How to Suck out Mucus When Your Children’s Breathing is Too Loud

Why do I need to drain or suck the sputum off for my children?

In young children, if there is a respiratory tract infection or foreign object stimulation, the body has a mechanism to protect itself by creating mucus to trap such foreign material. However, sometimes the mucus is too much and sticky. Some infants and small children cannot cough it out. Mucus suction can help reduce the symptoms of respiratory obstruction and oxygen depletion. It makes your baby breathes easier.

Suctioning your baby’s nose and mouth

Normally, mucus suction will use a sterile hose to drain the mucus through the mouth or nose. In young children, each suctioning won’t last longer than 5 seconds. If the child coughs during the suctioning, it’ll help draining the mucus off the respiratory tract better and require less time.

How to drain the mucus

Tilt the child’s to one side during the suctioning to prevent the child from shaking face and choking on the mucus or bits of food into the lungs. Gently insert the tube via the mouth or nasal passage until it reaches the nasopharynx. (Estimate the depth by measuring the gap from the tip of the nose to the end of the ear. The tube length will be the same whether doing the suctioning through the mouth or nasal passage.) When the tube reached this area, the child might cough out mucus from the lungs to the neck. Then, suck out the mucus in the throat and mouth. Move the suction tube up and down slowly and gently.

Tips for suctioning

• Suctioning should be done before meals to prevent choking.
• If the child is just fed or eat, you should wait for 1-2 hours to avoid choking.
• If the mucus is sticky or the location is too deep, applying lung percussion before the suctioning will help the child breathe easier.
• Sometimes, the doctor may spray the patient with a 0.9% NSS solution to soften the mucus and make it easier to cough out the mucus.
• If the child is exhausted during the suctioning, allow him/her to rest before continue. If in doubt, consult the doctor and nurse.

Mucus suctioning, if done gently and correctly, the children won’t resist. It won’t be harmful, and your baby won’t be hurt. After the suctioning, the respiratory tract will be clear, and the children can breathe easier, breastfeed better, and sleep better.