Stuffy Nose in Newborn?

[Mystikal]

My DS was a month old on Monday and he's had a stuffy nose since he was two weeks old. At first I thought it was a cold because when I would use saline and suction his nose I would get snot, but it's been over two weeks now, I don't get anything when I suction anymore, and it seems to only be stuffy when he's laying down. If he sleeps propped up on my arm at night or on my chest for naps while I'm sitting up he's fine.

Any idea what could be causing this? I'm guessing if it was a cold it would be gone by now and he would be stuffy all the time instead of just when he's laying down. I would really like to transition him to his own bed before I go back to work in three weeks just because I sleep so much better when I'm not worried about rolling over on him, but I don't see how I can do that when he is stuffed every time I lay him down.

[MrsSpencer]

will he sleep in his bouncy chair? I would call his ped just to make sure nothing else is going on with his sinuses. Hope he feels better soon.

[Mystikal]

He won't sleep unless he's being held or lying right next to us. I had him at the ped right after it started because DD and I are both prone to sinus infections and I wanted to make sure he wasn't getting one so early. The ped did a culture and it came back clear so he said to just use the saline.

I'm wondering if it might be reflux? I think I remember reading that a stuffy nose can be a sign, but he doesn't spit up. He does gag a lot while he's sleeping, like he's spit up a little but nothing comes out... :confused:

[MrsSpencer]

I was thinking of the same thing, silent reflux.

[Mystikal]

Thanks, I didn't know if I was being crazy or if it was a legitimate possibility. :o

[MrsSpencer]

you're not crazy :)

[shouldaeloped]

what about an ear infection? my DS is 7 months old and has had chronic snotty nose and almost always an ear infection at the same time.

FWIW, I have been told to not use the suction thing anymore, it just causes more snot. I have been successful with just saline.

[Mystikal]

I'm not sure. When we were at the dr two weeks ago he checked DS's ears and never said anything, but again, that was two weeks ago...

I had no idea that an EI can correspond with sinus congestion. He doesn't have a fever and is generally very content, but I'll look into that, too. Thanks!

[jh124]

My newborn would spit up from his nose while eating - and continuing to eat!! - and would sound stuffy from that.

[sparkle&shine]

My DS sounded stuffy but he was really just dry. The Ped said to just use saline and a humidifier and NOT to suction the nose at all. He said it was caused by the heat in the house - we have gas and it can be drying.

[Soulmate]

DS' allergy to cow's milk manifests as a stuffy/runny nose and nothing else. He doesn't get a rash or anything but it will look like he has a cold for as long as he consumes it.

[Sandie78]

My DD seemed to have a stuffy nose for the first several months of her life. The ped recommended a humidifier and saline drops.

[BridalLace]

my son Ethan did seem to have a perpetual stuffy nose his first month or so. the ped brushed it off and it did eventually clear on its own. i'd ask the doctor about it if you're concerned.

[Mystikal]

My DD seemed to have a stuffy nose for the first several months of her life. The ped recommended a humidifier and saline drops.

We're doing both and it doesn't seem to help. :(

[Kelly51703]

DS had a constant stuffy nose and his was related to reflux. He never spit up. He would arch his back and claw ate his face whenever he ate. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I noticed the stuffiness went away. He just turned 9 months.

[rancherswife]

My dd (2 months) went thru a few tests, including an MRI and being sent to a pediatric ENT because my ped, after sucking lots and lots of mucous out w/ and w/ out saline stuck a probe into each nostril and found an "obstruction" in one nostril. That's when we were sent to the Ped. ent and where we were sent for the MRI. All from a simple stuffy nose, I really started noticing around 10 days old. I was so scared. The day that we went in for the mri results to be read, she wasn't sounding stuffy/congested anymore, as it turns out, I guess when babies are born, lots of membranes all over the body get very swollen sometimes from hormones, it turned out that her mucous membranes in her sinuses were still slightly swollen from birth, mostly in one nostril. So...it could be that too...I've never been told from my ped. or the ped. ent to NOT suciton. That's interesting...