If you have a new baby at home, by the time he or she is just a few months old, the baby might develop a runny nose. Babies tend to get colds often, but it can be hard as a parent to know how to deal with this issue. Here are some tips to help you care for your baby while he or she has a runny nose.
Use a nasal syringe
If you purchase a baby grooming kit for your child, it will most likely contain a blue bulb syringe in it. This type of syringe is the most common item used to clean runny noses of babies, and it is needed simply because babies cannot blow their noses. Because of this, a baby's nose will contain a lot of mucus when he or she is sick, and you will have to try to get it out of your baby's nose.
The blue bulb syringe that you probably have is a great tool to use; however, you should only use it a few times a day. Using it more often than this can irritate your baby's nose, and it could even hurt the child.
To use it, you must squeeze the bulb on it and insert it into one nostril at a time. Once it is in, you must quickly release the bulb, and this will pull the mucus out.
Wash the syringe
While this method works really well for cleaning out a baby's nose, there is also a risk involved with it. After you use it, the syringe might have mucus trapped inside that you cannot get out. If this happens, mold can grow in it. If you use it with mold inside, you will be exposing your infant to mold each time you use it.
Because of this, you should always rinse the bulb out with warm, soapy water after each use. Afterwards, you should let the bulb dry out. Cleaning it can help prevent mold; however, mold may still end up forming inside the bulb.
If you want to avoid this, you may want to look at a pharmacy for a different type of nasal syringe. There are types that can be taken apart to be cleaned, and these types may be safer for your baby.
If you have any questions about your baby and his or her health, you can call a pediatrician or a company like Kitsap Children's Clinic LLP for more info.
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