It's important to clean out your infant's nose, especially when she's suffering from a cold that is causing excess mucus. A plugged nose can interfere with her suck-swallow-breath reflex, notes the university of Michigan, disrupting her ability to eat. It can also make for a long night of fussing and crying for you. Clean out her nose when she sounds stuffy or before bed using a homemade saline solution, cotton swabs and a nasal aspirator. Soon she'll be breathing easy and you'll both get some rest.
Step 1
Mix a solution of water and salt to help loosen the mucus that is stuffing up your infant's nose. You can do this by combining 1/4 tsp. of salt and a half cup of lukewarm water, recommends the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.
Step 2
Place your infant on a rolled-up towel. Use an eyedropper to drop two or three drops of solution in each nostril. If your infant squirms or cries, you may need someone to help hold him still. Allow the saline solution to rest in the nostril for 30 to 60 seconds in order to loosen the mucus.
Step 3
Turn your baby onto her stomach, propped on the rolled towel, to drain the saline solution and mucus out of the nose. Wipe the mucus and solution with a tissue, or use a cotton swab on the outside of the nostril only to clean it away gently.
Step 4
Turn your infant onto his back, and use a nasal aspirator to remove the remaining mucus. Squeeze the bulb of the aspirator and place it in one nostril, a quarter of an inch in. Release the bulb to employ the vacuum motion, and then expel the mucus onto a tissue by squeezing the bulb. Repeat as needed in each nostril.
Step 5
Mix a new saline solution each day and clean out your infant's nose before eating and sleeping as needed.
Things You'll Need
- Warm water
- Salt
- Tissue
- Cotton swap
- Nasal aspirator
