My 8-month old has a stuffy nose and can't sleep through night. I'm using a saline spray, a cool mist humidifier and an aspirator. We hate the aspirator! It doesn't work well and my baby screams as soon as I pick it up. Any advice on how else to drain her nose? I've been told that some moms have literally "sucked" the mucous from their babies' nose and I'm almost at that point. But, I know there's gotta be something else out there that a mom has invented to take place of the evil aspirator!
Thanks for your responses everyone! Sounds like most people have issues with aspirators, too. I'm such a bonehead, but I didn't bring home the big, blue aspirator from the hospital... thinking.. I have 3 at home! Well, she doesn't like it and I'm very careful not to place it far into her nose. She doesn't even like to get her nose wiped, much less have something up in there!
Well, I decided to buy the NoseFrida (thank you all for the recommendation!) But, before I was able to get to the store, my husband and I were desperate to get a few hours of good sleep the other night.... so I told him about sucking it out... and would you believe... he dove right in! He did it a few times later in the morning and got a lot out. Yeah, I know.... kinda gross. But, hey, Dad to the rescue, right? Anyway, got the NoseFrida and I absolutely LOVE it! She doesn't like it, but literally fights it just for a few seconds and then totally forgets about it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!
Find a NoseFrida! It's the best thing in the whole world, when it comes to quick and effective.
This isn't a perfect solution, but works well and is faster than the aspirator: wet a q-tip with water and quickly stick it in her nose just a bit, spin it around, and pull out. A lot of the snot should stick to the wet q-tip. Totally gross, but works.
Nosefrida!!
It's a flexible tube that you suck with your mouth, but it has a filter so the snot and discharge never get near your mouth. I've been using this for the past 2 weeks with my infant and toddler- soo helpful! And, strangely gratifying to see the stuff come out.
It's about $16; you can get it at several Whole Foods and online. Go to the Nosefrida website to look for other local retailers.
It's also super easy to clean (much more so than the aspirator bulb), and while they sell extra filters I haven't found I need them.
Hope this helps!
I haven't read what's below, but the only aspirator that worked for me was the big one that we brought home from the hospital. Having said that, I would have to pin my son down, with his head held straight with my legs while I used it. Once he felt the relief of all that junk vacating his sinuses, sometimes, and ONLY SOMETIMES he would calm down.
Just work through the freaking out and handle your business. I wouldn't approach your B. brandishing the evil aspirator. Pin him, then whip it out.
Oh and I went all earthy-mama one day and sucked on one of my kids noses...G R O S S!!!!!!!! Don't do it! AND it didn't get the job done. The big, hospital aspirator is the best option that I have found.
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OK...NOW I read through all of the responses below and it sounds like you're heading out to get yourself a Nosefrida! Good luck! That thing sounds like the ticket!!!
My daughter, now almost 2, always has a runny nose because the opening between her nose and throat is very small and congestion can't drain. According the the ENT saline spray or drops are good (3 or 4 good squirts per side). But the aspirator can be painful if you get the sensitive skin with the suction (be careful not to stick it too far in the nose). I do use it sometimes but only when my daughter first gets up or has a very drippy nose. I am wiping her nose constantly when she is sick (I keep tissues and hand sanitizer in my pocket all winter). A humidifier can help a little. The also make Vicks Vapo rub for babies now (that is my grandma's favorite remedy).
The ONLY aspirator that ever worked for us was the blue one that came home with her from the hospital. The other ones were so stiff! Try to find one with a looser "nose" and the drops. My child is 3 and I still have to do it with her sometimes. She hates it, but it's the best way to get the junk out! I give her a bath with Johnson's medicated bath stuff, do the saline, suck her out, prop her pillow (or mattress at a young age) and then put on the vaporizer and humidifier. It sucks when theyre sick! I hope your little one feels better soon!
Mine hated the aspirator as well BUT it was one of the only things that worked for us. I don't know which kind you have but some work much better than others. I personally like the blue bulb kind--not sure of the brand because the hospital sends them home with everyone. Other than sucking on your B.'s nose :) try just pumping more saline up there and really jiggling his/her nose around to soften things up. Then the aspirator might work better. Sorry I don't have better advice!
I agree, the blue aspirators work the best, most aren't even worth the time.
One good way to clear babies nose is to put her in a steamy bathroom, or take a warm shower with her. It helps to drain and clean all at the same time. I always did this right before I nursed so they could suck better.
I have to admit that as I was reading replies to your question I had to fight to keep from throwing up. :-) I had my youngest at home in April, and he had fluid in his lungs and the midwife used a tube to suck it out and my husband, who had made it thru the entire birth just about hit the floor. ;) He (my son) was congested for about a week and seemed to have a ton of snot. I used a few drops of Sol-u-mel in the humidifier- you could also use tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and would use the blue bulb- I have a very weak stomach- so it was difficult.- ok, it is even difficult to write about it now. :)
Try saline drops (like the brand Little Noses). It isn't a drug and provide fairly fast relief. You can use it before the aspirator and it might help it work better. Hope she feels better soon!
Ok, I know it's your most beloved B., I have 3 of them but I will never suck the snot fromtheir noses... I always have more success with drainage after a good warm/steamy shower and/or using a very liberal amount of nasal saline, not just a few drops - the upward spray stream works better - my pediatrician said to me," just do i"t and it works. My 2 year old carries his bottle of saline with him when he has a cold, he even knows that it helps, lol. Once the goop starts draining then you can use the bulb syringe to suction it.
i used to use XClear..a spray..i didn't put it into my son's nose i sprayed it underneath..then he would breath it and it would clear out his nose..its homeopathic...also i don't use humidifiers or vaporizers b/c you're supposed to clean the humidifier every day with white vinegar or it collects mold..and you should clean the vaporizer once a week with white vinegar...so i used Gentle Vapors..a plug in..you can just throw out the strip the next day..you can find them at CVS pharmacy..its just a small wall plug in..buy some extra strips too.
also put a small dot of vicks vapor rub just under B.'s nose..and chest..
i also gave my son B. jarro-dophilus when he was ill..Wholefoods carries it..and keep B.'s head elevated..so put a pillow under the mattress so that the mattress is slanted or have your B. sleep in the swing or stroller upright...mucus collects up around the throat and nose at night when anyone sleeps flat..so its best to elevate the head..
good luck
xo
D.
Hi Leah,
Wow you've had lots of suggestions. I just wanted to let you know that I did the warm breast milk with a q tip 1st and this seemed to help a lot. Breast milk in the nostrils is also supposed to prevent illness. I also used warm slightly salty water with a q tip 1st and then the aspirator from the hospital. A lot more gunk comes out if you use warm fluid. Good luck!
The "humidifier" where you simply heat a mentholated pad (we use the Vick's one) is amazing. The eucalyptus oil in the pad does wonders for clearing congestion. I have one in every bedroom and boxes of the pads for when we get stuffy.
Also, you might consider putting a pillow under B.'s mattress so B. is sleeping on a slight incline. How many times have we slept propped up when we had a cold? Same principle applies with babies!
Last, you might ask your pedi about a good nighttime decongestant. I know no one likes to medicate unless they absolutely have to, but we all heal much faster from colds if we can get a good night's sleep.
Good luck!
Ok, this might sound totally weird but I swear it helps! My pediatrician recommended putting a few drops of breast milk in each congested nostril several times a day. This always loosens up the congestion and then I use the NoseFrida (snot sucker) and it does the trick quickly and effectively. My son doesn't like it but because it's so quick, I can nurse him right away afterward and it's not too traumatic. Hope that helps!!
I will second the Nosefrida -- best invention EVER! I got mine from Amazon.
There is something called NoseFrida that is absolutely amazing. It mimics the "sucking out of nose with own mouth" without your mouth ever having to touch anything. It has been a lifesaver for me.
Hi Leah-
We have always used Vicks Vapor Rub... rub some on the bottom of her feet and put socks on. Not sure why, but it always worked for my son, and I have even done when I have been sick...
Good Luck, we dont like to see our little ones sick...
Not all aspirators are created equal!! We had 3, two store-bought and 1 that we brought home from the hospital when our daughter was born. The one from the hospital was bigger than the other two and much, much more effective. The other two hardly worked at all. I can say, our daughter didn't like the aspirator, but when we used the hospital grade one, it totally worked and did the job.
r u using the old skool bulb syring or the new battery powered nasal apsirator? my sis n law n I laughed when we heard it but when her little guy was stuffy she wen t and got it at babies r us and she siad it is the best $15 she has spent!
Yeah, my suggestion would have been to suck it out with your mouth. That's what my grandpa did for me :) Gross, I know.
... the aspirator... well our Pediatrician said, do not use it too often, because it can easily abrade the inner nose.
There is also something called "Little Noses" which is for kids, a nose spray decongestant.
You can find it at any drugstore.
and, just in case,
maybe B. is sensitive to the blanket or the mattress or . . . .
something.
About screaming when she sees the aspirator coming . . .
can you sneak up on her?
Perhaps you're poking it a little bit too far into her nose?
