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FAQ
You use a nasal aspirator on a baby by first putting a disposable filter inside the aspirator itself. Make sure that the child sits as upright as possible. Carefully lead one part of the aspirator up into the baby's nose and put the other part into your own mouth.
Now simply start sucking gently through the mouthpiece. When you are done, discard the disposable filter.
You have to suck hard enough to get a suction and also hard enough for the mucus to be removed. That being said, it's far better to go very carefully in the beginning – as you don’t want to hurt the child. It also depends on what you are trying to suck out. If it's only mucus, it is obviously easier to suck out than dried snot.
When the child has a cold – to the extent that you would choose to blow your nose yourself – it may be a good time to use the nasal aspirator. It can also be used if your child cannot sleep at night due to a snotty or stuffy nose. A good rule of thumb to go by is that when you hear that your child has a very stuffy nose it should be a good time to use the aspirator.
It varies slightly from nasal aspirator to nasal aspirator, but they are mainly designed for babies who are still breastfeeding and can be used until the baby is about two years old.
It is important that your child has unblocked nostrils, as young children mainly breathe through the nose. But babies, in particular, can only breathe through the nose while they are breastfeeding. If your baby has a stuffy nose, they will most likely interrupt their feeding to breathe through their mouth – so an unblocked nose would definitely be the way forward.
Three things to consider when buying a nasal aspirator
There are two primary types of nasal aspirators, manual and electric. For the manual models, you put one part in your mouth and suck out the mucus (usually into a small container with a filter). The electric models have a small machine that provides the suction power you need.
Manual nasal aspirators are usually more effective, as it’s easy to adapt the suction power. Another advantage is that they are virtually silent and don’t take up much space.
Electric nasal aspirators have the advantage of not having to put your mouth close to the mucus (even if it is separated by a filter) and is preferred by those who can't stand dealing with mucus. However, they are usually not as good at removing thicker mucus, and they can also make a lot of noise. This makes them less suitable for clearing sleeping children’s noses.
Many nasal aspirators, especially the big ones on the market, come with filters that should be replaced after each use. This can quickly add up, even if you save a little by reusing hardly used filters.
Another problem can be if you run out of filters when you urgently need them. Take the cost of having to regularly buy filters into account when choosing your nasal aspirator, and make sure you buy extra filters if you notice you're running out.
Some nasal aspirator models are quite bulky, and may not even fit next to the bed. Think about whether you'll want to take the nasal aspirator with you when travelling, or move it frequently around your home, or clear your child’s nose when they are sleeping. If so, a smaller manual model may be more practical than one of the larger electric ones.
Are you wondering how on earth you are supposed to use a nasal aspirator? We've found a guide for you at Babycenter to help you figure it out!