"Some children need help in clearing their airway of mucus. Suctioning will help clear the airway, but this procedure should only be performed when the child needs it. Suction your child under the following circumstances:

• When you hear your child make wet breathing sounds, as if air is being pushed through wet mucus
• When your child is having difficulty breathing and is restless
• When your child’s color is paler than usual and the nostrils are flaring out.

The child will probably gag or cough when you use a suction catheter.

The following description of the procedure for suctioning is provided only as a memory refresher for caregivers who have already been trained to do the procedure by a doctor or another health care professional. No one who doesn’t feel comfortable doing the procedure should attempt to do it alone. Do not attempt to suction your child if you have not been trained to do so.