Every morning when my eight week old wakes up he has a very stuffy nose. I suction the mucous from his nose, but he hates it! Is it normal for babies to have a stuffy nose?
It is very common for babies under three months of age to get a stuffy nose. This is most often due to the fact that the nasal passages of babies are small. So, normal mucous production can easily cause a stuffy nose.
However, it is also important to realize that most of the time nothing needs to be done about the stuffy nose. Babies under about three months of age are called obligate nose breathers. In other words, they only really know how to breathe through their nose. If the nose is too stopped up, they will begin to cry because then they can breathe through their mouth.
Therefore, if your baby has a stuffy nose, but seems to be rather comfortable, then there is nothing you need to do.
If your baby seems to be fussy, or has difficulty eating because of the stuffy nose, then that is a good time to suction the nose. But if your baby sounds like a washing machine but isn't particularly bothered by it, then simply turn the baby monitor down a bit so you can get some rest.
