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The nasal aspirator is a product that was created especially for the youngest children. Electric aspirators are used to accurately and safely extract secretions from the baby’s nose. Babies cannot get rid of it on their own, which makes it difficult for them to breathe and sleep. Residual discharge can cause many health complications, such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and middle ear inflammation.
Nasal aspirator – working
Parents often ask themselves what is the best way to remove mucus from the nose. In order for it to become more fluid, seawater (1 or 2 drops) should be introduced into the nasal cavity. When discharge starts to flow, you can remove it with a tissue. If this does not work, try using different accessories.
Until recently, the only aid to remove secretions from the baby’s nose was a pear. Its name comes from the shape of the instrument. Most often made of rubber, it is handy and flexible, it fits easily in the hand. At its top there is a tip with an opening for extracting secretions.
During the nose cleansing procedure, close the uncleaned nostril, touch the pear to the other one and suck in the secretion. Unfortunately, a tiny child can tear himself away, which makes it much more difficult to care for.
Although many mothers still use it today, it is gradually being replaced by aspirators. Why is this happening? Because the suction force of the pear is much weaker than the suction force of the aspirator. The disadvantages of the pear also include the difficulty in maintaining its hygiene and the fact that if used improperly, it may damage the nasal mucosa.
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Types of aspirators
Nasal aspirators are products that make life easier not only for children, but also for parents, especially beginners, who experience the problems of childhood runny nose for the first time. There are three basic types of devices: oral, connected to a vacuum cleaner and electric.
The oral aspirator cleans the baby’s nose by sucking air in the aspirator by the parent. The device consists of a mouthpiece, a tube through which the suction air passes, a housing with a filter that stops the extracted secretion and a mouthpiece, which is placed in the baby’s nose.
The disadvantages of such a device is the possibility of accidentally swallowing a runny nose, i.e. viruses and bacteria. As the producers assure, we do not have to be afraid of this, but the parents, in turn, have a different opinion, saying that in the case of a watery discharge, this type of situation may occur.
When it comes to the advantages of oral aspirators, they will definitely be: quiet operation of the device itself (it is not powered in any way) and easy cleaning. Whether our baby’s nose is thoroughly cleaned depends on the strength of our lungs. On the market, we will be able to buy versions without a filter and the one with a filter.
Aspirators for which you need a vacuum cleaner, have a similar effect, except that the parent’s mouth is replaced by a vacuum cleaner. However, they have differing opinions. Parents describe on their blogs that there is a problem with using them mainly on trips due to the lack of a vacuum cleaner at hand. It is also impossible to use the vacuum cleaner at night, when people in the neighboring rooms are asleep.
In addition, not all children tolerate the loud sound of this device well, and not all nasal aspirators are suitable for every vacuum cleaner model. In addition, according to some specialists, too frequent use of this aspirator may have a negative effect on the mucosa of the baby’s nose. Therefore, the use of this type of aspirator seems to be a good solution, only in the case of a very thick runny nose.
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Electric nasal aspirators they enjoy a much better reputation because they make cleaning the nose much easier without unnecessary equipment, stress and noise. These aspirators are small in size. They have facilities that attract the child’s attention throughout the procedure. They are often melodies.
The product is simple in construction and easy to maintain. In addition, it is handy, so you can take it with you on a trip. Importantly, this product does not cause any irritation, so you can use it without fear. This is due to the fact that it sucks out the runny nose quite gently.
It is worth noting, however, that this advantage may turn out to be a disadvantage when dealing with extremely dense, lingering secretions. In this situation, the power of the electric aspirators may be too low. Instead, they should deal with a watery runny nose.
Thanks to aspirators, pumping secretions from the baby’s nose becomes effective, quick and painless, and additionally brings immediate relief and allows the baby to fall asleep peacefully. Aspirators can be used from the first day of the baby’s life, without worrying about irritation or other ailments.
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How to choose a nasal aspirator for a child?
It is difficult to say which of the following types of aspirators will be the best choice. When choosing, our individual needs are extremely important.
An electric aspirator will be a great choice if we need mobile equipment that we can take everywhere with us. If he is not able to cope with the thick discharge from the nose, we can use saline or sea water spray. If, on the other hand, our child rarely has a runny nose and it is not thick, an aspirator connected to a vacuum cleaner may be a good choice, which, due to not frequent use, will not irritate the baby’s mucosa.
However, in this case, before using this type of aspirator, we should read the instructions attached to it and test it, for example, on our hand. It is also worth having a vacuum with the possibility of changing the suction power. The oral aspirator, however, will be the most individual matter.
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