Self-help Guides

Your child should see a doctor for nasal congestion or a runny nose if he or she:

• is younger than 3 months
• is wheezing, is having difficulties breathing, or looks like he or she is working very hard to breathe
• has a fever higher than 39°C, has a fever several days after the start of stuffy or runny nose, or has a fever for more than 5 days
• has green or yellow discharge from the nose
• has yellow discharge from the eye(s) or has yellow crust caked around the eyes after waking
• has an earache
• has a very sore throat
• has problems feeding because his or her nose is very stuffed
• is irritable and cannot be consoled when you try to sooth him or her

Non-medication treatment

If your child does not have the previously listed signs and symptoms, you can try the following tips to help him/her feel better:

• To loosen mucus in your child's nose:
  • Offer lots of fluids - but avoid caffeinated soft drinks.
  • Use a cool mist humidifier in your child's room.
  • Use saline nasal spray (you can buy that at most pharmacies) or make your own saline nasal drops by adding ¼ teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of cool water. Use 2 to 3 drops into each nostril several times a day. Put 1 drop at a time in 1 nostril at a time. This may be especially useful before feeding because your child needs to breathe through his or her nose while feeding.
• To clear a stuffy nose:
  • You can use a soft suction bulb to help clear the mucus out of your infant's nose. You can buy the suction bulb in most pharmacies.
• Your child may be more tired than usual. Make sure he or she gets lots of rest.

Over-the-counter medications

Many over-the-counter medications are available as combination products, so you may be giving your child medication that he or she doesn't need if all you want to do is relieve the nasal symptoms. Some over-the-counter medications available include:

• Antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine)*
  • They dry up the mucus.
  • They are more useful if the runny or stuffy nose is due to allergies.
• Nasal decongestant sprays (e.g., phenylephrine, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline)*
  • They are for children 12 years and older.
  • They reduce the congestion in the nasal passages.
  • Your child should not use them for more than 3 days in a row. If they are used for longer than 3 days, your child's stuffy nose can get worse after stopping the spray.
• Oral decongestants in pill form (e.g., phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine)*
  • They are for children 12 years and older.
  • They reduce the congestion in the nasal passages.

Ask your pharmacist which over-the-counter medication is right for your child.

* All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your child should feel better in about 1 week.

You should take your child to see a doctor if he or she:

• still has a runny or stuffy nose in 1 week
• is feeling worse or having problems with feeding
• has any of the signs and symptoms listed previously