Saline or prescription respiratory nose drops. Ask your pediatrician for a prescription. A clean bulb syringe Soft tissues A blanket (optional)
Wet your hands with warm water. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap. Wash the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. Scrub your hands for 20 seconds. If you need a timer, hum the tune of “Happy Birthday” two times. Rinse your hands under clean, running water. Dry your hands with a paper towel.
You can have someone hold the infant in position gently. If you don’t have assistance, swaddle the infant tightly in a blanket. Swaddling the infant with her arms at her sides will help to keep her still.
You can make your own saline solution at home, but this is not recommended, especially not for an infant. If you don’t get the proportions just right, the saline can be very drying. In addition, you have to make sure you have distilled, sanitized water to mix the solution. [7] X Research source Instead, choose one of the many commercially available saline solutions made specifically for infants. These are inexpensive and are made especially for this purpose.
The suction will pull the mucus out of your child’s nose and into the bulb. You may need to suction each nostril several times to remove all of the mucus. The mucus may be very thick, especially if your infant has a cold. If the mucus is too thick to go into the bulb syringe, thin it with a few drops of saline solution and then try to suction it again, gently.
Your child may have some mucus around the outside of her nostril. Be sure to wipe this away gently to prevent skin irritation.
Make sure you rinse the syringe thoroughly to prevent soap buildup in the syringe. Squeeze the bulb several times in the soapy water to clean out the mucus. Shake the inside of the bulb before squeezing it out. Allow it to dry overnight before using it again or storing it.
Breast feeding is less likely to cause constipation and digestive issues than formula feeding. A small amount of magnesium in a bottle can help a baby have a bowel movement. You can also try gentle tummy rubs on your infant before trying an enema.
A clean bulb syringe Olive oil A diaper Warm water
Make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap. Lather up your hands, including between your fingers, under your nails, and the backs of your hands. Rinse your hands well and dry them with a clean paper towel.
Release your thumb slowly and the syringe will fill up. Make sure the water isn’t too hot. It should feel lukewarm to slightly warm to touch. You should use no more than three tablespoons of water at a time.
Take a teaspoon of olive oil and rub it on your finger. Coat the end of the syringe with a thin layer of oil.
Avoid squeezing the syringe or you will lose the water inside too early. This process can be unpleasant, so you may want to ask someone to help you distract your infant so he does not pay attention to his discomfort.
Wait a few minutes for your child to have a bowel movement. To make this process less messy, you can put a diaper on her. Repeat this process, if necessary.
Be sure to rinse it thoroughly to avoid soap buildup. Squeeze the syringe several times in soapy water to clean it. Never use an enema bulb syringe for another purpose besides enemas.
A clean bulb syringe Wax softening solution. You can get this over-the-counter at your local pharmacy or use a natural remedy like baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin or hydrogen peroxide. [18] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source A clean towel
Tilt your head to one side. Drop five to 10 drops of the solution, or your chosen home remedy, into your ear canal. Leave the drops in for several minutes. Keep your head tilted or put a cotton ball in your ear canal to prevent the drops from leaking. You can wait one to two days for the wax to soften up before you use the bulb syringe. [20] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source
Slowly release your grip on the syringe. This will suction the warm water up into the syringe. Don’t do this too quickly or you may end up with many air bubbles in the syringe.
When the water has drained completely, dry your outer ear with a towel. You can repeat this process several times to flush out the wax.
The doctor may repeat the irrigation attempts with the bulb syringe, suction your ear canal, or use a microscope to get a better look at the inside of your ear.
