When Your Baby’s Nose Is Blocked
March 10, 2009
With every change of season, your child can be susceptible to suffer from a blocked nose which can make it difficult for the child to breathe. Because this is a new situation for a baby, they do not know how to clear their nasal passages or breathe through their mouth.
Having a blocked nose can be quite uncomfortable for the baby. This article will give you advice on how to unblock the baby’s nose and ease their breathing.
One thing to remember is that under any circumstances, do not give a child that is younger than three months old any medicine. It doesn’t matter if the medication says that it is child safe. A young baby should not take medication. In replacement of medications, try using saline drops. With a dropper, insert some saline water into the baby’s nostrils.
Rub their nostrils to help stimulate the saline solution. There are suction devices that can be used to remove the excess mucus in a baby’s nose. You can find such suction devices at the pharmacy or baby retailer. They look like a turkey baster with a rubber bulb at the top to squeeze.
Vapor baths and vaporizers will also help break up and remove the mucus. Take the baby into the bathroom and let the shower run very hot. The steam will help break up the mucus that is in their chest. Make sure to keep your baby well hydrated. Because they now have to breathe through their mouths, they can get dehydrated. Not being able to breathe is a scary thing for an infant and can cause panic. Stay with your child and try to soothe him/her with a back rub.
A blocked nose due to a cold or an allergy is a hard situation to deal with for both the parent and child. The child’s sleep becomes interrupted because he/she cannot breathe properly. And when a child does not sleep, you can guarantee that you will not sleep. Try some of the above techniques to help alleviate the discomfort and hardship your baby is experiencing. Just remember not to give any child three months or younger any medication. It will do more harm than good.
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