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Q. My baby is very congested. This can’t be normal, can it?

Dr. Zibners' Answer:

My husband was forced this week to reread both the newborn and the respiratory chapters. Because this is the question that came to me at 3 am from the other side of my bedroom. I suspect he thought I was being heartless because my baby sounds like a farm animal and I didn’t seem too upset about it. She’s got a nose full of boogers and snot. It doesn’t sound nice. But it’s normal. She’s pink and happy, doesn’t have a fever and can eat fine. I keep telling him that all babies about this age suddenly sound horribly congested but he needed more reassurance. I just thought you’d like to know that even having me in the house doesn’t mean a parent worries any less. I’m not taking it personally. By the way, plain saline nose drops are as helpful as I always said they were to loosen that snot up and help her breathe a little less loudly. I usually follow up the drops with a little bulb suction action. But just a little. Getting too excited with the suctioning can cause irritation and swelling.

Dr. Lara Zibners, Nov 18, 2009

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