It’s hard to watch your child suffer with a stuffed nose and sinus pain when they have a cold or allergies. You might feel the impulse to visit the pediatrician to get an antibiotic prescription, especially if the discharge coming out of their nose is thick and yellow. But in most cases, antibiotics probably won’t help and may cause harm.
“Parents often think their child has a bacterial sinus infection, but the majority of the time the pain and discharge are caused by a virus, which antibiotics don’t treat,” says Barbara Rolnick, MD, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Primary Care, Roxborough, in Philadelphia.
According to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP), it is equally effective to wait several days to see if the sinus problem improves on its own as it is to write a prescription. And avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, and the subsequent increase in antibiotic-resistant germs, is good for your child.
Research has found that there is no evidence that commonly used over-the-counter decongestants do anything to help nasal symptoms in children. Guidelines say kids under age 6 should never be given these medicines. And while children 7 and older can take them, parents should exercise caution because of side effects like upset stomach or drowsiness.
So what actually does work? Not much has been proved scientifically, but pediatricians say their experience shows home remedies can ease your child’s discomfort until the immune system clears the infection.
1. Take Your Child Into a Warm Shower to Ease Congestion
Because steam moistens the sinus passageways, which both helps your child feel better and may cause mucus clumps to pass, warming up your child’s sinus passages is a wonderful treatment, Dr. Rolnick says.
Rolnick doesn’t recommend leaning over a pot of steaming water as adults sometimes do, because the child might touch or knock over the water and get burned. Instead, she suggests placing the child in a warm shower, accompanying them if the child is young.
An alternative is to have your child lie on the bed while you place a warm washcloth over their nose and cheeks. The best way to heat up the washcloth is to run it under warm water, then squeeze the liquid out. Have a second washcloth handy so you can replace it as the first one cools.
2. Breathe in Essential Oils for Calming Relief
Although there is no scientific evidence that inhaling essential oils improves sinus inflammation, many children find oil of eucalyptus does help them breathe, Rolnick says.
3. Try Nasal Irrigation to Wash Out Sinus Passages
Studies show nasal irrigation may be effective at lessening the severity of a plugged nose in children.
Irrigation is a method of using a sterilized saltwater solution to force out germs and plugged-up mucus residing in the sinus passages. Other terms for this are “nasal wash” or “nasal douche.”
4. Consider Saline Spray Bottles, Which Are More Kid-Friendly Than Neti Pots
But most children do not like the sensation of the neti pot, so it’s best not to use the device with them. A saline spray bottle, or, for very young children, an eyedropper, is best, Rolnick says. Fine mist saline sprays are sold in most drugstores. Speak to your pediatrician if you have any questions or want recommendations about which one is right for your child.
Alternatively, you can make your own solution. Begin by buying water labeled “distilled” or by boiling tap water for three to five minutes, then cooling to room temperature. This will avoid the rare possibility of introducing a parasite into your child’s sinuses.
Once you have your water sterilized, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) suggests this recipe: Mix 1 cup of the cool sterilized water with 3 teaspoons (tsp) of noniodide salt (iodide may irritate the nasal lining), and 1 tsp of baking soda.
Fill the spray bottle or eyedropper with the liquid and lay your child on their back with their head to one side. Drip the liquid into their nostrils and hold your child’s head still for about 30 seconds to allow the mucus to thin. Gently tilt their head the other way and use tissues to catch the mucus after it drains out.
5. Consider Nose Strips to Ease Breathing in Older Kids
Although Rolnick says many children typically pull off those drugstore nose strips as soon as you place them on, when they do stay on they can open the passageways enough to help your child breathe easier.
Research on the effectiveness of nose strips is mixed, but if you can encourage your child to keep the strips on, especially when they are sleeping, this could be worth a try.
6. For Long-Term Respiratory Health, Improve Your Child’s Diet and Eating Habits
Many kids are finicky eaters, but a healthy, varied diet is crucial for allowing the body to mount the best immune defenses, Rolnick says. You may not be able to get your child to eat their veggies in the midst of their sinus flare-up, but once the child feels better, this is something to work on to help keep their immune system stable.
Similarly, ensure that your child drinks enough healthy liquids, as proper hydration not only aids the immune system, but keeps sinuses lubricated. Because many children have only periodic access to water during day care or school, be sure to give them plenty of water during breakfast and after school at home, and pack a water bottle (not sweetened juice drinks) in their lunch.
7. Consult a Doctor if Home Remedies Don’t Help Sinus Symptoms
If symptoms persist without improvement for more than 10 days, you should consult your pediatrician.
The Takeaway
- To help relieve cold symptoms in children, consider warm showers or placing warm washcloths on their face, essential oils inhaled from cotton balls for calming relief, and nasal irrigation with saline solutions.
- Avoid using decongestants or over-the-counter medicines for children under 6, as current research suggests they offer no proven benefit and can have side effects.
- Should symptoms worsen or persist beyond 10 days, particularly with accompanying fever or thick, green discharge, consult your pediatrician to see if further care is needed.
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