How to Clean an Infant's Nostrils

Unlike adults, infants can't blow their noses to clear them out. Their tiny nasal passages can easily become blocked from dried or excess mucus if not cleaned on a regular basis. This nasal congestion can disrupt your baby's eating and sleeping, cause discomfort and even affect the infant's health. You can keep your baby breathing freely by cleaning his nostrils using simple techniques with nasal saline drops and a bulb syringe.

Things You'll Need

• Nasal saline drops
• Tissue or cloth
• Bulb syringe

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Instructions

• 1

  Lay your baby on his back on a flat surface, such as a bed or changing table. Angle the infant's head so that it is tipped backward with his or her chin elevated. Ensure that the infant's neck is in a natural position and not kinked.

• 2

  Use nasal saline drops to loosen any dried or thick mucus in your baby's nostrils. Read all instructions and warnings on the package before using the drops. Place one to two drops of nasal saline in each of the infant's nostrils. Hold your baby's head gently in place for about 10 to 15 seconds.

• 3

  Turn your infant over onto her stomach. Wipe the saline from your baby's nose with a tissue or cloth as it runs out.

• 4

  Suck any remaining mucus from your infant's nostrils using a bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb portion of the syringe to release all the air. Place the syringe's pointed tip into one of the baby's nostrils while still squeezing the bulb. Release your grip on the bulb to cause the syringe to suck in air and mucus from your baby's nostrils.

• 5

  Squeeze the bulb of the syringe repeatedly while holding the tip against a tissue or cloth. Wipe away any mucus that comes from its tip. Repeat the suction process on your infant's second nostril. Clean the syringe after each use.