Having a stuffy nose can be very difficult, especially for the young ones. Aside from making it hard for them to breathe, young children with stuffed-up noses will have a hard time eating and sleeping. As a result, they will become irritable and lethargic.
To save your child from an uncomfortable situation and save yourself from losing your sanity while taking care of your sick child, you need to find ways to clear snot in your kid’s nose. To do this, you need the help of a baby nasal aspirator and other tools so they can breathe better. Here are the proper ways to relieve the child from a stuffy nose.
Moisten The Nose
The first step in clearing a child’s nose is to moisten it using a saline solution. You may either use the spray form or in drops to help loosen the mucus for easier suctioning. Fortunately, saline solutions are always available in drug stores. If you want to make one at home, you can mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of warm water.
To apply the saline solution in your child’s nose properly, you need to lay him or her down with the chin slightly tilted up. Then squirt or place one to two drops of the solution per nostril. Try to keep the child’s head steady for at least 10 seconds. This solution will soften up the dried mucus and make it easier to expel by blowing or by using a baby nasal aspirator.
Use Nasal Aspirators
If the saline solution is not enough to remove all the unwanted goo in your child’s nose, you can altogether remove the congestion by using a baby nasal aspirator.
Before you use the nasal aspirator, you need to clean it first by squeezing the tip in warm, soapy water. Let the tip suck some of the water in the bulb several times to clear it then squeeze it out. Then repeat the process several times then dry it out accurately.
As soon as the nasal syringe is dry and clean, you have to squeeze it to release the air and make a vacuum. Then insert the rubber tip inside the nostril of your baby gently. Once inside, slowly release the pressure from the aspirator to suck out the mucus from the nose. After all these steps, you can remove the syringe and unload the bulb into a prepared tissue to get rid of the mucus inside the tool. Clean up the aspirator after each use.
Fortunately, there are newer baby nasal aspirators in the market that are easier to use. These aspirators are battery-powered. You only need to place it against the entrance of each nostril to suck out the snot entirely with just one press of a button. You may still need to use a saline solution for the more natural release of the mucus that already dried up inside the nose.
What to do if the nose remains congested?
If the nose of your child remains congested, you need to wait for a minimum of 5 minutes before you do the steps all over again. However, you can only suck the nose up to three times per day to avoid irritating the nose lining of your child.
Also, you must only apply the saline sprays or drops for up to four succeeding days to prevent it from drying out the delicate parts of the nose.
