Congested Baby

As any parent knows, babies seem to get stuffy noses regularly for no apparent reason. You go to the pharmacy and find that over the counter drugs are no longer suggested for infants. You call the pediatrician and discover that unless the baby has a fever, isn't eating, or showing signs of distress, this problem will not be treated with pharmaceuticals . What a dilemma!! The only option is to use a rubber suctioning device that looks like an ice cream cone. Despite the wailing and flailing of your little one, you have to extract the snot because you cannot bear the sounds of labored breathing or worse that they will choke in their sleep.

1. Place baby on his/her back onto a flat surface
2. Spray 2 drops of saline solution into each nostril
3. Wait 30 seconds for the nose to become moist
4. Use one finger to close the left/right nostril while slightly closing the baby's mouth (leave enough room for breathing and pay no attention to the screams). All of this is done with one hand.
5. With your other hand squeeze all the air from the nose bulb and gently insert it into the open nostril. (Don't jam it in there. It should be very close to the entrance.)
6. Slowly release the bulb and let it works its magic.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for the other nostril.

Suctioning can be done whenever it is needed but don't irritate the baby too much. I usually do this in the morning, afternoon, and right before bed. I also just ordered an automatic suctioning device so hopefully there will be less theatrics during these sessions.