One of the many tasks you will have to do as a parent is clearing your baby’s nose. The first time you are about to do it, it’s going to be scary for you, and baby tears are expected. Do not lose hope because it will get easier. Baby sneezes are not only cute, but they also help the babies to clear their nose. As the baby gets bigger and bigger it learns how to use this mechanism to his/her advantage. And yes, the sneezes will not be as cute as they were. The scary thing for you as a parent will be when the baby’s snot gets a bit too big and the baby will not be able to sneeze it out on his/her own.
Now, the question is what a parent should do when the baby can sneeze the snot out? Parents tend to freak out when they notice their baby is troubled by a stuffed nose and that is understandable. You will notice the baby huff, snort, puff, and gurgle which will keep you worried and unsteady. For a newborn, the bulb suction might not work as it is too big for their tiny nose. The reason why the bulb suction is too big because it is not supposed to be used on babies because it can hurt the inside of their noses if you happen to put it too far inside. Better to stay away from this device for a while. The good news is that there are other natural ways to get the snot out and this article should teach you about that.
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How can you tell if the baby’s nose is clogged?
The obvious signs of a clogged nose when your baby has an infection or a cold is the baby snorting, his/her breathing is noisy, and gets irritable when you try to feed him/her. Another obvious sign of a congested nose is when you notice the baby breathing through her/his mouth. When your baby suffers from a congested nose the most difficult tasks will be feeding and sleeping and of course, you will be concerned and would want to find a way to help the baby. Below you will find few natural ways you can use to clear the baby’s nose and relief him/her from the pain.
Using saline spray or drops
Using saline nasal drops and spray is one of the easiest ways to clear your baby’s nose. The way it works is that this solution helps with thinning the mucus and thus make it easier to clear it out. If for some reason you can’t get the saline drops you can make your solution by mixing one cup of filtered warm water and ½ teaspoon of salt. Wait for this mixture to cool down before you use it on your baby. Tilt the baby’s head back and squeeze few drops into his/her nose or spray the solution if you are using a spray bottle. After that put the baby on his tummy or on his/her side to let the mucus drain. Have a tissue near your hands to use for wiping your baby’s nose.
Try a steaming session
Steam can do wonders when it comes to loosening the dry mucus. You can do this by turning your shower on with hot water and let the steam build up in your bathroom. Take your baby with you and sit in the steamy bathroom for about 20 minutes. You can add eucalyptus or peppermint essential oils in the hot water which should make breathing easier.
Put a humidifier in the baby’s room
Fill up the humidifier with water and run it in your baby’s room. There is no need to use medication such as Vicks, the moisture alone from the humidifier, when places close to the crib, should help your baby with his/her breathing while sleeping. Even when the baby does not have a congested nose the humidifier can help him/her with dry skin.
Best baby sleeping position for congested nose
Waking up few times during night time to check on the baby is a regular practice for all parents. You will probably wake up even more times when your baby is sick. If you are worried that the baby is not breathing well, you can try and raise the mattress under the baby’s head by placing rolled towel or blanket underneath. During the day keep your baby on his tummy which should help the mucus to drain out.
Make some natural chest rubs
Did you know that you can make your natural chest rub? You can make it by using thick lotion and adding to it some essential oils like chamomile, eucalyptus, or lavender and this should help your baby with his/her congested nose. Zarbee’s chest rub is an over-the-counter rub that uses natural ingredients and you buy this one if you don’t feel like making one on your own. You should put a little amount of the chest run on your baby’s chest before bedtime.
The nasal aspirator
The most commonly used products for a baby’s nose congestion are the nasal aspirator and the bulb syringe. You can use either of these two products in combination with some of the above-mentioned techniques for clearing a congested nose. One good combo would be using a little bit of saline spray which should loosen up the mucus and finish up with the nasal aspirator. This should do the trick.
Why choose natural products for your baby?
According to the FDA, many of the over-the-counter medicines are not recommended for babies and children under the age of four. The researches have shown that these products can potentially have serious side effects on young children and little to zero benefits. There is potential for overdosing if you mix two or more of these medicines.
Finally, you should clean your baby’s nose no more than two times per day when it is congested, but if there is no improvement go to your pediatrician for help. If you notice your baby being sleepy, or irritable and also has trouble breathing you should visit the ER as soon as possible. It could be a ball of wax that you cannot remove without the doctor’s help.
