and duration of colds and helps prevent ear infections.

Some parents use nasal irrigation every day to help keep their children’s noses clear. Others use it only when their children have nasal congestion or cold symptoms (see Stuffed-up or runny nose).

How it works

Nasal irrigation requires saline solution and syringes, which are available at drugstores. It’s best to use a different syringe for each child and change them when they become hard to use or clean.

The following table shows one way of doing nasal irrigation. You can also ask your healthcare professional to show you how it's done.

Child under 6 months

• Wash your hands.
• Fill a syringe with 3 ml to 5 ml of saline solution.
• Lay the child on her side. Swaddle her if she moves around too much.
• Carefully insert the tip of the syringe into the upper nostril and gently push out the saline solution.
  The child’s secretions will come out through her nostrils and mouth.
• Turn your child on her other side and repeat for the other nostril.
• Wipe your child’s nose or encourage her to blow her nose if she’s able. If necessary, use a nasal suction device.
  You can repeat these steps until your child’s nose is clear.

Child 6 months and over

• Wash your hands.
• Fill a syringe with 5 ml to 10 ml of saline solution.
• Sit the child on your lap. Swaddle her if she moves around too much. Hold her jaw to stabilize her head. Lean forward slightly.
• Carefully insert the tip of the syringe into the upper nostril and gently push out the saline solution.
  The child’s secretions will come out through her nostrils and mouth.
• Repeat for the other nostril.
• Wipe your child’s nose or encourage her to blow her nose if she’s able. If necessary, use a nasal suction device.
  You can repeat these steps until your child’s nose is clear.

Saline solution (salt water) recipe to treat stuffy noses

There are several recipes for saline solution (salt water) for the nose. Here is one:

• Add 10 ml (2 tsp.) of iodine-free salt (sea or pickling salt) and 2.5 ml (½ tsp.) of baking soda to 1 L (4 cups) of cooled boiled water.

Store the solution in the fridge in a sealed glass container for up to 7 days. Take the desired amount out of the fridge and let it come up to room temperature before using. Do not rinse your child’s nose with cold water.