Best Sleeping Position for a Baby with a Stuffy Nose

Why You Shouldn’t Elevate a Congested Baby

The AAP compares a baby’s airway to a straw: it works best when it’s straight. When a baby’s head is propped up, their heavy head can tip forward, bending the neck and pinching the airway, and young babies can’t always move themselves out of that position. Babies on a slope can also slide down into soft bedding.

That’s why the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has banned inclined sleepers (any product that raises a baby’s head more than 10 degrees) after infant deaths. The same risk applies to home versions:

• No pillows, rolled towels or blankets under or around your baby
• No wedges, books or blocks under the crib legs or mattress
• No swings, bouncers, rockers or car seats for sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one, move them to their crib or bassinet as soon as you can
• No stomach or side sleeping. Always place your baby on their back, even when they’re stuffy

A crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet is the safe place for sleep. Keep your baby warm with layers or a sleep sack rather than blankets.

What Actually Helps a Stuffy Baby Sleep

1. Saline drops before sleep. Put 1 to 2 drops of plain saline in each nostril about 15 minutes before naps, bedtime and feeds to loosen mucus.
2. Gentle suction. Use a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. Squeeze the bulb before putting it in the nostril. Don’t suction more than about 4 times a day, because it can irritate the nose.
3. A cool-mist humidifier. Place it near the crib but out of reach, change the water daily and keep it clean. See our guide to the best humidifiers for baby.
4. A steamy bathroom before bed. Run a hot shower for a few minutes with the door closed, then sit with your baby in the warm, moist air.
5. Upright cuddles while awake. Holding your baby upright on your chest or shoulder while they’re awake and you’re alert is fine and can make them more comfortable. Put them down flat on their back for sleep.
6. Extra feeds. Breast milk or formula keeps your baby hydrated, which thins mucus.

Is My Baby’s Stuffy Nose Normal?

Often, yes. Babies breathe mainly through their nose and have tiny nasal passages, so a little mucus, dry winter air or a cold can make them snort and snuffle. Our guide Why Does My Newborn Sound Congested? explains the common causes and has a simple “normal vs. call your pediatrician” table.

What Not to Give

• No over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under 2 (FDA)
• No honey for babies under 1 year
• No medicated or menthol rubs unless your pediatrician recommends them

When to Call the Doctor

Call 911 if your baby is struggling to breathe, can barely cry, or has blue or gray lips or face.

Call your pediatrician now if your baby:

• Is under 12 weeks old and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Is breathing much faster than normal, grunting, flaring their nostrils, or the skin between the ribs pulls in with each breath
• Is wheezing, or has trouble breathing that doesn’t improve after you clear the nose
• Is feeding much less than usual or has fewer wet diapers

Also check in if a stuffy nose keeps waking your baby, or if it lasts more than 2 weeks. For colds that turn into a barking cough, see our croup guide, and for wheezing or fast breathing, our RSV guide.

The Bottom Line

A stuffy nose doesn’t change the safest way for a baby to sleep: on their back, on a flat, firm surface, with no pillows, wedges or inclines. Clear the nose with saline and suction before sleep, add moisture to the air, and call your pediatrician if your baby’s breathing or feeding worries you.

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Always contact your pediatrician with questions about your baby’s health. In an emergency, call 911.