If your baby is congested and has a lot of secretions for more than a week, it is not necessarily concerning as long as they are not suffering from a fever. One helpful technique to reduce coughing and mucus drainage from the nose to the throat is to use a saline or distilled water solution with a syringe (without a needle). The amount of water needed per nostril may vary depending on the age of the child. Following this technique for a couple of days can often lead to a significant improvement in symptoms within 48 hours.