No one likes to feel congested, and your baby can feel miserable and uncomfortable when they have a stuffy nose. As their parent or guardian, it is your responsibility to help your baby feel better. A blocked nose can be the result of a cold or another mild illness. If your baby is congested, you can do a few different things to help them feel better.
The Momcozy nasal aspirator is one option for baby nasal congestion. This device is designed to suck the mucus from your baby’s nose and is used for newborn nasal congestion. It is a must-have tool if you’re looking for a safe, hygienic way to clear your baby’s stuffy nose. Unlike traditional manual aspirators, the Momcozy nasal aspirator is an electric one that uses gentle suction powered by adjustable settings to remove mucus without irritating your baby’s sensitive nose.
Another baby blocked nose home remedy is nasal sprays and saline drops. Nasal sprays and drops are a saline solution to thin out mucus and help unblock your baby’s nose. You can use these products from birth, so they’re suitable for a newborn’s blocked nose.
Did you know you can make your own saline drops at home? Yes, you read it right. Continue reading if you want to know how.
Understanding Why Homemade Saline Drops Are Used
Homemade saline drops may be simple, but they are effective in relieving a baby’s congested nose. Since infants cannot blow their noses on their own, even just a small amount of mucus can affect their breathing, feeding, and sleeping. Saline drops help loosen and thin out this mucus, making it easier to remove with a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator.
Most parents prefer homemade saline drops because:
- It is gentle and non-medicated
- It is affordable and easy to prepare
- It avoids unnecessary additives
Homemade saline drops are beneficial, especially during colds, mild congestion, dry weather, or after exposure to dust or allergens. When made correctly with sterilized or distilled water, they can be a safe and reliable alternative to commercial saline solution.
The Essential Ingredients: Water, Salt, and Proper Ratios
Technically, a saline solution results whenever you mix any salt with water. However, the easiest saline solution consists of sodium chloride, or table salt, in water. For some purposes, it is okay to use a freshly mixed solution. In other cases, you’ll want to sterilize the solution.
Here are the ingredients:
- Salt: You can use the salt you buy from the grocery store. It is recommended to use non-iodized salt, which doesn’t have iodine added to it. Avoid using rock salt or sea salt, since the added chemicals may cause problems for some purposes.
- Water: Use distilled water or sterilized water instead of ordinary tap water.
Use 9 grams of salt per litre of water, or 1 teaspoon of salt per cup (8 fluid ounces) of water.
The Critical Requirement: Using Sterilized or Distilled Water
When making homemade saline drops for your little one, you need to consider the type of water you will use. Infants have sensitive nasal passages and developing immune systems, so you really need to ensure that the water is totally free from bacteria, parasites, and impurities.
Even if it is safe to drink, tap water isn’t always microbe-free. Adults can tolerate small organisms, but they can be harmful when introduced into a baby’s nose. Also, distilled water is purified through steaming, removing bacteria, chemicals, and minerals. Moreover, when heated for a period of time, boiled water becomes sterilized, too, which makes it safe to use for mixing solutions.
Remember to never use unboiled tap water or filtered water alone, as filters may not eliminate all microorganisms. Sterilized or distilled water ensures that the saline drops you make are clean and safe for your baby.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Mixing the Solution Safely
Here are the steps on how to make saline drops for infants.
- Prepare your materials
Making a saline solution is very easy because all you need is salt and water. To administer the solution nasally, you’ll need a soft, rubber-bulb syringe to remove nasal secretions gently for infants and small children who aren’t able to blow their noses effectively.
- Make the saline solution
Add exactly ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt to 1 cup of sterile water. Too much salt can irritate your baby’s nose, while too little may make the solution ineffective. Mix with a clean spoon until the mixture is completely clear, meaning no crystals should remain.
- Fill your spray bottle and store the remaining solution
Once the solution has cooled to room temperature, it’s ready to use. Pour the solution into a clean, sterilized dropper or small bottle for easy application. Homemade saline should be used within 24 hours to maintain safety and freshness.
Ensuring Purity: Boiling the Water and Cooling Completely
Properly sterilize the water before mixing to keep your homemade saline drops safe for your baby. Even clean tap water can contain tiny microorganisms that may be harmful when put into your baby’s nose.
This is how you sterilize water safely:
- Bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least 5 minutes. This is to make sure that bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants are eliminated.
- Allow the boiled water to cool completely before using it. A water too hot can damage the dropper bottle or cause burns if used too soon.
Remember to never mix saline while the water is still warm, the heat can change the salt balance and affect sterility. Always use a clean, covered container while the water cools to prevent contamination.
Storage Guidelines: Maintaining Sterility and Avoiding Contamination
Once you have finished mixing your homemade saline, you need to store it safely, since the mixture does not contain preservatives, it can become contaminated easily if not handled correctly.
- Use a sterilized container: Place the solution in a clean, airtight dropper bottle or small jar that has been boiled or sterilized beforehand.
- Label the bottle with the preparation date: This helps you track freshness, especially if your prepare saline often.
- Keep the solution in a cool, clean place: Room temperature is okay, but avoid warm or humid areas where bacteria can grow faster.
- Discard after 24 hours: Homemade saline does not have any preservatives, so it should always be thrown away after one day, even if it looks clean.
Application Tips: Safely Administering the Drops to an Infant
Saline drops can help loosen mucus and make it easier for your baby to breathe, sleep, and sleep comfortably. Because your little one cannot blow their own nose, proper technique is important for both safety and effectiveness.
Consider using a bulb syringe to administer nasal spray to your baby.
- Squeeze out about half the air in the bulb and draw up the salt solution into the bulb.
- Tilt your baby’s head back slightly and hover the tip of the bulb over one nostril.
- Drop three to four drops of the solution into each nostril, avoid touching the inside of the nostril with the tip as best as you can. Try to keep your baby’s head still for two to three minutes while the solution works its magic.
- Administer the nasal spray just as you would for an adult, then wait two to three minutes to let it work.
- After that, you can use the rubber-bulb syringe to gently remove secretions from your baby’s nose.
- Use a soft tissue to gently wipe away any secretions that were left around the nostrils.
Cautions: When to Use Store-Bought vs. Homemade Saline
While homemade saline drops can be effective and safe when prepared correctly, there are instances where store-bought solutions may be the better option.
Homemade saline can be used when:
- Your baby has mild congestion from a cold, dry air, or allergies.
- You can prepare the solution with sterilized, boiled, or distilled water.
- You can follow safe storage and hygiene guidelines.
Use commercial saline products instead when:
- You need a pre-sterilized, long-lasting formula that stays safe for days or weeks.
- You want a solution with precisely measured concentration (0.9% isotonic).
- You don’t have access to distilled or sterilized water.
- Your baby has sensitive nasal passages and reacts to homemade mixtures.
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