Newborn Snuffles and Blocked Nose: What's Normal and What's Not

If your newborn sounds like a tiny, congested piglet, you are in very good company. Snuffling, snorting, and noisy breathing are among the most common concerns new parents raise with their midwife or health visitor, and in the vast majority of cases, the answer is reassuring: this is completely normal.

Why Do Newborns Sound So Snuffly?

There are several anatomical reasons why newborns are inherently noisy breathers:

Small nasal passages: A newborn's nose is tiny, and the passages are proportionally narrow. Even a very small amount of mucus or dried secretion can partially block the airway and create significant noise.

Obligate nasal breathing: Newborns breathe primarily through their noses rather than their mouths (this changes over the first few months). This makes them more reliant on clear nasal passages than older babies and children.

Residual amniotic fluid and secretions: In the hours and days after birth, babies clear residual amniotic fluid and mucus from their airways. This process can take several days and contributes to early snuffliness.

Soft, flexible nasal cartilage: The nasal cartilage in a newborn is very soft. The airways can partially collapse or change shape with normal breathing movements, creating a snoring or snuffling sound that is structural rather than pathological.

Normal nasal secretions: Babies produce mucus as a normal part of nasal function. Because they cannot blow their noses, this mucus collects and dries, partially blocking the passages.

All of these factors are normal and not a sign of illness. Many parents worry that their newborn has a cold when they are simply being a newborn.

What Is Normal Versus Concerning?

Normal Newborn Snuffling

• Intermittent snuffling and snorting sounds, especially when feeding or sleeping
• Brief pauses in breathing (up to 10 seconds is normal in newborns — this is called periodic breathing)
• Sounds that worsen when lying flat
• A baby who is feeding well, alert when awake, gaining weight normally, and not showing signs of respiratory distress

Signs That Warrant a Call to Your Midwife, Health Visitor, or GP

• Persistent nasal discharge (particularly if yellow or green and accompanied by a fever)
• Difficulty feeding due to nasal obstruction (the baby keeps pulling off the breast or bottle to breathe)
• Noticeable working of the muscles between the ribs or below the ribcage when breathing (this is called recession and indicates the baby is working harder than normal to breathe)
• Flaring of the nostrils with each breath
• A persistent high-pitched or wheezing sound that is different from normal snuffling
• A blue tinge around the lips (cyanosis)
• A temperature above 38°C in a baby under three months (this requires urgent medical attention)

Saline Drops: What They Are and How to Use Them

Isotonic saline nasal drops are a safe, effective, and widely recommended way to help clear a newborn's nasal passages. They are available from pharmacies without prescription and contain the same salt concentration as body fluids, so they are gentle on the nasal lining.

How to use them:

1. Lay your baby on a flat surface or hold them semi-upright in your arms.
2. Insert the tip of the dropper just inside one nostril and release one or two drops.
3. Hold the baby gently in place for a few seconds.
4. Repeat on the other side.
5. Gently wipe away any secretions that come out.

Saline drops are most useful before feeds, as a clear nose makes it easier for your baby to feed without interrupting to breathe.

Do not use medicated nasal decongestant drops in babies. Products containing xylometazoline or other decongestants are not licensed for use in infants and can be harmful.

Nasal Aspirators

A nasal aspirator physically removes mucus from a baby's nose. There are three main types:

Bulb aspirators: A rubber bulb that is compressed, placed at the nostril, and released to create suction. These work adequately but can be difficult to clean thoroughly.

Mechanical/battery-powered aspirators: Electric devices with a small suction tube. They tend to be more effective than bulb aspirators.

Mouth-powered aspirators (such as the Frida NoseFrida): The parent places a mouthpiece to their mouth and a tube at the baby's nostril. A small filter prevents any mucus from reaching the parent's mouth. Despite sounding unpleasant, these are highly effective and widely recommended by parents.

Use a nasal aspirator sparingly — once or twice a day when needed, not continuously. Frequent suctioning can irritate the nasal lining and cause swelling, making congestion worse.

Keeping the Air Moist

Dry air can worsen nasal congestion. While there is limited high-quality evidence for humidifiers in newborns, some parents find that a cool mist humidifier in the baby's room helps. If you use one, clean it regularly to prevent mould and bacterial growth.

Sitting in a steamy bathroom (with the shower running but not actually bathing the baby in hot water) is a traditional approach that anecdotally helps some babies — the warm, moist air helps loosen secretions.

When Does Newborn Snuffliness Resolve?

For most babies, the normal snuffliness of the newborn period improves by around six to eight weeks as nasal passages grow and cartilage firms up. If you are at all uncertain whether what you are hearing is normal, your health visitor or GP is always the right person to ask. No concern about a newborn is too small to mention.