Do You Need a Baby Nasal Aspirator?

Anyone of all ages can oftentimes get nasal congestion that is uncomfortable and distracting. Most nasal congestion becomes alarming when it affects one’s breathing. This would lead them to breathe through their mouth which makes eating and sleeping quite difficult.

Nasal congestion is commonly known as stuffy nose and it varies per person and every time. Usually, this would cause a little noise in the breathing which we are unaware of sometimes. It could also be as severe as having difficulty breathing.

Nasal congestion could also serve as a symptom of a more serious nasal problem such as a sinus infection. Thus, it is best to cure it as early as possible, especially for our little bundles of joy. Usually, nasal congestion is caused by minor illnesses such as colds, flu, and sinus infection.

What Is A Nasal Aspirator?

Babies need a device to help them get rid of mucus build-up in their nasal passages. This device is called a nasal aspirator or others may call it a nasal aspirator. It is designed specifically for infants to clear up their nasal passage and airway for them to breathe properly.

Nasal aspirators come in different sizes and shapes. However, it usually has the same core design which includes a tube attached to a hollow squeezable bulb to vacuum it out. Through the tube, mucus is sucked up and moved to an attached container.

When Should We Use Nasal Aspirator?

Luckily, most children and adults can easily look for relative ways to address their congested noses. With some pills or just simply blowing your nose, a person can be able to disrupt their blocked nasal. Some children may need some guidance to do this but it surely is possible.

Unfortunately, our little ones are not born with the ability to blow their noses and relieve blocked noses. These little bundles of joy still have small nasal passages which makes it extra difficult for them to breathe when they have nasal congestion. This could greatly affect their eating and sleeping too.

It can be more difficult for babies with nasal congestion when they are fed. When their mouth is closed during breast or bottle feeding, it would be difficult for them to breathe. This is why babies with nasal congestion become irritable and fussy.

Without the help of their parents, babysitters, or any adults, it would be hopeless for babies to relieve themselves from nasal congestion. The only thing our infants could do is cry, which for most the reasons is a puzzle for us. Thus, it is best to have a nasal aspirator on standby at home so that you can use it when your infant’s nasal congestion becomes disruptive to its body’s other functions.

What Is The Perfect Nasal Aspirator For Your Baby?

When you decide on the best product for your baby, always remember to follow what your heart thinks is best. As products vary from each other, so do babies. Only you could identify what exactly your baby needs to lighten up its situation and provide more comfort.

However, it is important for you to know the different types of nasal aspirators on the market and which among these would best fit your baby’s needs.

As the years pass, there have become innovations on different nasal aspirators that would efficiently and effectively suit the needs of our infants. There are three considered types of nasal aspirators namely (1) classic bulb syringe aspirator, (2) electric nasal aspirator, and (3) manual nasal aspirator.

Different kinds of nasal aspirators

Classic Bulb Syringe

This type of nasal aspirator was greatly used in the 80s and 90s. This is widely used in hospitals and clinics and is widely available in the market. It can easily be found in shops and online stores at a very affordable price.

Although it can successfully work on its function, there is an underlying issue with sanitization when using it due to the difficulty in cleaning its interior. It could have a build-up of mucus at the end of the bulb which would be dangerous for your infant’s health. Another downside is that it takes time to dry.

Electric Nasal Aspirator

As the name itself states, this type of nasal aspirator is power-dependent. It is safe to say that it can be somehow efficient in doing its task. Although, its performance may vary depending on the battery charge or the power source.

One of its great highlights is its usual transparent storage where you could see how much has been extracted. There might only be some issues with cleaning small parts of this type of aspirator but some could be washed in the dishwasher. Due to its advanced features, most parents today prefer using this type of nasal aspirator despite its cost.

Manual Nasal Aspirator

This type is sometimes referred to as Human Suction Aspirator. It is built with a mouthpiece and a tube that connects it with a filter. By far this is considered a cost-efficient product due to its simple design. It is even easier to clean compared to the other two types.

This device can easily be used by manually sucking up the mucus using the mouthpiece. This gives parents full control of how they want the power of the suction to be.

Pros And Cons Of Using Nasal Aspirators

When it comes to functionality, nasal aspirators do make sense. It helps relieve nasal congestion most of the time. However, there are also disadvantages on hand but they would only be encountered if you fail to execute the device properly.

Its advantage lies in its effectiveness to do its job. Nasal aspirators are known to provide a sigh of relief when you are worried about your infant who is suffering from nasal congestion. It can realign their breathing, eating, and sleeping patterns again.

However, there could be some harmful effects of using nasal aspirators for your infants. Although this can be avoidable, it is still important to know of this possibility. Regardless of what type of aspirator you may be using, you still have control over how aggressive it can be.

Failing to follow the proper ways in using a nasal aspirator may damage your infant’s nasal passage. Whether stuffed with snot or not, bear in mind that you must treat your baby’s tiny nose. You must avoid getting too aggressive in sucking their nasal mucus because it may result in some swelling and nosebleeds.

Swelling and nosebleeds can only worsen the situation of your baby. It can make it more difficult for them to breathe due to the added pain caused by aggressive suctioning. Doing so is mostly unintentional just so you could successfully remove both mucus and boogers.

Suctioning your baby’s nose when it’s stuffy yet wet is usually safe and effective. However, doing it with a stuffy dry nose needs much attention. There are certain steps that you should take first before using your nasal aspirator.

Saline solution is considered the safe and best nasal spray for babies as prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It can gently clear your baby’s blocked nose passage in no time. How is it done?

First, you must lay your baby on their back and make sure that their head is slightly tilted back. Afterwhich, you may start spraying two to three drops of saline solution into each of their nostrils. It is normal if your baby sneezes some of it out, just gently wipe it with a tissue.

Once you have successfully sprayed some saline solution, you may then gently suction their nasal mucus with your aspirator. Just remember to use some saline solution when needed and never suction aggressively to avoid causing some swelling and irritation.

Home Remedies That Can Help With Nasal Congestion

There could also be some helpful home remedies that could help you and your baby if saline solutions are not available around. To avoid causing inflammation in your baby’s nose, you can use steam to relieve their dry nose first before using an aspirator.

Steaming your bathroom can help you in addressing your problem. Stay inside the bathroom with your little one for a few minutes and let the steam help loosen up their mucus. Just do not bathe them with hot water cause you might have another problem to solve.

You may also use a humidifier to help with your baby’s dry nose. Too much heat at home, especially around winter can cause nasal dryness. It would be a great idea to have a cool air humidifier running in your baby’s room.

Of course, never forget to still follow your baby’s routine. Get them to have more sleep and keep them as dehydrated as possible. Feed them enough breast or formula milk in an upright position if their nose congestion is too bothersome.

Lastly, you must continue to observe your baby. Monitor any changes in their breathing and see if they are unusually irritable. This may mean that their nasal congestion hasn’t gone away.

Conclusion

Nasal congestion is a common problem for everyone. As parents, we must know the right ways to address this problem. It may be common but it is not something to be taken lightly.

To avoid untoward situations, it is always best to keep with you a nasal aspirator if you have a baby. Make sure also that you are aware of how to properly use it to avoid any more infection and swelling.

Top Nasal Aspirators For Babies