Runny or blocked nose in babies

A blocked nose, sometimes called a 'stuffy' nose, happens when the mucous lining of the nose becomes swollen or inflamed. It is a common condition in both children and adults.

A blocked nose can be very uncomfortable for babies. It can make it hard for them to breathe through their nose.

The medical term for blocked nose is nasal congestion.

A runny nose happens when mucus drips or 'runs' out of your nose. It's a common symptom in people of all ages, including babies.

A runny nose is sometimes called rhinorrhoea or rhinitis — these are similar conditions, but they're not the same. Rhinorrhoea is when a thin, clear fluid runs from your nose. Rhinitis is when the inside of your nose is irritated and swollen.

The symptoms related to a blocked or runny nose often depend on the cause.

Symptoms of a blocked nose

Signs of a blocked nose include swelling, inflammation and mucus inside your nose. This can make it hard to breathe through your nose. Other symptoms may include a feeling of 'fullness' in the face and sleep disturbance. Babies and young children can't describe their symptoms or tell you that their nose is blocked — you may notice that they are unsettled or upset.

Newborn babies often only breathe through their noses (for example, when feeding), so a stuffy nose with mucus can make their breathing sound noisy.

Symptoms of a runny nose

Signs of a runny nose include sneezing, upper airway cough syndrome (known as 'postnasal drip') and nasal congestion.

If your child has a runny nose as a result of an allergy, they may also have itchy skin or watery eyes.

If your child does not have an allergy, you may notice that symptoms happen throughout the year, but they may become worse in certain weather conditions (for example, changes in temperature) and physical irritants (such as dust or smoke).

Blocked or runny nose can be caused by many different things. Some are contagious (they can be passed from person to person), but many are not.

Some examples include:

• allergic or non-allergic rhinitis
• infection (for example, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or cold or flu)
• deviated septum (Opens in new tab)
• cleft palate
• large adenoids (Opens in new tab)
• tumour (rare)

Your baby's doctor will examine them to check their symptoms and diagnose the cause. They will also ask you if your baby's family members have any known allergies.

They will look for mucous, blood or other things that may be causing the blocked or runny nose. They will also check the physical structure inside your baby's nose, to see that it the shape is normal and not causing irritation or breathing problems.

If your baby has a runny nose, they will look at the colour and consistency of the discharge as part of their review.

If you think your baby may have an object in their nose (Opens in new tab), a broken nose or some other physical problem that affects their breathing, take them to a doctor.

Your baby should also see if a doctor if:

• only one side of their nose is blocked or runny
• their nose is bleeding from one side
• the mucous from their nose smells bad
• they have had an injury (for example, if they fell or were dropped) and there is swelling
• symptoms affect your baby's feeding

If the only symptom your baby has is a blocked or runny nose, this is not usually a sign of serious illness. Often, they won't need medical treatment.

If you're worried, take your baby to your local child health clinic, or their doctor. They will check your baby and reassure you if there is nothing to worry about.

A blocked or runny nose can make it harder for your baby to feed. Young babies mostly breathe through their noses, especially during feeding, so if their nose is stuffy, they may struggle to latch or stay latched during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. This can lead to fussiness during feeds.

Clearing your baby's nose before feeding can help them breathe more easily and feed more comfortably.

If your baby continues to have feeding difficulties or you notice signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies, it's important to see a doctor.

A blocked nose may lead to snoring, mouth breathing, reduced sense of smell, dribbling and possibly obstructive sleep apnoea (Opens in new tab).

For most babies, blocked or runny noses do not cause serious complications.

While it's not always possible to prevent a blocked or runny nose, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of it happening.

Keeping your baby away from sick people can help prevent infections, which are a common cause of a blocked and runny nose.

Maintain good personal hygiene whenever you are around your baby.

You can keep your baby's nasal passages clear with saline drops to help them breathe more easily.

Learn more on symptoms and treatment of the common cold (Opens in new tab) at HealthyWA.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne fact sheet Should I bring my child to the Emergency Department? (Opens in new tab) includes information on a blocked or runny nose.

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

Visit NSW Health for influenza information (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal people.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

The Royal Children's Hospital has information in many community languages on looking after a child with a viral illness (Opens in new tab).