Mercury is falling down slowly and chilling winter days are ahead. During this season blocked nose, runny nose and cough are common. A blocked nose causes a lot of irritation in adults as well as difficulties in breathing in infants. Babies feel discomfort and go cranky during this time. It is very important to clear the nasal blockage and ease breathing in infants. To help you with this, saline drops are the best. In this article, we will see how to make saline drops for infants.
What are saline drops?
Saline drops are a great way to remove the nasal blockage and make breathing easier by clearing nasal passage and sinus congestion. They are also called nasal sprays or sinus rinse.
Saline drops moisten the nasal passage and remove the congestion easily using an aspirator.
Putting a few drops of saline drops can easily clear the nasal passage and comfort your baby. Not only in infants and babies, but saline nasal drops also work well in kids and adults too.
Let us see how to use saline drops in infants and babies.
How to Give Saline Nasal Drops to Babies?
During nasal congestion (stuffy nose), nasal tissues swell with fluids. It may also cause sinus congestion and runny nose. Usage of saline drops can help you to get through nasal blockage caused due to allergy or cold.
While administering nasal drops to the infants, follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Firstly, wash your hands properly with soap and water
- Take the recommended dosage of saline drops using a dropper. (Consult your pediatrician for the dosage)
- Hold your baby in one arm with his head slightly tilted back and dropper in the other
- Clear the mucous using an aspirator if a lot of mucous is present
- Put saline drops using a dropper. See that dropper is not inserted into the baby's nose as it may hurt the baby. The dropper should be squeezed from the outside not touching the nose.
- Keep holding in a position till saline drops travel through the nasal passage. It may take a few seconds.
- If your baby coughs (it happens sometimes if the saline reaches the throat), hold him upright in a sitting position.
After following the given steps, make sure that you maintain proper hygiene. Wipe the dropper with tissue and discard the tissue. Then wash the bulb and the dropper using soapy water by sucking water in and squeezing it out several times. Repeat the same with clean water.
♦ Read: 67 Most Effective Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Babies
Points to keep in mind while using saline drops
- Saline drops can be used up to 2-3 times per day depending on the condition. Using saline drops more than that can cause soreness.
- Saline drops can best be used before feeding or before sleeping time so that the infant or the baby feel better while feeding or sleeping.
- If the baby is more than 6 months old, warm drinks like a soup can be offered to keep the baby hydrated and to relieve congestion.
- Remember to be gentle while using saline drops.
- If the congestion persists and grows and saline drops are not helping, let the doctor examine the infant.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of saline drops are given below-
- Using saline drops or saline sprays is a naturally effective technique to remove congestion.
- They do not have any side effects (as far as the hygiene and precautions are maintained) as they do not contain any chemicals.
- Saline drops give relief from congestion immediately.
- Infants, kids, as well as adults, can use saline drops
- They are easily available in medical stores without a prescription or can be made easily at home.
Knowing these benefits, every mother would want saline drops handy for the infants. Don't worry! Here is a way to make saline drops at home.
♦ Read: Home Remedies for Stuffy Nose in Babies and Toddlers
How to make saline drops at home?
Making saline drops is simple. Read further to know how to make saline drops for your babies, kids, or infants.
Materials needed Instructions- Pour the water into the saucepan. Allow water to boil for 10 minutes to make it free from germs/contamination.
- Add salt and baking soda and mix it. Make sure that salt and soda are completely dissolved in water.
- Let the solution cool completely.
- Transfer the solution to a sterile glass bottle.
- Use a sterile dropper to administer the solution
Use the saline drops from the solution prepared and transfer the remaining solution to a clean jar. Store it for no more than 24 hours. The solution is recommended to be discarded after 24 hours. It is always recommended to make fresh saline drops every day before using them. Also, ensure that it is close to body temperature while using.
Nasal drops are a quick and effective way to relieve your baby from trouble. It is recommended to check with your healthcare provider before administering saline drops to your infant.
Use it when your baby is in a cheerful and playful mood! Share your views and experiences on the usage of saline drops with your babies and kids.