Nose care: tips and tricks
Dr Valleteau de Moulliac,
Pediatric consultant for Laboratoires Sarbec
Caring for your baby’s nose is part of their daily hygiene routine, and it is common after the bath to lay them on their side and inject half a dose of saline solution into the upper nostril, then switch sides and remove any remaining secretions with a thin cotton wick soaked in saline solution.
But when their nose is blocked or they have a cold, it’s a different matter: their nose is small and their nostrils are very narrow. They only breathe through their nose and not through their mouth, even if it is open. When secretions block their nose, they have trouble breathing, especially during meals, and it can also disturb their sleep. In addition, the mucous membrane covering it is very fragile and sensitive and can bleed easily.
That’s why you need to clear their nose to reduce their discomfort, but with great care so as not to irritate it.
– The most effective method for babies under 6 months is to perform a good nasal wash.
- Wash your hands, then take single-use saline solution pods.
- Lay your baby on their back or side (some prefer on their stomach), and be sure to keep their head turned to the side to avoid the risk of “wrong way” (accidental passage of saline into the airways). If necessary, get help to keep your child in this position or wrap them in a towel.
- Gently place the tip of the pod at the entrance of the uppermost nostril.
- Inject the entire contents into the nostril while closing your child’s mouth, so that the saline comes out through the other nostril along with the nasal secretions.
- Wait until your baby has swallowed properly and wipe their nose with a disposable tissue.
- Then repeat this process with a new pod in the other nostril after turning your baby’s head to the other side.
- It is completely painless but unpleasant, and your baby will show it.
- It’s not a problem if they swallow a few drops of saline.
– For very young babies, you can also soak a small cotton wick with saline solution, roll it, and insert it into a nostril. Repeat this maneuver with another wick in the other nostril; your baby may not like it, but it’s the gentlest method, though less effective… and it may trigger sneezing, which helps eliminate secretions.
– For babies over 6 months, you can also use nasal aspirators (many models exist, though not always very effective) or replace the pods with saline sprays suitable for children.
These techniques should be used sparingly when nasal obstruction causes real discomfort in your baby’s daily life.
A gentler technique: turn your bathroom into a sauna by running a hot bath to fill the room with steam, then stay inside with your baby for about ten minutes. The humidity will help eliminate secretions.
– As your child grows, they will learn to blow their nose.
Blocked nose… effective but gentle clearing
