Overcoming nasal congestion in babies can indeed make parents panic. The reason is, babies can only fuss without knowing the discomfort they feel themselves. At times like this, you are required to remain calm and take some ways to deal with it.
Nasal congestion does not only occur due to a buildup of nasal fluid or mucus in the baby's nose. This happens because during a cold, the nasal passages, blood vessels, and adjacent nasal tissues experience swelling. Nasal conditions like this make it difficult for babies to breathe and become very fussy. Because, he didn't know what to do, but his nose felt uncomfortable.
In their first year, babies are usually more susceptible to colds or flu. This happens because the immune system is not well formed, so it is easy to be infected with viruses that attack the throat and nose. Colds are characterized by the appearance of runny nose and nasal congestion. Apart from infection, exposure to pollution and cigarette smoke also often causes irritation of the respiratory tract in infants and children with one of the complaints being nasal congestion.
If your baby catches a cold, it is advisable to immediately consult a pediatrician, to prevent risks such as pneumonia can occur.
Overcome Nasal Congestion in Babies Calmly
In addition to checking your baby to the pediatrician, try some ways to reduce the discomfort your baby feels when they have a cold. Below are some ways to deal with nasal congestion in babies that you can practice, including:
- Help baby clear his nose
Babies can't blow their nose on their own. So, he will really need your help to deal with it. There are several ways you can do this. First, prepare a container to blow the baby's nose. Then, suck the snot from your baby's nose slowly using an aspirator or infant nasal bulb (a kind of small pipette).
Second, you can use saline (sterile saline water sold at pharmacies) that can be dripped into your baby's nose to thin and make it easier for mucus to come out. After that, suck the baby's snot again using a snot sucker that is usually sold at baby supply stores.
- Sufficient fluid needs
At the time of a cold, your little one will really need fluids. If your little one is old enough to be given food such as soup, give him warm soup to make him feel better. However, if your little one is not old enough to be given complementary foods, give breast milk or formula as usual.
- Do steam
Nasal congestion makes it difficult for your little one to breathe. To make it easier for him to breathe, your little one needs moist and warm air. You can help him inhale the steam from a basin of warm water. If your home has hot water in the bathroom, take your child into the bathroom with the hot water tap on, so the child can breathe in the steam. You can also use humidifier to humidify the air in the house.
- Keep the air at home cleanDirty air and irritants such as cigarette smoke can make the baby's respiratory tract become inflamed and aggravate the stuffy nose he is experiencing. That's why it's important to always maintain cleanliness at home and keep your little one away from cigarette smoke and polluted air.
In the first years, your little one will indeed catch a cold more often or more easily, but that doesn't mean you should take it lightly. Immediately consult your child to the pediatrician to get the right treatment. You are also advised not to carelessly give cold medicine to him. As a home treatment, do some of the ways to deal with nasal congestion in babies above to reduce the discomfort he feels.