Revealing 5 effective ways to wash the nose for babies

During the first few months of life, my darling is susceptible to respiratory diseases. However, you can help your baby feel better if you know how to wash a newborn baby's nose.

One of the natural ways to clean an infant's nasal cavity is to get the baby to sneeze to get rid of the blockage and excess mucus that builds up inside. However, if your baby is still uncomfortable, you can apply the 5 methods below to clean your child's respiratory tract.

1. Wash your child's nose with a small bottle of saline

Using a saline nasal dropper is the safest option for nasal lavage for infants and toddlers. Usage is quite simple. You just lay down, carefully tilt the baby's head a little and drip 2-3 drops of normal saline solution. This method will help reduce the stuffy nose and clear the airways for the baby better.

2. Wash your child's nose with a nasal sanitizer

Products such as a nasal aspirator or a nasal aspirator can effectively remove mucus from a baby's nose. To wash the nose of infants under 3 - 6 months old, use isotonic solution (same concentration of salt as body liquid) because of its mildness. In older babies, you can use a sanitizing solution that contains hypertonic (which has a higher concentration of salt than body fluids). These products are easy to find over the counter or prepare by yourself.

How to make a cleaning solution with salt water

The saline solution will loosen and reduce mucus that builds up in the child's nasal passages. However, you should not apply this method more than 4 times a day. How to make a nasal wash solution:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt with 1 cup boiling water

Let it cool

Only use this solution for 3 days, then need to be replaced.

Small way salt water

Put your baby to lie still, so that his head is a little higher

Put 2-3 drops of saline solution into the baby's nose, wait 30-60 seconds

Tilt the baby to the side to drain the nose, absorb the nose with a tissue

Gently wipe around the nostrils without penetrating the nostrils. Clean the dropper after each use.

How to wash a newborn baby's nose with a syringe

Put your baby in a sitting position. Squeeze the air out of the plunger and hold the handle

Place the tip of the plunger just inside the nostril, but not too deep. Release the pressure handle to drain the mucus

Remove the syringe from the baby's nostril and blot the mucus with a tissue

Clean the plunger with clean water before reuse.

How to wash a child's nose with a vacuum cleaner

The process of using a nasal pump is similar to a hand pump, except that the stethoscope is used for suction. Some parents find the product less invasive, highly effective and easier to use than a syringe.

3. Wash your child's nose by sucking up phlegm from the mouth and throat

Suction of phlegm from the mouth and throat is a nasal lavage method performed by a healthcare provider or doctor in a few cases such as:

If mucus cannot be removed with a syringe or vacuum cleaner

If a young child breathes, there are abnormal sounds

Young children need more oxygen

If the child has trouble breathing and eating at the same time

The doctor will pour the saline solution to wash the nose into the glass. Use a tube that is connected to the saline nasal suction device into the tube, using a switch to hold the water. Then, slowly thread the tube into one side of the baby's nose until it touches the back of the throat. Turn the switch to let the water drain out of the tube dilute the phlegm, then suck the phlegm into the tube. Finally, the doctor will pull the tube out. This is done several times until your baby is breathing more easily.

4. Wash your child's nose using a steam method

First, turn on the hot water tap in the bathroom for a few minutes until the room has plenty of steam. After that, sit with your child in the bathroom for a while. This method can improve breathing difficulties in young children. In addition, to help your child breathe easier, you should give him plenty of water and use a steam machine. This way, the mucus becomes thinner and more likely to be expelled.

5. Use a high head or use a nebulizer

When your baby has trouble breathing, help him or her by keeping his head a little higher. In addition, the air is too dry, making the respiratory tract uncomfortable. Therefore, you should run a nebulizer to calm your baby's respiratory system.

Note when cleaning the nose for babies

Some things you should keep in mind when cleaning your child's nose are:

Cleaning should take place lightly, especially when using the syringe. Using too much mucus will cause the small tissues inside the nose to rupture, leading to bleeding and making breathing difficulties worse.

Do not suck phlegm from the mouth and throat more than 2-3 times / day to avoid thinning the nasal wall, creating unnecessary damage.

Adults must thoroughly clean their hands before using soap or a dry hand sanitizer.

Don't worry if your child sneezes while washing his nose, the cleaning solution can still get into his or her nostrils.

Do not use salt water more than 4 times / day continuously because it will make breathing difficulties worse.

In case your child reacts strongly, try again after a while.

Read the instructions carefully before using with a nose pump or syringe. Check the suction power of these products by placing your finger on the suction nozzle.

After use, clean all parts of the device and the pump hose with soap or warm water.

Frequently asked questions when washing a child's nose

When can a newborn wash his nose?

You should wash your baby's nose if:

The baby has difficulty breathing

Wheezing due to mucus

Clean the nose before breastfeeding. If done after eating, the baby is prone to nausea.

How many times a day should you wash an infant's nose?

You should only wash your child's nose 2-5 times / day. Do not overuse spray too many times, especially when the baby shows signs of rhinitis because it will make the nose drier, burning because the nasal mucosa is damaged and loss of moisture.

Is it possible to wash the child's nose while bathing?

You can clean your baby's nose during bath time by gently wiping with a cotton swab dipped in warm water. Do not insert anything into the baby's nostril to avoid any possible damage to the nasal wall.

In addition, babies and young children are often uncomfortable with a stuffy nose, which is common with babies. aFamilyToday Health hopes the article " Babies with a stuffy nose: Causes and treatment " will help you get the best prevention.

aFamilyToday Health  does not offer medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.