Little Remedies Saline Spray/Drops is a dual-function bottle that delivers either drops or a gentle mist of 0.9% sodium chloride (purified salt water) into your baby’s nose. It’s safe for newborns and can be used as often as needed since it contains no medication. Here’s exactly how to use it.
Drops vs. Spray: How the Bottle Works
The same bottle gives you two delivery options depending on how you hold it and how hard you squeeze:
- To use as drops: Hold the bottle upside down and squeeze lightly. This releases a slow drip, which is ideal for newborns and very young infants who need a gentler application.
- To use as a gentle spray: Hold the bottle upright and squeeze firmly. This produces a fine mist better suited for older babies and toddlers who can tolerate a bit more pressure.
For babies under a few months old, the drop method is usually easier to control. You can place one or two drops into each nostril without overwhelming a tiny nose.
Step-by-Step for Infants
Lay your baby on their back on a flat, comfortable surface. If your baby tends to squirm, swaddling their arms first can help you work more quickly. Tilt their head back slightly so the drops can travel into the nasal passages rather than running straight back out.
Hold the bottle upside down and gently squeeze one to two drops into one nostril, then repeat on the other side. After the drops are in, keep your baby’s head tilted back for about a minute. This gives the saline time to soften and thin the dried mucus that’s causing the congestion. Your baby may sneeze, fuss, or swallow a little of the solution. All of this is normal and harmless.
Pairing Saline Drops With Suctioning
Saline drops work best as the first step before suctioning with a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. The salt water loosens mucus so the suction can actually pull it out, rather than just pressing against a dry plug of congestion. Without saline first, suctioning alone can irritate the delicate lining of your baby’s nose without clearing much.
After you’ve waited about a minute for the drops to do their work, squeeze the bulb syringe before placing the tip at the edge of your baby’s nostril, then release slowly to create suction. Wipe the syringe clean between nostrils. You can repeat the process on the other side, but try to limit suctioning to two or three times per nostril per session to avoid irritating the nasal lining.
One important timing note: always do saline drops and suctioning before feeding, not after. Suctioning on a full stomach can trigger vomiting.
How Often You Can Use Them
Because saline is simply purified salt water with no active medication, there’s no maximum daily limit. You can use the drops as often as needed throughout the day. Unlike medicated nasal sprays (the kind adults sometimes use for congestion), saline drops carry no risk of rebound congestion, where the nose becomes more stuffed up after the product wears off. Research reviews on saline solutions in infants and children have found no serious side effects and good tolerability overall.
That said, most parents find that using the drops two to four times a day hits the sweet spot, particularly before naps, bedtime, and feedings, when clear breathing matters most. If your baby’s nose is only mildly stuffy, once or twice may be enough.
Keeping the Bottle Clean
Wipe the nozzle tip with a clean tissue or cloth after each use to prevent mucus buildup around the opening. Avoid letting the tip make direct contact with the inside of your baby’s nostril if possible, since this can transfer bacteria back into the bottle. If the tip does touch the nose, give it a quick wipe with a damp cloth before recapping.
Store the bottle at room temperature. There’s no need to refrigerate it, and cold drops in the nose tend to startle babies more than room-temperature ones. Check the expiration date printed on the packaging and replace the bottle if it’s past that date or if the solution looks cloudy or discolored.
Tips for a Smoother Experience
Most babies protest having anything put in their nose, so speed and positioning matter more than technique. Having the bulb syringe, a tissue, and the saline bottle all within arm’s reach before you lay your baby down saves you from scrambling mid-process. If your baby is old enough to roll or grab at the bottle, having a second person hold their hands gently can make the whole routine take 30 seconds instead of several frustrating minutes.
For newborns with very narrow nostrils, you may find that the mist setting disperses the saline more evenly than a single drop that pools at the nostril opening. Experiment with both and see which one your baby tolerates better and which seems to loosen mucus more effectively. Either method delivers the same solution; the only difference is how it enters the nose.