Help! My baby won’t let me suction their nose!

The wild ride of newfound parenthood will have you doing things you never dreamt of. From long-winded discussions about baby poop with your partner to sucking the snot from your baby’s nose with an aspirator, parenting is humbling in so many ways.

Early on in your baby’s life, it’s common for them to get a stuffy nose and need some relief from uncomfortable nasal congestion. That’s where you come in! If you’ve been searching Google or emailing your doctor in a panic, saying, “My baby won’t let me suction their nose!”, then this post is for you.

We’ve listed below some of the best products and tips to try when helping your baby to clear congestion that is causing him or her discomfort. There’s something for everyone on this list, so let’s get right to it.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Tips for Suctioning a Baby’s Nose

There are various ways to suction a baby’s nose that will clear the congestion and make a minimal mess for you to clean up. Here are the most common ways:

Step One — Nasal Saline

Nasal saline is a safe solution to help loosen up the mucus and congestion in your baby’s nose. Saline helps move the mucus to the front of the baby’s nose, making it easy to remove with an aspirator or syringe.

To administer the saline, lie your baby on his back and gently drop two or three droplets of solution into the nostrils. Avoid sticking your fingernail or cotton swabs in your baby’s nose.

Some saline solutions come in a doppler or spray, depending on your preference. A few popular brands include Nose Frida, Little Remedies, and Mommy’s Bliss.

Bulb Syringe

The bulb syringe is an old-school method, but it’s very effective and easy to understand why it’s been around for decades to help babies’ congestion.

The bulb syringe is made of soft material like silicone. The compression of the bulb creates a vacuum-like suction to gently remove snot from a baby’s nose.

To use the syringe bulb, squeeze the air out of the bulb and keep it squeezed. Place the tip of the syringe inside the nostril, and let the bulb go to let it fill up with air again. Then, you can squeeze the bulb into a tissue to empty it of any mucus.

Nasal Aspirator

A nasal aspirator creates suction to remove stubborn mucus from inside your baby’s nose, controlled by the suction from your mouth. It may sound strange, but it’s very effective and completely hygienic.

The family-favorite nasal aspirator is the Nose Frida, which parents love for its gentle suction and thorough decongestant for tiny babies.

Electric Nasal Aspirator

An electric nasal aspirator essentially does the same thing as the standard version, but without needing you to suck through the device to clear your baby’s nostrils.

An electric nasal aspirator is a handheld, battery-powered device that is gently placed right inside your baby’s nose, selects the level of desired intensity, and swabs in a circular motion.

Related post: Help! My doesn’t like grass.

Nose Tweezers

Nose tweezers can be helpful when your baby has hard or crusty mucus dried up in his nose that needs to be removed. Rather than sticking a tissue or your fingernail into his nostril to get it out, nose tweezers are a great alternative.

These tweezers have short, round tips so they don’t scratch or damage your baby’s nostrils. You can also use these for earwax if you’d rather avoid using Q-tips on your child.

Boogie Wipes

After you’ve removed the mucus from your baby’s nostrils, clean and wipe the area around his nose to make sure everything is gone. Any remaining mucus can cause irritation if it sits on his skin for too long. We love Boogie Wipes, as they contain a clean saline solution and are super gentle on babies’ skin.

Humidifier

If snot-sucking isn’t your style, you can always try putting a humidifier in the baby’s room or wherever they spend the most time. The steam from a humidifier will break up any stubborn mucus and provide them with some relief.

Related post: Tips on when to stop burping baby

How do I get my baby to let me suction his nose?

Lay your baby down on a firm, flat surface. If you don’t have a helper, suctioning can be tricky, but there are a few ways you can prevent your baby from moving and objecting too much.

If they are fussy or wiggly, you can swaddle them so their arms are at their sides, and hold their head between your arms to keep their neck from moving too much.

If you have a partner to help, have them hold the baby in their arms as you suction. If the baby is fussy or uncomfortable, try singing or humming to distract him.

Is suctioning bad for a baby’s nose?

Suctioning a baby’s nose isn’t dangerous in any way. However, you should only suction your baby’s nose two or three times a day, for four days in a row. Too much saline and suctioning can cause friction and inflammation in your baby’s nose, which can lead to a grumpy, uncomfortable baby.

Can you hurt a baby by suctioning their nose?

If done correctly, suctioning a baby’s nose is very safe and will not hurt them. However, it is recommended to wait an hour after they’ve eaten to try and suction their nose. It may stimulate a gag reflex and cause your baby to vomit. Make sure to consult your pediatrician with any questions on suctioning, frequency, and safety.

When can you start suctioning a baby’s nose?

Anytime you notice your baby is having difficulty breathing or sounds congested from mucus, using a suctioning device is recommended. If their nose is stuffy before breastfeeding or giving them a bottle, try to suction so their nasal passage is clear because they eat better without any mucus in their nasal passages.

Related post: Help! My doesn’t like grass.

Can you suction a baby’s nose while they’re sleeping?

It’s best to suction their nose before feeding them or right before sleep. However, If you think your baby will sleep through the suctioning, it’s worth a shot.

Suctioning can be uncomfortable for babies because it’s a foreign feeling and they don’t understand what you’re doing. It’s possible he may wake up very upset by what is happening.

What happens if you don’t suction a baby’s nose?

If you don’t want to suction your baby’s nose, there are other remedies you can try. We mentioned the humidifier above, or you can turn on a hot shower and sit with your baby in the bathroom. The steam from the shower acts as a humidifier and may help with their stuffy nose.

Failing to suction your baby’s nose and clear his nostrils will likely result in a fussy, congested baby who struggles to sleep very well.

Wrap up- My baby won’t let me suction their nose

Like so many things in parenthood, trial and error are the best ways to learn what works for your child. Try each method a few times before moving on to the next, and we’re confident you will discover the best way to suction your baby’s nose.