Children are particularly susceptible to attacks by disease viruses from the first few months of life and for a number of years. Depending on the period in which it is born, a baby can quickly experience a first runny nose. Proper nasal cleaning for a baby is essential to limit nasal congestion and avoid complications. Why is this important? How do you do it properly?
Properly cleaning a baby's nose: why is it important?
Nasal hygiene
When breathing through the nose, the baby draws in both air and small particles of dirt that are associated with environmental pollution. These then settle on the inside of the nostrils and can form mucus, which promotes the development of germs. The regular removal of impurities is therefore quite simply a question of hygiene, and in particular makes it possible to limit irritation and inflammation of the nose. Cleaning your baby's nose must therefore be a natural part of daily care ritual.
One way to help the baby blow their nose
A baby cannot blow its nose on its own. It may take a few months or a few years for it to blow its nose out to clear secretions.
He must therefore be helped to get rid of excess mucus, and in doing so it is not always enough to simply clean the nasal cavities. It is necessary to help your baby blow their nose to avoid a build-up of mucus and other debris that can promote sniffles.
An absolute must if you have a cold
It is a fact that your baby certainly cannot avoid a bad runny nose that easily circulates within communities. This usually leads to a runny nose or nasal congestion. Often a persistent cough occurs, the purpose of which is to expel excess mucus.
Don't worry, a runny nose is one of the most harmless viral diseases. However, if left untreated, this small virus can quickly lead to complications by affecting the ears (otitis media) or the bronchi (bronchitis). In fact, the nose is a barrier that protects these organs from microbes.
The main treatment for a runny nose is to remove as much as possible the mucus that has built up in the ducts of the ENT area. Cleaning the nose more frequently and thoroughly is therefore essential.
Limit the spread of the common cold in your home
In addition to common areas, your home can also encourage the spread of viruses if a family member is infected. In order to limit the risk of infection, simple measures should be taken:
- Ventilate the living space regularly;
- Avoid overheating the rooms, especially the bedrooms (ideal temperature between 16 and 18 ° C);
- Take protective measures, such as washing your hands regularly, coughing in the crook of your arm to prevent saliva from being released into the room, not touching the faces of family members, etc.
How do you blow your baby's nose properly?
Which accessories can be used?
Depending on the situation, nasal cleaning in a baby requires adjustment of cleaning accessories and treatment:
For daily cleaning
To clean a baby's nasal cavity, several options are possible:
Carefully insert a cotton swab soaked in physiological saline solution into the baby's nose. Make sure to use a new pad for each nostril;
Use a nasal aspirator: this is a pear-shaped accessory, for example, which is particularly suitable for babies. The nasal aspirator enables the gentle suction of excess nasal secretions.