Advice Needed on Stuffy Nose at Night

I have found that on occasion my daughter has the same problem (especially in the winter months) I have found that putting a pillow under the mattress sheet (to raise the head slightly) and also using a humidifier has really helped. Also, the Little Noses brand saline spray works really good. I use it on my son.

Have you tried rubbing a little Vicks Vaporub under his nose or just applying it to his pillow at night? The menthol clears up the stuffiness most of the time. As far as oxygen levels, that will cause sleep deprivation from trying to get enough oxygen thus leaving a child tired and apt to have mood problems.

Our son's pollen allergy causes the same symptoms. I have noticed he is often crabby when he is stuffed up, but the crabbiness goes away within 10 minutes of taking an antihistamine. Nasonex (a prescription nasal spray recommended by our allergist) helps even more than antihistamine. It's taken daily (during pollen season) and prevents the nasal reaction from occuring (rather than treating the reaction after it occurs like an antihistamine does).

-D.

My daughter is 5 and the same way..During the winter she has a constant runny nose..But I find that by putting the vaporizer in her room at night helps alot..Try it and let me know good luck

~Connie

Hi W.,
I find that running a hot shower so that he can in a steamy room for about 10 minutes and then following up with saline spray, which he hates, and a cool most humidifier in his room helps. He might be old enough to just turn on the hot water in the sink and but a towel over his head to create a steam bath. The best natural remedy I've used as an adult is a saline flush system for the sinuses. It's a squeeze bottle that you fill withroom slightly warm, purified water and then mix with salt the kit provides (finely milled so that it will disolve and premeasured). This sounds nasty and scary, but it's totally not scary -- it's a little gross I suppose, but it's sooooo great -- you then tilt your head over a sink and slowly squeeze the solution into one nostril and let it come out the other. It's much easier than it sounds! I feel so much better afterwards. Using it after waking up is the best. You can use it at night but not too close to bed time because you don't want the post-nasal drip to keep you awake. Well that was an appetizing post, wasn't it!

Go to a local Asian market and ask for "white flower oil"
apply as needed across the bridge of his nose at night, it works great for me and my grandchildren. Note. be careful not
to get it in the eyes...external use only. He may also inhale it by holding one nostril shut and inhale, rotate to the other nostril. I think you will be please as to the many uses that come in this little bottle....

Good Luck,
META

One of the best things I ever did was to follow the advice of my pediatric nurse practitioner friend who encourages us new mom's to regularly spray salt water into the nostrils of our babes. My nearly 4 year old now goes and gets the refillable squeeze bottle and brings it to me when she is even a bit stuffy as she knows it will make her breathe better. In some seasons we will do this up to 4 x day. It's as natural as showering your outer body. Big people do well with nasal douching (check into neti pots) as well.

The great advantage to all with this is that any bacteria or excess mucous that is still hanging out in the sinuses will be flushed out thereby eliminating the need for the body to metabolize it out.

The key is to start as early as you can so that they become accustomed to the experience...make big fun of it and be sure to have the experience how free their breathing is after it is done..."now doesn't that feel better?!"

Usually I'll lay my daughter across my lap (face up) and ask her "which side first?" She'll then point to it and I quickly point and squeeze trying to get as much up into the sinuses as possible...sometimes we'll repeat it. I'll sit her up pretty immediately while she tastes "the salty" and I'll either encourage her to blow then or do the second side and then blow.

The salt solution ( about 1 teaspoon to 8 oz ) will continue to draw from the sinuses excess fluid so you may be getting some pretty satisfying blows for about 1/2 hour.

K. Gilliam, LAc.
Rolfer/Feldenkrais practioner

I spray my daughter's nose with saline solution to help remove any clogged mucus, make sure her head is slightly elevated, put product in her bath containing eucalyptus before bed, and have had my doctor recommend a children's antihistamine.

Try putting vicks vapor rub on his feet with socks over it. I read the suggestion in another group not to long ago and thought it was crazy. When my son got sick instead of putting the vapor rub the usual places i put it (chest, back, behind the ears and nose) i rubbed it on the bottom of his feet put socks on and then his footed pjs. He was able to sleep through the night no problems.

we use a warm mist humidifier every night during the winter. not only does it keep the room cozy, it really reduces breathing problems from colds, stuffy nose, cough, etc.

might wanna give vicks vapor rub (apply directly under the nose to improve breathing) and a humidifier a shot...they both got me through the 3 colds I had while pregnant when I couldn't take real drugs!! Good luck!

The best thing I have found for a stuffy nose at night are those new plug in vapor units. They are very small (about as big as a night light), very inexpensive and work wonders.

Try NeilMed's Sinus Rinse (www.neilmed.com) to relieve your son's symptoms. It is basically a salt and baking soda rinse. I was just recently diagnosed with sinusitis by a pulmonary specialist and was glad to learn of this alternative to conventional medications. You can get the rinse bottle for about $15 and 100 packets of the mixture for about the same. I got mine at Longs, and you can get them at pretty much any corporate pharmacy.

Hi W..
My friend boy also had a stuffy nose. It turned out to be an allergy to cows milk. Is he drinking any cow's milk. Or is he eating or drinking anything else that he may be allergic to.
Is it only in a certain room his nose is stuffy.
My daughter had a stuffy nose too. We washed her sheets and pillow cases in fragrance free detergent and dried them without fabric softener sheets, stuck the pillow and blankets in the dryer to get rid of any stuff in them and gave her room a big clean without anything that had a smell, vaccuumed and finally put on the air filter. She is much, much better now.

Hope this helped.

W.,
Does your son have this same seasonal allergies when sleeping in a hotel,or on the sofa, or in a different bed at a different house? Simple home remedies...
*allergy pillow case covers and mattress covers
*air purifier(HEPPA)/humidifier
*get a really good filter for you home heater/air conditioner
*taking a bath nightly to remove pollen from hair and skin
*removing extra blankets/stuff animals
*opening the window just a crack at night
good luck!

W.,
Have your son try some Breathe Right strips (sold near the pharmacy). It is similar to putting a bandade on your nose. He will notice the differnce right away. Best of luck!

Hi,

I cured my seasonal allergies by putting a teaspoon of locally produced bee's honey in my tea every day. It creates antibodies that help disarm the overactive immune system. It really works! You can find it at a food co-op or a locally owned natural food store. Nettles tea is also a great allergy remedy, just be careful not to touch it with your bare hands until it's dry, if you're collecting it yourself. Otherwise you can find it at a natural food store already dried. Also, food allergies can create a histimine reaction that effectes the respiratory system, so you might want to see a naturopath who knows about food allergy, or an allergist who deals with food allergy; I don't think all allergists work with food allergies, strangely enough.) Best of luck!