How to clean a baby's nose
Nasal
congestion worries at any age, but children are not able to cope with the
problem on their own. It's important to treat your baby's stuffy nose so he can
breathe easily through his nose, especially while breastfeeding. Fortunately,
many simple solutions allow parents to quickly deal with nasal congestion and
with minimal infant objections.
How to tell if your child has a stuffy nose
Since
some children are immune to nasal congestion remedies, it is important to make
sure that this is the problem before using a bulb syringe or aspirator. In most
cases, you can quickly determine if your child's nose is stuffy.
Often
the mucus will be visible to the parent either in the nostril or around the
nose. In addition, nasal congestion can be detected by noisy breathing,
sobbing, or general irritability.
What causes nasal congestion?
Various
common conditions and illnesses can block your child's nose. Among them.
- Common cold or flu
- Exposure to dry air
- Allergies
- Deviated septum
- Exposure to pollutants
In
general, children are more prone to nasal congestion than older children or
adults because their nasal passages are small and take time to develop. In most
cases, the stuffiness is minor, and although the nose needs to be cleared,
parents should not worry too much.
If the
congestion occurs deeper in the baby's chest, it could be caused by an alarming
condition such as asthma, pneumonia, or cystic fibrosis. Keep an eye on
congestion and see your doctor if the problem doesn't resolve with the home
remedies below.
The best options for cleaning your child's nose
Whatever
the cause of your baby's nasal mucus, it's important to clear the nose to make
breastfeeding easier and more comfortable.
However,
how you clean your child's nose is important because some methods that are
usually safe for older children and adults can be harmful or deadly for babies.
These
steps will help you safely clear your child's nose and relieve the discomfort
associated with nasal congestion.
Promote moisture with a
humidifier. Like
adults, children are more prone to nasal congestion in the winter when the cold
causes the nasal cavities to widen. This promotes mucus secretion and can lead
to congestion.
A
humidifier can increase the level of humidity in your home to limit or break
down mucus. This will make your home more comfortable for you and your child.
It will also limit the need for more invasive devices such as syringes or
aspirators.
While
humidifiers sold for babies and children are not essential, it's a good idea to
choose one that doesn't need to be refilled or adjusted in the middle of the
night. If you don't have a humidifier, inhaling the steam from a hot shower can
also help.
Use saline nasal spray instead of
decongestants.
Never give cold products, such as decongestants or antihistamines, to children.
This can lead to life-threatening complications in children under the age of
four. Due to concerns such as the possibility of overdose, manufacturers have
voluntarily stopped the production and sale of over-the-counter cough and cold
remedies intended for children under two years of age.
While
many parents rely on tools like blower syringes and vacuum cleaners, saline
spray can sometimes be used as a substitute or to help with the rest of the
process. Lay the child in a semi-recumbent position with the chin up and spray
two to three drops into each nostril.
Try a syringe with a rubber bulb. Parents often use syringes with a
rubber bulb to suck out mucus from their child's nose. It can be used with or
without salt spray. However, the saline spray thins the hardened mucus and
makes it easier to expel.
If
possible, use the bulb syringe when your child is already relaxed. Be prepared
to squirm as some babies resist this technique. Consider teaming up with
another adult to make things easier for you.
First,
squeeze all the air out of the flask to create a vacuum. Place the tip of the
syringe into the child's nostril before quickly releasing the bulb. This will
suck out the mucus from your nose and clear your nasal passages.
Change the syringe to a nasal
aspirator. Many
parents find nasal aspirators more convenient to use than traditional bulb syringes.
Often, older infants and young children resist bulb syringes, which makes it
difficult for parents to get rid of nasal congestion completely.
A
typical vacuum involves a flexible tube, one end of which is placed in the
child's nostril and the other end is used for suction. Depending on the type of
vacuum cleaner you buy, the snot sucked up may end up in a tissue or disposable
filter.
As
with the pear syringe, you can first use a saline spray to loosen hardened mucus.
Wait up to 30 seconds after applying saline before continuing the vacuum.
Whether you choose an aspirator or a bulb syringe, both should be thoroughly washed with soapy water after clearing the mucus from your child's nose.