In Ayurveda, this condition can be associated with Kapha aggravation and obstruction of Pranavaha Srotas “गुरु स्निग्ध शीत श्लेष्मा स्तब्धता नासरोधनम्” When Kapha increases, it produces mucus, heaviness, and nasal obstruction, leading to difficulty breathing through the nose. Care 1. Keep the Nasal Passage Clear Use saline nasal drops 2–3 times daily to loosen mucus. 2. Maintain Humidity Use steam or a humidified room environment to help open nasal passages. 3. Sleep Position Slightly elevate the head during sleep (if safe) to improve nasal breathing. Temporarily avoid foods that increase Kapha Cold milkYogurt at night Ice cream
In Ayurveda, this condition can be associated with Kapha aggravation and obstruction of Pranavaha Srotas “गुरु स्निग्ध शीत श्लेष्मा स्तब्धता नासरोधनम्” When Kapha increases, it produces mucus, heaviness, and nasal obstruction, leading to difficulty breathing through the nose. Care 1. Keep the Nasal Passage Clear Use saline nasal drops 2–3 times daily to loosen mucus. 2. Maintain Humidity Use steam or a humidified room environment to help open nasal passages. 3. Sleep Position Slightly elevate the head during sleep (if safe) to improve nasal breathing. Temporarily avoid foods that increase Kapha Cold milkYogurt at night Ice cream Sitopaladi churna + honey 2 gm 2 times day Anu taila nasya 1 drop each nostril
Hi For this you need to see a pediatrician…and being habitual of AC at such a young age is not right…you must teach her how to adapt in every environment instead of putting on AC every time
Any investigation done before like cbc, crp, xray, esr etc… 1. Sitopaladi churna 1tsp with honey whole day only 1tsp mixed only 2. Haridrakhand 1/3 rd tsp with little warm milk once at night Stop ac during sleeping time advice on celing fan only 3. Breathaid capsule drops on collar of cloths … It contains eucalyptus oil tarpinol and etc. Lay him on left side during sleep
Hello Thank you for sharing your concern so clearly I can understand it is difficult to see your child having mouth breathing after suffering with cold UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION In many toddlers mouth breathing begins after prolonged cold When nasal passage remains partially block mouth breathing starts You have mentioned that docters found Enlarged tonsils and your child also had Otitis media earlier This all seems to be sometimes associated persistent mouth breathing because -Enlarged tonsils can narrow your airways -Nasal congestion makes nasal breathing difficult -Recurrent infection keeps the nasal passages inflamed My goal is to -Reduce congestion -support nasal breathing -Improve airway especially during sleep GENTLE WAYS TO HELP YOUT BABY ✅Saline nasal drops -Use sterile saline nasal drips before sleep This will loose the musus and open nasal passage -Clears residual mucus -Improves nasal airflow After drops you may gently suction mucus it it is coming out ✅Warm Steam You are already using humidifier thats great Moist air prevents nasal passage fron drying out Additional top -Short exposure to warm steam in bathroom before bedtime can help -Keep humidity moderate around 40-50 % ✅Slight head elevation Raising the head of bed can help reduce mucus pooling Avoid using pillow directly under babay head… Put pillow below the bed and make it incline ✅Gentle chest and back massage A warm oil massage with sesame oil on chest and upper back followed by mild warm compress will help to loosen mucus Massage should be gentle ✅Warm fluids and hydration Since your child eats a balanced diet Continue offering -Warm water -Warm soups or broths -Fruits with good hydration IMPORTANT because you have mentioned about Enlarged tonsils Also look for -Loud snoring -Pauses in breathing during sleep -Frequent ear infection Then it will be helpful to have pediatric ENT consulatation to assess the airway As nasal congestion improve breathing will gradually get normal Wishing your little one comfortable breathing and a good health 😊 Warm Regards Dr Snehal Vidhate
I understand your concern because mouth breathing in a small child often worries parents especially when it continues after a cold in many babies around fifteen months the nasal passages are very small and even a little swelling or remaining mucus after a viral infection can make the nose partially blocked so the child automatically opens the mouth during sleep to get comfortable breathing this does not usually mean the baby has developed a permanent habit it is simply the body responding to temporary nasal blockage enlarged tonsils that were noted during the check can also contribute because in young children the tonsils and adenoids become swollen during and after infections and this swelling can take some weeks to settle during this time mouth breathing disturbed sleep and sometimes ear infections can occur because the same area is connected to the ear through the eustachian tube the important point is not to try to force the mouth closed during sleep or attempt to change the tongue position because in infants breathing patterns correct naturally once the nose becomes clear the main focus should be on helping the nasal passages recover and remain open using saline nasal drops two or three times in a day helps loosen remaining mucus and reduce swelling and after saline a gentle nasal suction device can remove mucus if it is visible keeping the room comfortably cool is fine but it is better that the air conditioner air does not blow directly on the baby and maintaining some humidity as you are already doing helps prevent dryness of the nasal lining sometimes slightly elevating the mattress from the head side by placing a small support under the mattress can help mucus drainage and improve breathing during sleep babies with recent colds often breathe better in this position most children improve gradually over a few weeks as the airway inflammation reduces however if mouth breathing continues for a long period if the baby snores loudly has restless sleep frequent ear infections or pauses in breathing during sleep then it is advisable to have an evaluation by a paediatric ear nose throat specialist because enlarged adenoids behind the nose are a common cause in this age group in many cases once the infection related swelling settles children return naturally to nose breathing and the sleep pattern improves maintaining good nasal hygiene hydration and routine follow up with the doctor is usually sufficient for recovery in a child of this age
IN SMALL CHILDREN AFTER A STRONG COLD IT IS COMMON FOR MUCUS TO REMAIN INSIDE THE NASAL PASSAGES AND CHEST FOR SOME TIME WHEN THE NOSE IS BLOCKED THE CHILD NATURALLY STARTS BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH DURING SLEEP BECAUSE AIR IS NOT PASSING FREELY THROUGH THE NOSE THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE CHILD IS DOING IT BY HABIT IT IS A RESPONSE TO NASAL CONGESTION AND SWELLING INSIDE THE AIRWAYS IN AYURVEDA THE NOSE IS CONSIDERED THE MAIN PATHWAY OF PRANA WHEN KAPHA ACCUMULATES IN THE NASAL PASSAGES AND THROAT IT CAN LEAD TO BLOCKAGE HEAVINESS MUCUS COLLECTION DISTURBED SLEEP AND MOUTH BREATHING WHEN THIS CONTINUES FOR SOME WEEKS THE CHILD MAY ALSO DEVELOP REPEATED EAR ISSUES BECAUSE THE EAR NOSE AND THROAT AREA ARE CONNECTED AT THIS AGE THE AIRWAYS ARE VERY DELICATE SO THE MAIN APPROACH IS TO HELP THE BODY CLEAR THE MUCUS NATURALLY AND KEEP THE NASAL PASSAGES OPEN TRY TO KEEP THE ROOM AIR NATURAL AND WELL VENTILATED AVOID USING AC DURING THE NIGHT BECAUSE CONTINUOUS COLD AIR CAN DRY AND IRRITATE THE NASAL PASSAGES AND CAN ALSO INCREASE KAPHA ACCUMULATION WHICH MAY WORSEN BLOCKAGE AND MOUTH BREATHING NORMAL SALINE NASAL DROPS CAN BE USED TO HELP SOFTEN AND CLEAR MUCUS FROM THE NOSE THIS CAN MAKE BREATHING THROUGH THE NOSE EASIER DURING SLEEP KEEPING THE CHILD SLIGHTLY ELEVATED DURING SLEEP ALSO HELPS MUCUS DRAIN BETTER ENLARGED TONSILS AND PREVIOUS EAR INFECTIONS SUGGEST THAT THE THROAT AREA MAY STILL HAVE SOME INFLAMMATION SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP REGULAR FOLLOW UP WITH THE PAEDIATRICIAN SO THE CHILD CAN BE EXAMINED PROPERLY AND THE PAEDIATRICIAN CAN CHECK FOR ADENOIDS OR PERSISTENT NASAL BLOCKAGE AND GUIDE FURTHER CARE IF REQUIRED
●Ginger, Clove, and Cinnamon Tea Boil 1 teaspoon of ginger powder, a pinch of cloves, and a pinch of cinnamon in a cup of water. This mixture opens the airways and thins phlegm. ●Bay leaves and long pepper Take 1/2 teaspoon of bay leaf powder and 1/4 teaspoon of long pepper with honey. This clears the respiratory tract and loosens phlegm. ●Black Pepper and Honey 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder and 1 teaspoon honey (If you have a sore throat, use ghee instead of honey) 2-3 times a day after meals. The black pepper helps loosen phlegm, while the honey helps expel it. ●Cloves and Honey One teaspoon of honey and a pinch of clove powder are useful for sore throats, congestion, and phlegm.
Mouth breathing in babies often continues for some time after a severe cold because mucus and inflammation in the nasal passages take longer to completely clear. When the nose feels blocked, the baby naturally shifts to breathing through the mouth, which can also disturb sleep. Since your baby has already been evaluated and enlarged tonsils were noted, it is important to keep the nasal passages clear and reduce congestion so that nasal breathing becomes comfortable again. Mild congestion, residual mucus in the chest or nose, and throat tissue enlargement can all contribute to mouth breathing for several weeks after illness. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the fact that your baby becomes uncomfortable without the AC set at 22°C may suggest a Pitta-dominant (Pitta-pradhan) constitution. You may also observe whether she sweats easily or tends to feel warm compared to others. If that is the case, it can indicate a Pitta-Kapha predominance, and during certain seasons Kapha naturally aggravates, which can lead to mucus accumulation, nasal blockage, enlarged tonsils, and recurrent ear infections. Supportive measures you can try 1. Morning nasal cleansing Use a gentle saline nasal wash (saline drops suitable for babies). This helps clear residual mucus and opens the nasal passages. Also make her gargle with luke warm salt water daily. 2. Moisturizing the nostrils After the saline wash, you can lightly apply a tiny amount of ghee or coconut oil inside the nostrils using a clean little finger. This helps keep the nasal passages moist and reduces irritation. You can do this 2–3 times a day. You may even try it yourself first to understand how it keeps the nasal passage comfortable. 3. Nighttime oil massage At night, warm sesame oil with a small pinch of salt and gently massage it on the chest, upper back, and around the nose and forehead area. This can help loosen mucus and improve breathing. 4. Ajwain inhalation (mild herbal aroma) Dry heat carom seeds (ajwain) with a little black pepper (kali mirch) in a pan, tie them in a small cloth (potali), and let the baby gently smell the warm aroma. This can help reduce nasal congestion. 5. Steam inhalation (occasionally) Once every 3 days, mild steam in the room with a drop of eucalyptus (neelgiri) oil can help clear mucus. Ensure the baby is not directly exposed to strong steam—just mild vapor in the room. 6. Digestive health Make sure your baby’s digestion is good and bowel movements are regular. In Ayurveda, constipation or weak digestion can prolong mucus-related conditions. 7. Ayurvedic support Sitopaladi Churna with honey will help in clearing the infection. Additional practical points Continue using the humidifier with AC, as very dry air can worsen nasal blockage. Try to keep the room temperature comfortable but not excessively cold. Monitor whether mouth breathing occurs only during sleep or also during the day. If the problem persists or worsens, follow up with your pediatrician/ENT because persistent enlarged tonsils or adenoids can also contribute to mouth breathing in toddlers.
