If I asked a group of first-time parents if their baby has a cold, more than half of them would say yes. If I asked the same group of parents if their newborn has a runny nose, almost all of them would say no. What many first-time parents don't realize is that newborns usually sound stuffy when they breathe.
If a newborn gets a cold, she will develop a runny nose just like older kids. The baby will be very congested and a moderate amount of nasal secretions will be produced throughout the day.
If colds don't explain why newborns have stuffy noses, what does? Rarely, a baby can be born with a medical problem that results in significantly narrowed nasal passages. Doctors can recognize this because the baby will have distress with breathing or won't be able to feed well enough to gain weight.
Most babies sound stuffy in the first few months for the following reasons:
- Fetuses float in amniotic fluid. Some of this fluid gets into their nasal passages during birth, and it may take a few days for it to be cleared.
Doctors and nurses get lots of calls about what to do with a newborn's stuffy nose. Here are my usual answers to those questions. Saline drops? No. Nasal aspirator? No. Leave them alone? Yes.
If your baby is feeding well, there is no reason to irritate her sensitive nasal passages with salt water or a blunt plastic object. However, if your baby is having trouble breathing, especially with feeding, you should make an appointment to see the doctor.