Babies only breathe through their nose for the first few months. It is normal for a newborn to have periods of irregular breathing. Your baby may snort or even have a brief pause in breathing while sleeping. Your baby’s breathing pattern will become more regular in about a month or two.
It is also normal for your baby to sneeze often to clear his/her nose.
If your baby has trouble breathing due to a lot of mucous, follow these steps to remove the mucus from your baby’s mouth with a bulb syringe:
- Squeeze the air out of the bulb syringe away from the baby’s face.
- Gently insert the tip into one side of the baby’s mouth (pocket of cheek only). Do not suction the back of your baby’s mouth.
- Release the pressure and remove the mucus.
- Remove the syringe and empty the mucus by squeezing the bulb away from the baby’s face.
- Repeat in the cheek pocket on the other side of the baby’s mouth.
Follow these steps to clear the baby’s nostrils of visible mucus:
- Your baby may have trouble breathing due to swollen mucous membranes. Further suctioning of the nostrils may contribute to the swelling. Use the bulb syringe conservatively and only if you see visible mucous from your baby’s nostrils.
- Squeeze the air out of the bulb syringe away from the baby’s face.
- Gently insert the tip into the baby’s nostril.
- Release the pressure and remove the mucus.
- Remove the syringe and empty the mucus by squeezing the bulb away from the baby’s face.
- Repeat in the other nostril.
In addition to the bulb syringe, try these tips to ease your baby’s breathing:
- Raise the head of your baby’s bed.
- Use a cool mist vaporizer in your baby’s room.
Cleaning the bulb syringe:
- Clean the bulb by flushing it out with hot soapy water after each use.
- Do not wash in the dishwasher.
- Do not use the baby’s bulb syringe on other children.
- Do not insert into baby’s ears.
In addition to the bulb syringe, try these tips to ease your baby's breathing:
- Raise the head of the baby's bed.
- Use a cool mist vaporizer in the baby's room.
