Whether your toddler is suffering from a cold, flu, or allergies, their body may produce an excess amount of mucus, particularly in their nose and sinuses, throat, or lungs. Depending on the type of infection, this excess mucus can sometimes be dangerous as it can clog their airways and be an indicator of other health issues.
This article will discuss how to remove mucus from toddler throat naturally, especially when you want to ease your little one’s discomfort without relying on strong medications. Simple home remedies, gentle techniques, and safe tools, like using a nasal aspirator baby can help you help your toddler breathe easier.
The Power of Hydration: Thinning Mucus with Warm and Cool Fluids
One of the most effective and simplest ways to thin mucus naturally is giving your toddler a lot of fluids. When their body has sufficient fluids, mucus becomes less sticky and easier to swallow or expel. Give your toddler a mix of warm and cool fluids throughout the day to soothe their throat and keep mucus moving.
You can give your little one warm or cool fluids to keep them refreshed and prevent dehydration. Just give frequent small sips, especially if your child is not feeling well. In this way, it will help break down mucus and support quicker relief.
- Broth
- Warm water
- Mild herbal tea for toddlers over one year old
- Chilled electrolyte drinks
- Diluted fruit juices
Soothing Relief with Honey and Warm Liquids (For Toddlers Over Age 1)
Honey is known for its soothing and antimicrobial properties, making it an ideal choice for easing throat irritation and reducing mucus in toddlers over one year old. Combine it with warm liquids to help coat the throat and calm their coughing.
Use honey safely:
- Only give honey to children over 1 year old
- Mix ½ to 1 teaspoon of honey into warm water or mild herbal tea
Pair honey with these warm liquids:
- Warm water with honey
- Honey mixed with mild herbal tea (for ages 1+)
- Warm lemon water with just a few drops of lemon
Benefits:
- Helps soothe a scratchy or irritated throat
- Supports easier mucus movement
- Reduces nighttime coughing and discomfort
Harnessing Steam: Using Humidifiers and Steamy Bathrooms to Loosen Phlegm
Dry air can make your child’s phlegm worse. Use a cool-mist humidifier to loosen the thick mucus in their throat. Humidifiers help maintain optimal moisture levels in the air and prevent the nasal passages from drying.
- Place it in your toddler’s room during naps and nighttime
- Keep it running for several hours to maintain moisture in the air
- Clean the humidifier daily to prevent mold or bacteria buildup
You can also try the steamy bathroom method.
- Turn on the hot shower and let the bathroom fill with steam
- Sit inside with your toddler for 10-15 minutes
- This can easily loosen stubborn phlegm and calm coughing spells
Steam is one of the natural ways to loosen thick mucus and help your toddler breathe more comfortably. Moist air helps thin phlegm, making it easier for your child to swallow or cough without strain.
Promoting Drainage: Strategic Sleeping Positions for Postnasal Drip
Toddlers often cough more at night because the mucus builds up in the throat when they lie flat. Raising your child’s head a little while they sleep can help the mucus drain better, which may reduce coughing. For toddlers and older kids, try using an extra pillow. However, for babies, never place a pillow in their crib.
Remember that the right sleeping position can make a big difference in easing postnatal drip and throat congestion. Avoid letting your child lie completely flat, as this can worsen postnatal drip and trigger more frequent coughing spells.
Gentle Chest Percussion and Massage to Encourage Mucus Expulsion
Gentle percussion, or chest physiotherapy, involves gently tapping or patting the chest and back to help loosen mucus in the lungs. It is utilized in hospitals for children with respiratory conditions like bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
You can do a gentler version at home under the guidance of your pediatrician. Place your child in a position where their head is lower than their chest, and gently tap their back with a cupped hand. Here are ways on how you can perform chest percussion on your child.
Positions for the chest treatment
- Front of the chest
- Place your child lying on their back on your knee. You can also put a pillow on your knee.
- Hold your child comfortably but firmly, while trying to keep their arms away from their chest.
- Pat across the top part of their chest.
- Do this for 60 seconds.
2. Upper chest
- Sit with your child on your knee. You may need to support their head under the chin.
- Hold your child comfortably but firmly and pat across the front of their body for 60 seconds.
3. Back of the chest
- Position your child lying on their front on your knee, with their head facing towards you if possible. It may help to put a pillow on your knee. Hold your child comfortably but firmly.
- Pat across the top part of their chest over their ribs for 60 seconds. Do not go lower than the ribs.
4. Side lying
- Do the treatment on both sides unless your physiotherapist tells you otherwise.
- Position your child lying on their side on your knee. Put a pillow on your knee, if necessary.
- Hold your child comfortably but firmly and try to keep their top arm away from their chest.
- Pat across the side of their chest, facing up towards you, keeping over the ribs. Do not go lower than this.
Saline and Suction: Clearing Nasal Passages to Reduce Throat Drip
Saline drops and a nasal aspirator baby can reduce postnatal drip and prevent mucus from settling in your toddler’s throat.
Apply 3 to 4 drops of saline drops in each nostril to help loosen thick mucus inside your child’s nose. After applying saline, you can use a nasal aspirator baby device or a bulb syringe to gently suction out the softened mucus.
- If you’re using a bulb aspirator: Squeeze the bulb to produce suction and then release it slowly to remove the mucus.
- If you’re using a manual suction aspirator: To use it, insert the nasal tip into a nostril of your baby, then suck using the mouth tube while being careful not to lose the filter at the tip.
- If you’re using an electric nasal aspirator: Begin with minimal setting only and raise it if necessary. Electric aspirators can also come in handy when your baby has chest congestion or thick nasal buildup.
By doing this, it reduces the amount of drainage that trickles down the throat. It is recommended to use saline and suction before naps and bedtimes, and remember to be gentle always to avoid irritation.
Nutrient-Rich Comfort: The Benefits of Warm Broths and Soothing Foods
Warm broths and soothing, nutrient-rich foods can give your toddler both comfort and relief when they have mucus in the throat.
Warm broths:
- Help hydrate your toddler while providing gentle warmth
- Can loosen mucus and soothe throat irritation
- Easy to sip, even when appetite is low
Soothing foods:
- Foods like oatmeal, mashed vegetables, or warm soups are easy to follow
- Provide nourishment without irritating the throat
- Help maintain energy when your toddler isn’t feeling well.
Know When to Call the Pediatrician: Watching for Warning Signs
Most toddlers have between four and six colds a year. There is no need to see a doctor if you suspect your child’s cough is caused by a cold. However, you should contact your pediatrician for any of the following symptoms:
- Constant cough
- Barking cough
- A cough that lasts more than three weeks
- Excessive crankiness or sleepiness
- Persistent ear pain
- Signs of dehydration, such as dark urine
