A baby’s first year and doctor’s visits go hand-in-hand. Regular well-check visits coupled with few seasonal sick visits makes new or first-time parents overwhelmed. The main problem arises when the baby stops eating or gets cranky or sleep deprived due to the common cold which gets converted into congestion. It is not only exhausting for the baby but also for the parents. Babies are obligatory nose breathers, which means they can only breathe through their nose even when it is blocked. Babies find it difficult to breathe when they have a blocked nose and it makes them really uncomfortable. Having a blocked nose makes it hard for the baby to feed well, and they wake up more frequently at night.
Doctors usually suggest putting the baby on his/her back in an elevated position. But we all know it’s not very easy to keep them in one position. It is only possible when either the baby doesn’t move or the parent is awake.
Nasal Congestion can block your baby’s nasal passages and make it hard for them to breathe freely while sleeping. This can lead to frequent night-waking and crying. Unlike us, our little bundle of joy cannot blow their nose.
What can we do to help them?
1. Keep the air moist by using a humidifier or warm mist vaporizer: Nowadays most of the houses have AC which makes the air dry. The mist from the humidifier will make the inner lining of the baby’s nose moist. It helps in breathing. Whenever my kids catch a cold, I immediately put the humidifier and it helps them to a great extent.
2. Elevate her crib mattress by placing a rolled-up blanket or towel under it to keep her nasal pathways clear while she sleeps.
3. Wearing your baby in an upright position help drain the nasal passage.
4. Taking a vapor bath. You can hold the baby and get in the shower. Turn on the water. The vapors created from the water can help the baby to breath better.
5. Nasal Massage can help in loosening up the airways.
6. Use a bulb syringe and saline drops to remove the congestion from your baby’s nose before putting her to bed. Last year, when I went to India, I heard about Nasivion drops. The good part is they are available for 2 age group – for 0 -1 year old babies and for 1-6 year old kids and in strength – 0.01% for babies and 0.25% for children respectively. These nasal drops help in moistening the nasal passage in the baby’s nose and make their breathing easy.
Different products that are available in the market are –
● NASIVION ® MINI (BABY) NOSE DROPS 0.01% – For 0 -1 year old babies
● NASIVION ® PEDIATRIC (CHILD) NOSE DROPS 0.025% – For children between 1-6 years of
age.
● NASIVION ® – SALINE NASAL SOLUTION – For all ages
These nasal drops worked well for my child and helped us in avoiding sleepless nights. You can check more details here. Do consult your pediatrician before using the products.
Even after trying all this don’t rule out the possibility of sickness. If you feel your baby is taking longer to recover then do not hesitate to consult your baby’s pediatrician. Follow your instincts and if they tell you to visit the doctor please do so. After all, it is always better to be safer than sorry.
When our kid is happy, that makes any mom happy. Isn’t? Check out this cute youtube video to know more about Nasivion drops.
Disclaimer: This post should not be treated as medical advice. Every baby is different. Consult your doctor pediatrician before using the product.
