How Do You Clear A Newborn’s Nose? | Safe Steps Parents Use

A newborn’s nose can sound noisy even when they’re fine. Their nasal passages are tiny, so a little mucus can make snorting, squeaking, and “stuffy” breathing seem louder than it is.

Still, there are moments when you do want to clear it. Think: baby pauses during feeds, struggles to latch, can’t settle, or sounds congested and seems bothered.

This article walks you through a simple, safe routine you can use at home, plus the moments when you should call your baby’s clinician right away.

How Do You Clear A Newborn’s Nose? Safe At-Home Steps

The safest routine is a two-part combo: loosen, then remove. You loosen mucus with saline, then remove it with gentle suction. This mirrors guidance from pediatric sources such as AAP HealthyChildren saline drops advice and bulb-syringe steps used in many children’s hospitals.

What you’ll need

• Infant saline drops (plain saline, not medicated)
• Bulb syringe or nasal aspirator (manual suction)
• Soft tissues or a clean cloth
• Warm water and soap for cleaning tools

Step 1: Get baby set up

Pick a calm moment. If your newborn is hungry and frantic, do a quick clear first, then feed. If your baby has just finished a full feed, wait a bit so suction doesn’t trigger spit-up.

Lay your baby on their back on a safe, flat surface. Turn their head slightly to one side. Keep one hand steady on their chest or shoulder so they feel secure.

Step 2: Add saline to loosen mucus

Put 1–2 saline drops in the lower nostril (the one closer to the floor). Pause for around 30–60 seconds. The goal is to soften dried mucus and thin thicker mucus so it slides out more easily.

If your baby sneezes, that’s fine. Sneezing is one of the best “built-in” ways newborns clear their noses.

Step 3: Use gentle suction to remove mucus

If you’re using a bulb syringe, squeeze the bulb first to push air out, then place the tip just inside the nostril. Keep the angle aimed toward the back of the nose, not straight up. Release slowly so suction pulls mucus out. Mayo Clinic describes this gentle, shallow placement style for infants. Mayo Clinic bulb syringe technique

Wipe the mucus onto a tissue. Then repeat on the other side: turn the head, add saline, pause, suction.

Step 4: Stop early if baby hates it

A little fussing is common. Full-on screaming, gagging, or worsening work of breathing means you stop, settle your baby, and reassess. You can try again later with less suction and fewer passes.

How often you should do it

Use suction when it solves a real problem: feeding, sleep, or visible blockage. More suction can irritate the inside of the nose, making swelling and stuffiness worse. Many pediatric handouts suggest being sparing and gentle.

What’s normal vs. what needs action

Newborn breathing can sound wild. They can grunt, snort, and squeak, especially during active sleep. If your baby is feeding well, has normal color, and settles between feeds, noisy breathing can still be normal.

Clear the nose when you see one of these:

• Baby keeps popping off the breast or bottle to breathe
• Feeding time stretches out because baby can’t keep a steady rhythm
• You see mucus at the nostril opening
• Congestion seems to be the reason baby can’t settle

Ways to clear a newborn’s nose without overdoing it

You don’t always need suction. Sometimes the best move is to make mucus looser so it drains or sneezes out on its own.

Use a cool-mist humidifier the right way

Dry indoor air can thicken mucus. A cool-mist humidifier can add moisture so nasal passages feel less dry. Pediatric guidance commonly favors cool mist over warm mist due to burn risk. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia notes that the AAP prefers cool mist and warns about steam burns from warm-mist devices. CHOP humidifier safety note

Basic habits that keep it clean:

• Change the water daily
• Clean the tank as directed by the manufacturer
• Keep the unit out of reach and cords secured

Try bathroom steam for a short reset

A short stay in a steamy bathroom can loosen mucus. Run a hot shower with the bathroom door closed, then sit with your baby in the room for several minutes. Keep your baby away from hot water and steam sources. This can be a nice “prep step” before saline and suction if mucus is thick.

Use positioning during feeds

If congestion is mild, a small change in how you hold your baby can help. Keep their head slightly higher than their belly during feeds and burp breaks. You’re not propping them with pillows for sleep. You’re just using your arms to keep a comfortable angle during feeding time.

Keep suction sessions short

One or two passes per nostril is usually plenty. If nothing comes out, stop. Add a bit more saline and try again later. Pulling and pulling can irritate tissue and backfire.

Table 1: Clearing options, when to use them, and what to watch for

Method	When it helps most	Watch-outs
Saline drops	Dried or thick mucus; “stuck” congestion	Use plain saline only; keep the dropper tip clean
Bulb syringe suction	Visible blockage; baby can’t feed smoothly	Be gentle; too much suction can irritate nasal lining
Manual nasal aspirator	When you want more control than a bulb syringe	Use a clean filter if your device uses one; wash parts after use
Cool-mist humidifier	Dry air; recurring nighttime stuffiness	Clean daily/regularly to avoid mold and bacteria buildup
Short bathroom steam time	Mucus that feels thick and stubborn	Keep baby away from hot water; limit time if baby gets fussy
Gentle nose wiping	Mucus sitting at the nostril opening	Avoid deep swabbing; don’t insert cotton swabs into the nostril
Extra burp breaks during feeds	Congestion interrupts sucking and swallowing rhythm	Keep baby upright in your arms; avoid sleep positioners
Timing: clear before feeds	Baby struggles most at feeding time	Avoid deep suction right after a big feed to reduce spit-up risk
Hands-off pause	Noisy breathing with normal feeding and color	Over-treating can irritate; watch the baby, not the noise

How to use a bulb syringe without hurting tiny noses

Bulb syringes work well when you keep the motion small and the suction gentle. The tip only needs to sit right at the entrance of the nostril, not deep inside. Nationwide Children’s notes that nasal saline can thin mucus, then suction can remove it. Nationwide Children’s bulb syringe instructions

A simple bulb syringe routine

1. Squeeze the bulb fully before it touches your baby’s nose.
2. Place the tip just inside the nostril opening.
3. Release slowly and steadily.
4. Remove, then squeeze mucus onto a tissue.
5. Rinse and wash the syringe after the session.

Cleaning tips that prevent re-gunking

Mucus dries fast and sticks. Right after use, rinse with warm water, then wash with soap and water. Squeeze and release so soapy water runs through. Rinse again, then air-dry with the tip pointed down so water drains out.

When congestion is a sign to call for medical care

Most newborn stuffiness is mild. Some situations call for same-day guidance. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to call your pediatrician and describe what you’re seeing.

Red flags you don’t watch at home

• Baby is working hard to breathe: ribs pulling in, nostrils flaring, grunting that doesn’t stop
• Blue, gray, or pale color around lips or face
• Fever in a newborn (follow your clinician’s fever instructions for your baby’s age)
• Baby can’t feed well enough to stay hydrated: fewer wet diapers than usual
• Extreme sleepiness paired with poor feeding

Table 2: Troubleshooting and when to stop home care

What you notice	What to do right now	When to call urgently
Congestion blocks feeding	Saline, then gentle suction before feeding	If baby still can’t feed or has fewer wet diapers
Noisy breathing, baby acts fine	Pause and observe; try humidifier at night	If breathing effort increases or color changes
Mucus is thick and sticky	Saline, wait a minute, then suction once per side	If symptoms pair with fever or poor feeding
Blood-tinged mucus	Stop suction; add humidifier; use less frequent suction	If bleeding continues or baby seems unwell
Wheezing or fast breathing	Stop home clearing and check baby’s color and behavior	Same day, or emergency care if severe effort or color change
One nostril always blocked	Try saline only, no deep probing	If it persists, call to rule out other causes

Common mistakes that make congestion worse

Using medicated sprays or decongestants

Skip medicated decongestant sprays for newborns unless your baby’s clinician tells you to use one. Plain saline is the standard starting point for loosening mucus in infants, as noted in pediatric and hospital guidance.

Suctioning too often

It’s tempting to clear every snuffle. Over-suction can irritate the nasal lining. When tissue swells, the nose can sound more congested. Use suction for clear reasons: feeding trouble, sleep trouble, or visible blockage.

Putting anything deep inside the nostril

No cotton swabs, tissue twists, or “scooping.” You can wipe the outside and just inside the rim with a soft cloth. Leave the inside alone and let saline plus sneezing do the work.

A calming routine for congested nights

Night congestion feels harder because babies spend more time on their backs and the house air is often drier. A simple wind-down routine can help:

1. Run a cool-mist humidifier in the room during sleep.
2. Right before the last feed, add saline drops.
3. Do one gentle suction per side if feeding sounds blocked.
4. Feed with a slightly more upright hold and take extra burp breaks.
5. Lay baby flat on their back for sleep on a firm, clear crib surface.

If your baby wakes congested, you can repeat saline and one gentle suction per side. Keep the session brief, then settle your baby back down.

Quick checklist before you clear a newborn’s nose

• Is baby struggling to feed, or is it just noisy breathing?
• Do you see mucus at the nostril opening?
• Do you have saline ready to loosen mucus first?
• Can you keep suction gentle and limited?
• Is baby’s color normal and breathing effort calm?

If the answer to that last line is “no,” skip home steps and call for medical guidance.