Infant Nose "Suckers"

My pediatrician recommended one and the hospital gave me one. I trust the people who work in the profession to tell me if there was potential danger.

You don't want to push it up, just insert slightly inside. The saline spray first helps get the stuff more liquid so it comes out easier. I think they cry about it more when they're more aware of it. Just be gentle and make it quick - the faster it's over with, the happier you'll both be.

You just don't want to shove it far up his nose. I can see why he would cry, it is a little intrusive, lol. Just use it when the stuff is loose. It helps to have him near some steam like while you take a shower. Then insert ever so slightly in his nostril being careful not to go up in the bridge of his nose. It's like the q-tip thing. they are fine if your not pushing it in his ear canal. Hope the little guy feels better soon.

After 3 kids, the last one in the hospital with RSV, this is what I learned:
1. They need help getting the mucus out
2. Bulb syringes are fine, but don't depress them more than a 1/2 inch or so. The damage comes when people push them too far up or depress the bulb too much causing strong suction which can damage the tender tissue inside their nose.
3. Battery operated nasal aspirators are subject to lots of opinions. We bought one after this last bout with RSV. He hates it, but then again, he hate anything stuck up his nose or wiping.
4. I've heard Boogie Wipes are great - http://www.boogiewipes.com/
I've never used them but I got recc by several moms that they are worth it when your LO is miserable and draining.
5. Saline and a humidifier are a must!!! It's the only natural way to help them loosen up the congestion.
6. Every night before bed we load up his upper lip, nose, cheeks, etc with Vaseline or Aquphor. It helps with the chapping/chafing from all that wiping. It also helps any dried up goo to come off easier too.
7. We play in the tub more. I let him breathe in the warm, wet air, gently wipe his nose with warm water and just help him relax. When his nose get crusty during the day or is running a lot I use a damp warm baby wash cloth or rinse a baby wipe under warm water to wipe his nose. He HATES tissue.
8. Push fluids. It's very easy for them to get dehydrated which makes their snots thicker and harder to move up and out. Chicken broth. Water with a hint of juice. Even some chocolate milk - although milk can add to the congestion issues. Anything to keep him hydrated and fluids moving.

I hope this helps you. I hope your LO feels better soon too.

You're better off using it, to help him clear his nose and sinuses...you don't want to end up with an infection, or have him swallowing a bunch of mucus. The whole reason they have them is because young children aren't coordinated enough to blow their nose...so you need to help out!

I don't believe for a second it would hurt him, or they wouldn't so freely send you home with one from the hospital. I mean, they don't hand out weapons of torture! If you are gentle, you'll be fine!!! :)

As long as you are not shoving it way up into his nose, I don't see how it could damage it. If his nose is clogged or very dry/crusty, Lil' Noses saline solution will help. I moisten a Q-tip with Lil Noses or even water and put just the tip inside my infants nose to clear it out. Then I use the hospital nasal aspirator to suck out any mucus.

I agree with the other moms...use the saline stuff first, then the snot sucker and don't go up to far in the nose.

My daughter HATES it, but after I use it on her and she can breathe a little better, shes fine.

The boogie wipes are AWESOME!! Its funny how a thing that looks like a wipe works so wonderfully. I don't know whats in them (never paid attention lol), but it helps sooo much getting all the junk out of her nose!

I have never heard any negatives to using the nose 'sucker' properly. I still use it on my 2 year old son. All of my friends with children use one as well. If you do not get the mucus out of your son's nose he will end up with a sinus or ear infection. Squirting saline mist up his nose will help also.

ETA - I also use Johnson and Johnson Vapor Bath in my son's tub with warm water. I close the bathroom door to keep the vapors contained and we play for a good while. The vapors help my son's nose run to help clear some of the mucus out.

The only bulb syringe I liked was the big blue one I got from the hospital. My little one hates it too, but try not to put it in his nose, just up to his nose. If his nose is really running it will still get a lot of the junk out.
My daughter gets congested easily (with weather changes) and the Dr. said to use saline before i suction her nose out. It works every time.
Good Luck.

I never put the thing up the baby's nose. just put it right outside and you will get it. haha as a gross alternative my my friends are from the islands, they just put their mouth on the baby's nose and suck (gross if you ask me)

I highly recommend the nosefrida. it is wide so you don't have to ever worry about sticking up too far because it can't fit in the nasal cavity. as others have said, be sure to use some type of saline spray and suck away. it seems gross because you have to actually suck it out, but there is a long tube with a filter in it so it is hygenic. i got one at a local drug store but you can also get them from amazon. it is the best nasal aspirator i have ever used.

also, if you have a humidifier with a medication cup, you can fill the cup with eucalyptus oil. it is a natural version of vicks vapor rub that is safe for babies.

It is the great tool... and the mucus in the nose forces the child to mouth-breathe... which is not a healthy thing.

A few poins that I found helpfull:

Use the one with the wide tip... there will be little chance of damaging anything inside the nose and you will get a better suction.

Use saline drops before using the bulb syringe - they will make the boogers more liquid and easier to suck out.

Good luck. I am a great fan of this tool.

I use the saline and "sucker" from the Little Noses brand. there's a package they sell that has the saline and the sucker in the same box...i like it because unlike the hospital ones, the tip is much smaller and therefore you can't stick it in too far! You can also take it off and clean it out. I like things that are idiot proof, personally! lol ditto on the vaporizer too, though.

I'm gonna have to check out those boogie wipes, though! lol

You can use saline water (Ocean Spray is the brand name...but generic is the same thing) to help thin out the mucus and make it easier for him to get rid of it. I would suggest that you think about getting a "NoseFrida" http://www.thesoftlanding.com/nosefrida-nasal-aspirator.html to use instead of the bulb syringe. Both of my daughters use this for their children...at the advice of their pediatrician. Whatever you do..use the saline spray FIRST...to thin the mucus so that you are more successful with either the bulb syringe or the nosefrida...if you decide to try that out!!!
Most children are not thrilled with the bulb OR the nose frida...but I have seen that my grandsons are not as upset by the nosefrida.

Hi, A.:

Are you using a vaporizer to keep his secretions moist?
You can put the tip of the syringe at the tip of his nostrils
instead of inserting it.
Just a thought.
Good luck.
D.

Our Pediatrician, says to NOT use the nose bulb too much... because yes, it can abrade the inner nose. Then that causes pain etc.

The NICU nurses showed us how to use it at an angle, while holding the nostril closed over the tip. They showed us how hard it was for them to do it on our son (and other babies), so we didn't feel like such failures when we couldn't do it. They also warned us about the dangers of damage to the lining or worse if used improperly. Our son haaaated those things, we tried 7 different types/sizes. We figured at least he was crying from the sight of them, and that helped get some gunk out :)

We had great success with his first winter, starting in November, with running steam in the bathroom and adding eucalyptus to the water - it really moistened him up and cleaned him out. Then ran a humidifier thru the night. We're on our third winter, and it continues to be a nightly ritual. For the day we use the SinuCleanse, its more of a spritz, I would spritz myself first and then my son. He enjoyed it and started to ask for the "spritz" until about age 24mos when he started hating that as well. If you find the SinuCleanse, but 2 or 3 - for some reason it was discontinued in our area for almost a year and I was so glad to have backup.

Good luck!

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The key is to be gentle with it, and not shove it all the way up a nostril. Also you're not supposed to use them too frequently; it probably strains the tissues.

My husband practically used to make a sport out of getting snot out of our son's nose. :\

I have heard that you shouldnt make it go straight in and should put it in towards the side so its at an angle.