Question
How should parents handle mucus in a newborn?
Answer
Newborns have underdeveloped laryngeal cartilage, which causes the laryngeal cartilage to cover the glottis during inhalation, producing a sound similar to that of a chick, a condition known as congenital laryngomalacia. Usually, this condition resolves as the infant grows, with improvement around the age of 2 to 3 years. Parents can take some preventive measures, such as avoiding letting the baby catch a cold or be frightened, to reduce the occurrence of respiratory infections and laryngospasm. For mild cases, adjusting the baby’s sleeping position to side-lying can help alleviate symptoms. However, for severe patients, tracheotomy may be necessary to address severe laryngeal obstruction.