One health and safety item all new moms must have is a nasal aspirator. Babies can sometimes acquire a cold in which you have to suction out the nose to clear the nasal passages. The typical method is usually to use a bulb syringe (following applying a saline solution) and, in fact, most newborn health care kits already contain one. To find out what is the best method for getting the job done, I wanted to share my nasal aspirator review for a product that works superior to traditional methods.
If you’re like me, a decent bulb syringe can be hard to come by. I’ve had some that were too soft to draw out anything with and some that were so hard to squeeze it seemed completely impractical. A word of advice, although I really like the idea of the health care kits that come with all the health and safety essentials you need, do no rely on the bulb syringes that come in them. They’re too small and don’t work worth a darn. I have come across a new product, however that is different. It is more effective and all-around better than using a bulb syringe.
Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator Review
When you first look at this product it probably comes off as weird. Rest assured this product is not only safe, but completely hygienic. When I first saw the Nosefrida, I was quite skeptical. I just couldn’t get past the idea of using my own suction to clear out the mucus from my baby’s nose. However, as gross as this sounds I was surprised to see that it had such a high rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 1500 consumer reviews. In fact, it’s one of the best sellers in health and baby products.
I HIGHLY recommend this product to every parent who has a baby!
Anyone who has ever tried suctioning out a baby’s nose knows (haha) it’s no easy task but is something that has to be done. Trying to hold down a fussy, squirmy baby is almost like trying to hold down a wild hog (Ok yes I watch American Hoggers so it seemed like a relevant reference). Any product that helps make it a little easier to ensure my baby can breathe better is something worth trying.
A couple of months ago my son was hospitalized with pneumonia. Suctioning his nose was a must, but even with the hospital’s bulb syringes I wasn’t satisfied with how little I was getting out of his nose. I knew I had to find something that would work better. I checked out a few different products, but based on top sellers and reviews I kept coming back to the Nosefrida. According to other moms who have used it, here are some of the reasons why it is so popular:
If so many moms have tried it and report liking it, it must be a pretty decent product. So I finally decided to get it and try it out for myself to see what all the hype was about. It does take a little getting used to but boy do I wish I had known about this product sooner!
About the Nosefrida
One thing I always fear as I’m trying to clear out my little one’s nose with the bulb is hurting him or damaging the inside of his nose from having the tip inserted while he’s squirming and moving around. This product was designed by a doctor to be non-invasive so it doesn’t actually go inside the nostril. It uses a mouthpiece connected to a long tube for mom (or dad) to suction and a clear tube that collects mucus to clear nasal congestion and allow babies to breathe better. There is a filter in the piece that connects the long tube to the applicator tube so that mucus doesn’t get backed up into the mouthpiece.
It is made with BPA-free plastic and can be washed in the dishwasher (top-rack). It is completely hygienic and works better than a bulb syringe to get out the mucus secretions in baby’s nose. The disposable filters only need to be replaced if snot comes into contact with it which has rarely ever happens in my experience.
This thing works FAR better than any bulb syringe I’ve ever tried. I love it on so many levels and have also used it on my toddler who still hasn’t mastered the concept of blowing her nose properly. I have to admit, I did gag a little the first time I tried it just because of the thought that I was sucking snot. It’s not for the easily squeamish parent, though with some getting used to I have come to love it. The filter plus the long tube that connects the mouthpiece prevents the transfer of mucus to the parent’s mouth so there is no bacterial transfer. That and the tube that it collects it in is quite large so there’s no way the mucus can travel up to the suctioning tube. Plus, unlike the bulb you can physically see it working as it draws out the snot into the clear applicator tube, which also allows you to evaluate the level of your baby’s congestion.
One thing I liked most about this product even more than its effectiveness over the bulb is how much more hygienic it is. You can wash it in the dishwasher to clean and sanitize it. With the bulb, it doesn’t matter how hard you try to squeeze out all the water when you wash it, it will still retain some moisture inside because you can’t dry the inside of it out. To prove my point, here’s a picture of the inside of a cut bulb syringe after many uses and proper washing. The mold that had grown inside the bulb syringe was horrifying. To think that I was placing this thing in my baby’s nostrils! This might make you think twice before using a bulb again.
Now, understandably the Nosefrida isn’t for everyone. As someone who has always used a bulb nasal aspirator before I couldn’t see myself using it initially either, although it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made and I would highly recommend it. If it’s not for you and you prefer sticking to the bulb I would strongly suggest replacing it after a few uses. There was one I’ve used before that came in a box with the saline drops I bought by Little Noses. You can take the applicator tip off to wash and turn over the bulb to dry. It does get most of the moisture out although I wasn’t too fond of this syringe as the latex bulb is very soft and I didn’t find it worked too well to draw out mucus.
Again, one of the reasons I love the Nosefrida is that it is non-invasive. You place the applicator tip against the nose rather than inside. Even if your baby moves while using it, the tip is large enough so that it doesn’t go inside the nostril thus avoiding the risk of harming the internal nasal structure. Some moms reported that their kids actually liked using it much better and didn’t cry nearly as much as with the bulbs. Neither of my children liked me using it any more than the bulb and still put up a fight but at least I can feel better knowing that it won’t cause any damage.
Alternatives to Bulb Syringes
If the idea of the Nosefrida is a bit too strange for you here is another alternative I found to using the bulb.
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This is a battery operated nasal aspirator that suctions out nasal secretions with different levels of suction to gently clear mucus. The silicone tips fit comfortably inside baby’s tiny nostrils, even newborns. The parts are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. It also has 12 tunes to help distract babies while using it. Moms who have tried it said:
This nasal aspirator isn’t too expensive and is available for under $20.
This sounds like a useful product, although even with the kids tunes it features I think my kids would be a little scared of the suction for me to use it, plus it needs batteries. Nosefrida runs on mom power so it’s more conservative.
In my opinion, nothing compares to the Nosefrida. It is superior to the bulb syringe, much easier to clean, and less harmful with a non-invasive design. It is not complicated to figure out; simply place the mouthpiece in your mouth and the applicator tube against baby’s nose and suck in. I did find that it helps if you close baby’s other nostril while sucking for more effectiveness, although this was something I did with the bulb also. Of course, you should also use a saline solution to help loosen secretions first with any method of nasal aspiration you choose.
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