Any easy way to get those buggers out?

I have never seen a tiny, 4 month old baby turn into a screaming, red-faced, ticked off human faster than my DD when I try to clear out her nose! You'd think I was beating her! If she could dial the phone she'd probably call CPS!
I put saline drops in her nose and then after a minute or so I use the dreaded bulb to suck the, well, snot out. Is there an easier, gentler way that doesn't result in so much DRAMA?
I'm going to take her picture when she is in the big middle of her fit so when she's older she can see what she's in for as a mom!

 

I have never seen a tiny, 4 month old baby turn into a screaming, red-faced, ticked off human faster than my DD when I try to clear out her nose! You'd think I was beating her! If she could dial the phone she'd probably call CPS!
I put saline drops in her nose and then after a minute or so I use the dreaded bulb to suck the, well, snot out. Is there an easier, gentler way that doesn't result in so much DRAMA?
I'm going to take her picture when she is in the big middle of her fit so when she's older she can see what she's in for as a mom!

 

I'm sorry for both of you, that doesn't sound like fun.

I don't really have any advice for you since I don't have runny noses around here. I NEVER pick their nose unless I absolutely have too because it makes them super angry. I don't think the bulb sucking feels very good to them, so I'm not sure there is any way to make that better. I've heard it gets difficult as they get older when they know what the bulb is for and that it is coming towards them and they fight you.

 

I'm sorry to say, as far as I know that is really the only way to do it. I know we go through the crying and head turning here too. They have gotten so when they hear me get a tissue they shake their head no.

 

Sorry, same here ... they are getting over a respiratory infection and we've used saline drops and the suction thing to get out the stuff ... they scream and bat at the bulb, I yelled at DH thinking he was putting it up too far in their nose but the doc said they make the bulbs so you can't put it in too far, they just scream bloody murder when you do it. Poor kiddos.

I did read to prop them up, put the drops in, wait about 15 seconds and then suction, and if you still have to do it again, wait about a minute and do it again ... but it doesn't matter, they still scream.

 

You don't want to do TOO much bulb usage. It creates MORE mucous!

I just wipe with a kleenex and the saline drops help with the crusties!

Good luck!!

 

When my older DD would have boogies and I couldn't get them out, I would put her on her tummy which she hated, she would get mad and rub her nose on the blanket and kind of blow, which would in turn blow the boogies out. I know it's kind of gross, but thats what would work for the sticky big ones (I know TMI sorry)

 

Riley does the same thing, so I can't wait to hear some ideas.

 

quote:
Originally posted by ames4:
When my older DD would have boogies and I couldn't get them out, I would put her on her tummy which she hated, she would get mad and rub her nose on the blanket and kind of blow, which would in turn blow the boogies out. I know it's kind of gross, but thats what would work for the sticky big ones (I know TMI sorry)


Ditto! They have both been snotty the past few weeks and every time I pick them up from tummy time there is a huge snot ball on the blanket.

 

quote:
Originally posted by ~* dfaut *~:
You don't want to do TOO much bulb usage. It creates MORE mucous!

I did not know this. Thanks for sharing Diane!!

 

We have yucky noses now too! A few months ago I took DD to the ped. because she had a bloody nose and it was a result of using the bulb too much. We use saline often.

 

I laughed out loud about what the PP said - my girls HATE it when I try to get their boogies out and it seems like every time they wake up from a nap or in the morning (b/c I put them down on their backs, but they flip onto their stomachs) there is a huge snotty spot!!!! It seems like the best way to clean their noses out - just put them down on their stomachs!!!I don't use the bulb syringe - I really didn't think it worked. I try to every now and then wet a baby washcloth with hot water and then squeeze all the excess water out and then wipe their noses. It is not "hot" by the time I get it to their noses, but for some reason it helps the with the crusty ones! Sorry for all the gross descriptions!!!

 

I often hit the boogie jackpot in the bath. I wipe their nose with the wet warm washcloth a few times and check in a few minutes and there is often a boogie, with one guy especially.

 

I could have writen this same post, its just what is happening at out house

 

We battle this too at our house. They get so congested, I have to keep sucking the gunk out or they cannot breathe at night. We actually wore a bulb out! We just got a new one and it is wonderful - it is very powerful and sucks all the snot and boogers out in one shot! It it shaped in such a way that you cannot stick it too far in their nose. My kids will jerk their heads and sometimes the bulb would go in too far. With this new one, you cannot go too far, even if they move around. We got it at Target for about $2 - it is white and says "Red Cross" on it.

 

we don't use a bulb at all. we do use saline and the girls hate it - i understand that, having tried it on myself ...

we also try to turn the whole nose wiping thing into a game (beeping mummy's nose with the tissue, beeping baby's nose, beeping mummy's nose, wiping baby's nose etc). i use a lot of vaseline to keep their noses from becoming sore.

bathtime is fabulous as a combination of the steam and hot water on the face really clears them before bed. as a result, i've also taken to washing their faces several times during the day and wiping their nose then.

although still congested at night, we use a humidifier and it seems to really help.

finally, and don't all go yuk simultaneously, i tend to use my fingers to very gently squeeze together their nostrils and pull down - very very gently - which clears some of the gunk. they seem to tolerate this a lot better than a tissue. yes, i wash my hands very thoroughly afterwards!