Nasal Aspirator for Babies: How to Clear a Stuffy Nose So Your Baby Can Feed

Babies breathe mostly through their noses, so a little mucus can make feeding hard work. A baby with a stuffy nose may pull off the breast, fuss, or feed more slowly. Babies can’t blow their noses yet, which is where saline drops and a nasal aspirator come in.

This guide is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, through HealthyChildren.org), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a children’s hospital’s patient instructions. We don’t name brands or rank products. A simple bulb syringe does the job; other types are optional.

Why a stuffy nose gets in the way of feeding

Colds are very common: HealthyChildren.org says most children have around 8 to 10 colds in their first two years. The AAP explains that infants with a cold may feed more slowly or not feel like eating because they’re having trouble breathing, and it suggests suctioning your baby’s nose before you try to breastfeed or bottle-feed.

The AAP also says breastfeeding is still recommended for babies with colds. If your baby finds it hard to feed at the breast, expressing milk into a cup or bottle may be an option; our guide to hand expressing breast milk shows how. If a congested baby suddenly refuses the breast, see our guide to a nursing strike.

Do you need a nasal aspirator?

Not always. The AAP says that if cold symptoms aren’t bothering your child, they likely don’t need medicine or home remedies; many babies with a stuffy nose are happy, feed and sleep well. Treat the stuffiness when it makes your baby uncomfortable or gets in the way of feeding or sleep.

When you do need it, the FDA says nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe, with or without saline drops, works very well for infants under a year old. The AAP adds that suction works best when your baby is under 6 months; older babies tend to fight the bulb, but saline drops still help.

Saline drops first, then gentle suction

Saline (salt water) drops loosen dried, sticky mucus so it comes out more easily. You can buy saline drops or spray at a pharmacy without a prescription.

1. Wash your hands.
2. Put a few saline drops in one nostril at a time. AAP pages say 1 to 2 drops (or sprays) or 2 to 3 drops in each nostril; Nationwide Children’s Hospital says 3 to 4 drops, so the sources differ slightly. Nationwide Children’s Hospital suggests holding your baby with their head back for about a minute so the saline can thin the mucus.
3. Squeeze the bulb first, before it goes near your baby’s nose. Keep it squeezed.
4. Gently place the tip in one nostril and slowly let go of the bulb. The suction pulls the mucus into the bulb.
5. Squeeze the mucus out onto a tissue, then repeat on the other side.
6. Wipe around the nose gently with a soft tissue or a wet cotton swab to clear sticky mucus and avoid irritation.

Do it before feeds, not after. Nationwide Children’s Hospital cautions that suctioning after a feed may make a baby vomit. The AAP says nasal washes can be repeated whenever your child can’t breathe through the nose, until what comes out is clear, and that saline drops, sprays and rinses are safe to use several times a day. For suction itself, Nationwide Children’s Hospital advises no more than 4 times a day, and only when your baby seems congested, to avoid irritating the nose.

If you make saline at home, the AAP’s recipe is ½ teaspoon of non-iodized salt and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup (8 oz, about 240 ml) of warm water, using sterile, distilled or previously boiled water. Nationwide Children’s Hospital advises making a new solution each time.

Bulb, tube or electric: types of nasal aspirators

The AAP and FDA describe the bulb syringe, a rubber suction bulb with a rubber tip; it’s the type the sources give instructions for. The AAP also mentions “nasal aspirators” in general but doesn’t compare designs. The other common types:

• Tube (mouth-suction) aspirators: a nozzle placed at the nostril, connected by tubing to a mouthpiece, so a parent controls the suction. Many designs use a replaceable filter.
• Electric or battery-powered aspirators: a motor provides the suction, often with more than one setting.

We found no AAP or FDA guidance that says one type works better or is safer than another, so the evidence here is thin. Whatever you choose, the principles are the same: gentle suction, a soft tip that sits at the opening of the nostril rather than pushed deep inside, and following the manufacturer’s instructions.

What to look for

• A soft, rounded tip that only goes into the opening of the nostril.
• Easy to take apart and clean, with no hidden spots where mucus collects.
• Gentle, controllable suction for electric types, starting at the lowest setting.
• Replaceable filters for tube types, if the design uses them.
• Clear instructions for use and cleaning.

How to clean a nasal aspirator

Clean it after every use. For a bulb syringe, Nationwide Children’s Hospital advises washing it in warm, soapy water: squeeze soapy water into the bulb, shake, squeeze it out, and repeat many times, then rinse many times with clear water. Also wash the dropper and any jar used for saline after each use, and throw away unused saline. For tube and electric aspirators, follow the manufacturer’s cleaning and filter-replacement instructions.

Other ways to ease congestion

• A cool-mist humidifier can moisten the air. The FDA advises against warm-mist humidifiers, which it says can make nasal passages swell. Clean the humidifier often, as the manufacturer recommends, to prevent mold, bacteria and mineral buildup (AAP), and keep it out of your baby’s reach.
• Plenty of fluids. For a baby, that means frequent breastfeeds. The AAP says staying hydrated keeps mucus thinner.
• No honey under 12 months. The AAP warns it can cause infant botulism.

Skip over-the-counter cough and cold medicines

The FDA says children under 2 should not be given any cough and cold product containing a decongestant or antihistamine because serious and possibly life-threatening side effects could occur, including convulsions, rapid heart rate and death. The AAP says these medicines are not recommended for children under 4. Mentholated rubs are for children 2 and older only (AAP). Always call your pediatrician before giving any medicine to a baby. If you’re the one with the cold, our guide to cold medicine while breastfeeding covers your options, and breastfeeding while sick explains why you can usually keep nursing.

When to call your pediatrician

The AAP says to call your pediatrician at the first sign of illness if your baby is 3 months or younger, because colds can quickly become serious problems such as bronchiolitis, croup or pneumonia in young babies. At any age, call if your baby has any of these signs, and call right away for breathing trouble, blue lips or face, or a fever in a baby under 3 months:

• has trouble breathing: nostrils widening with each breath, the skin between or around the ribs sucking in with each breath, or breathing fast
• has blue lips or nails, or the lips or face turn blue during coughing
• has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher and is younger than 3 months (12 weeks); for a baby over 3 months, the AAP’s cold guidance says to call for a temperature over 102°F (38.9°C)
• is feeding poorly or shows signs of dehydration, such as fewer than six wet diapers a day, a dry mouth, fewer tears or a sunken soft spot
• vomits after 2 or more feedings (aside from normal spit-up), or is too sleepy or very fussy
• has nasal mucus lasting more than 10 to 14 days, ear pain, or isn’t getting better each day

Go to the emergency department if your baby can’t stay awake, struggles to cry, or gasps for every breath. For checking a fever, see our guide to choosing a baby thermometer.

For more help with feeding hurdles, visit our common breastfeeding challenges hub.