Your want to be a good parent and give your child the best of care. There is little you can do to prevent all the respiratory illnesses that plague infants and babies, but there are comfort measures you can use that help relieve some of their symptoms. Use of a vaporizer can help your baby breathe more comfortably.
Considerations
According to Lisa Kelly, RN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Certified, from the Pediatric Advice website, your baby is an obligate, or nose breather. When your baby's nose becomes inflamed and clogged he does not know to automatically breathe through his mouth like older children and adults. Plus, babies' nasal airways are small, narrow and sensitive. For this reason, it is important to help keep their breathing passages clear.
Upper Respiratory Infections
Bronchiolitis, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold are common infections seen in babies. The results of these infections include nasal passage swelling, increased mucus production and, sometimes, coughing. The use of a vaporizer can help reduce the symptoms that accompany upper respiratory infections and reduce your baby's suffering. If your baby's symptoms worsen be sure to consult your health care provider to determine if your baby requires additional treatment.
Mucus
When your baby has an upper respiratory infection or an allergy, the airways become irritated and inflamed. Mucus is produced as a result of the inflammation. When the mucus is thick, it is more difficult for your baby to breathe. Also, collection of mucus in the lungs can cause other problems. Using a vaporizer in your baby's room adds moisture to the air that helps liquefy the mucus secretions. Less and thinner mucus helps your baby breathe more easily.
Dry Air
During the heating season, your environment becomes more dry. Your baby's nasal passages are sensitive and can become irritated from the dry air. The irritation causes inflammation, which makes it more difficult for your baby to breathe. Your baby is also sensitive to dust that may be coming from your heating system, or fans if you use them.
Use a vaporizer to create moist air for your baby to breathe. Set the temperature in your home to be warm but not overly heated. The moist air from the vaporizer can help reduce the swelling in respiratory tissues as well as coughing and congestion. MayoClinic.com suggests the ideal indoor humidity is around 50 percent. Use of your vaporizer can help put healthy humidity back into the air.
Maintenance
Vaporizers can help your baby in several ways, but it essential to keep them very clean. Water is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, molds and fungus. Be sure to clean the vaporizer daily with soap and water or a diluted mixture of water and bleach. It is best to follow the directions that accompany your vaporizer product to determine the best choice of cleaning products for your equipment.
