Tender Mother
Nose care
When should I use a bulb syringe?
When your baby has a cold or a stuffed-up nose, you can use a rubber bulb syringe to remove some of the mucus. If the mucus has hardened or become crusty, you'll need to apply saline drops first to loosen it up.
You can buy saline drops at pharmacies or make them easily at home by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Make a fresh batch each time your child gets sick. (You may want to boil the water first to sterilize it if you get your water from a well.)
How do I use it?
1. Begin by laying your child in your lap with his head between your knees and his feet against your tummy; let his head drop backward slightly.
2. If saline drops are needed, place one or two drops in each nostril with an eye-dropper (or a squirt or two if you're using a saline spray). Wipe the dropper clean after each use. Try to keep your child's head still for about ten seconds.
3. Squeeze the bulb of the syringe to create a vacuum and gently insert the rubber tip into one nostril. Slowly release the bulb to collect mucus. Remove the syringe and squeeze the bulb forcefully to expel the mucus into a tissue or the sink. Wipe the syringe and repeat the process for the other nostril.
4. If your child is still congested after five to ten minutes, apply drops again and re-suction. (Don't use the saline drops for more than four days in a row because they can dry out the nose and irritate the nostrils.)
NOTE: This should be a gentle process. If your child is struggling a lot and you end up suctioning too aggressively, the nasal tissues can become inflamed, which can aggravate the congestion. If this seems to be happening, let it go for a while and try again later.