But there are some things we can do to protect them and our smaller ones from getting the dreaded cold from their siblings, schools and daycares.

Let’s take a look at 3 ways to protect kids from colds this school year.

1. Good Hand Hygiene

As parents we would hope that this one would be an easy one, but not so the case. We tell our children many times over to wash their hands before eating, after using the restroom, and after they cough or sneeze.

But that can sometimes go over deaf ears, while we think they are washing up they could have easily got distracted…brother Ben throws a ball and hits them in the head during play, but now they have to get even, right? Of course they do!

Here’s a tip, when they walk in the door from school, from daycare, or from a friends house, steer them to the nearest sink and have them wash with soap and warm water, scrubbing thoroughly for 30 seconds.

“An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is equally effective,” says Donald Goldmann, M.D., medical director of infection control and quality improvement at Children’s Hospital, in Boston.

So when there isn’t a sink in site, reach for the hand sanitizer to stop those pesky germs in their tracks. And make sure to use the wipes provided at the supermarket to swipe the cart handle before shopping too.

2. Disinfect Your Home

It’s important to disinfect counters and tabletops, viruses can live on surfaces for as long as 3 hours. And if someone is already sick in the house, wipe the doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, phones and other things that family members share, too. Try wiping them down at least once a day.

Here’s another tip, you can easily find inexpensive recipes for homemade cleaning solutions online that aren’t as strong as those other commercial disinfectants. There are many ingredients out there that are safer and still effective, like vinegar, tea tree oil, and borax.

So if you aren’t keen on using bleach or other harsh chemicals to clean, we found this article on maidbrigade.com on How to Disinfect Your Home Naturally This Cold and Flu Season and natural disinfectant recipes to keep your home clean and germ-free:

• For a natural disinfectant that can be used on floors, countertops, bathtubs, toilets, walls, and baseboards, fill a bucket with 1/2 gallon hot water and 1/4 cup Borax.  Mix and clean!
• To make your own natural disinfectant spray, add 4 to 8 drops of essential oil to 1 cup distilled water in a spray bottle.  Shake and spray!  Examples of oils with anti-fungal properties are  eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, and tea tree oil.
• Another natural disinfectant that works wonders in the bathroom can be made by combining 1/2 cup white vinegar, 2 cups hot water, 1 teaspoon washing soda, and 10 drops tea tree oil.  Pour into a spray bottle, mix, and spray!

3. Boost Their Immunity

It is even more important to stay healthy and one of the ways to do it is to keep your immune system operating at it’s bests, this includes healthy eating, daily exercise, and getting plenty of rest.

Before and after school offer your child a well-balanced diet which includes fruits, vegetables, milk and water. Foods rich in Vitamin C are also known to strengthen the immune system and help in speeding up recovery when they do become sick.

Another super food is Garlic, it contains antiseptic properties which are known to help protect the immune system against getting that pesky cold in the first place. We know not all children like garlic, but it can be disguised in other foods they do like, such as pasta.

And one of the best ways to make sure they get the right amount of fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of recipes for smoothies out there. Here’s one recipe we found at HappyHealthyMama.com.

Immune Boosting Smoothie

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 small navel oranges, peeled and pulled apart into wedges

1/2 green apple, not peeled, sliced

1 cup raw spinach, packed

2 tablespoons raw honey

A few ice cubes

Place all ingredients, in the order listed, into a blender.  Blend until smooth and enjoy.  Makes 2 smoothies.

Another way to boost your child’s immune system and improve their overall wellbeing is daily exercise. Most children are generally active which is good, but structured exercise can help them get on a healthy path of exercising that could stick with them throughout their life. Here are some tips on how to get your child exercising.

Lastly, good sleep is important for their immune function. According to experts, they recommend 14 to 15 hours a day for infants, 12 to 14 for toddlers, 11 to 13 for preschoolers and 10 to 11 for school-age kids. Set a routine for your child to follow everyday, this helps with those nights of resistance since they know what to expect ahead of time.

Equally important is a wind-down period before bedtime. “There should be no vigorous activity between a half hour and an hour before bedtime,” Jennifer Shu, MD, a pediatrician with Children’s Medical Group in Atlanta, says. Shu is also co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn.

She goes on to tell us about her Four B’s: bath, brushing teeth, books and bed. The routine should start somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour before you want your child to be asleep, she says.

It’s important that we stay healthy as well, these steps also pertain to us, parents as well because children aren’t the only ones that get sick. So let’s start living healthier lives and teach our children to do the same. Good luck with a happy and successful new school year!

The post 3 Ways To Protect Kids From Colds This School Year appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

Here are some things you should know before you buy a nasal aspirator.

Medical Grade Quality

Make sure the nasal aspirator is medical grade quality, which means that the quality is so that it can be used for medical purposes or is made of the highest possible quality.

When purchasing a product that is meant to provide a solution to relieve symptoms of a cold, you bet you are going to want that product to be of good quality that only a hospital will use. As parents we never want to sacrifice price for quality.

BoogieBulb® is the first company to launch a medical grade aspirator to consumers. We make sure our products are made with high quality bio-degradable material and manufactured right here in the US, we want you to feel confident when purchasing a nasal aspirator from us.

Vacuum Suction Powered

What does that mean anyways? The definition of a vacuum is to clean using a tool that sucks dirt or other elements into a storage container or a tool that uses suction to clean. With the BoogieBulb® the rubber decompresses thus creating a stronger suction which is guaranteed to extract the mucus.

As you might have found out the hard way, the store nasal aspirators just doesn’t create enough suction, even though they may look very similar to the hospital grade nasal aspirators.

Easy To Clean

The original blue nasal bulb wasn’t made specifically for easy cleaning and caused many parents to freak out when they saw that the blue bulb they were using on their babies might have mold inside. That’s not an issue with theBoogieBulb® Cleanable, the Cleanable bulb is just that, easy to clean as well as effective in helping to relieve those stuffy noses.

For parents that want that extra reassurance in knowing it’s clean before each use there is also a Cleaning Kit to be used with it.

Here are some of the benefits in using the Cleaning Kit:

• Proven to kill bacteria and viruses in 30 seconds!
• Kills MRSA, VRE and Influenza A Virus
• 24 hour residual protection
• EPA registered and safe to use on baby products (no rinsing required)
• Non-toxic – completely odorless and colorless
• Made in U.S.A

The Cleaning Kit also include two of our BoogieBulb® Brushes to clean the neck of your BoogieBulb® nasal aspirators. But most importantly, BoogieBulb® has partnered with PureGreen24™ to bring you the safest disinfecting solution on the market for your baby products.

Shop Online Today!

The Conclusion

As parents we never want to be caught with a product that doesn’t follow through with it’s promises. It’s like a blow to our super parent skills, we are supposed to be able to take care of those boo-boos and make our children feel better when their sick.

BoogieBulb makes parents’ lives easier when it delivers on making the boogies go away so they can breathe better.

For more information on how to use and clean the BoogieBulb, visit how to use the nasal aspirator.

The post What Are The Different Kinds Of Nasal Aspirators? appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

We know that over-the-counter medications aren’t always a good option for our children especially when they are younger than the age of 2.

The average cold or flu will usually last up to ten days, so it’s important to find more natural ways to help them during that time.

Here are 3 natural ways to help relieve your child’s cold, which are easy, safe, effective and can be done at home.

1. Help Them Get Plenty of Rest

No matter what age your child is, it’s vitally important to provide a quiet place for them to rest, away from all the noise and distractions. Make the first day your child is sick, a slow day. Stay home the first 24 hours, turn the lights down and maintain a calm, quiet, peaceful environment.

Spend some time on the the couch together and watch their favorite movie or in bed while you read to them or help them with a puzzle. Before no time they will be drifting off to sleep and getting the rest their body needs to heal and get well.

2. Use Steam to Help Relieve Congestion

Have a cool mist humidifier running in your child’s room while their are sleeping, resting or playing quietly. This helps loosen the mucus. Another way to use steam is to give your child a warm bath in a steamy bathroom several times if necessary, by letting the hot water in the shower run for a few minutes. You’ll find that giving your child a warm bath can also be relaxing for them, promoting more rest.

When using a humidifier, make sure to clean it often as it could accumulate mold over time. Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to best clean it when it’s not in use.

3. Use a Bulb Syringe to Remove the Boogies

By using a bulb syringe with saline drops you can help relieve your child’s congestion allowing them to breath better. BoogieBulb® Cleanable also makes it easier for parents to clean it more effectively, insuring that it is bacteria free before each use.

Making your own saline nose drops is easy to do and can save you tons of money. Here’s a homemade Saline Nasal Drops recipe we found at LiveStrong.com:

1. Fill a small sauce pan with either tap or distilled water and bring it to a boil. Boil the water for 10 minutes to eliminate any bacterial impurities.

2. Measure 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized or Kosher salt and 1/8 tsp. of baking soda and add them to 1 cup of the warm water. It is important to use the right amount of salt, baking soda and water because if the solution is too salty it can be irritating, according to the Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics website.

3. Stir the salt and the baking soda into the water. Continue stirring until they completely dissolve. The saline solution can be stored for up to 24 hours in a clean container.

4. Fill a clean, sanitized bulb syringe with a small amount of warm saline solution. According to MayoClinic.com, the water should be about the same as body temperature. If the water is too warm, it can cause more irritation.

5. Add one to two drops of saline solution to each of your infant’s nostrils. According to the Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, you should wait about 10 to 15 seconds before you clean the mucus from the infant’s nose with the bulb syringe.

Always make sure to wash and dry the dropper each time you use the nasal drops and never share the droppers with others.

If you are short on time, you can also use the bulb syringe without saline to help remove mucus. To see how the BoogieBulb works and for directions on how to use it, see the Baby Nasal Aspirator Review.

Children need to be allowed to be sick and it isn’t always a bad thing. As adults we need to slow down too, allowing us to spend that additional bonding time with our loved ones and insuring that they are well cared for. Before long, you’re child will be feeling better and back to their happy and playful self.

The post 3 Natural Ways To Help Relieve Your Child’s Cold appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

Here, we compare the two and include some of the things parents say about them.

The BoogieBulb

The BoogieBulb® is a patented hospital grade baby nasal aspirator syringe with a smart design that allows it to come apart at the middle, making it easier for the users to clean it completely and reuse it!

Highlights

• Hospital Grade Nose Suction Every Time
• Twists apart in the middle to clean after each use
•  Soft Rubber and Narrow Tip make it easier to suction
• BPA Free, Phthalate, Latex Free

What Parents Are Saying

“Wish it was more affordable but despite the price this is my 2nd time buying this.” The BoogieBulb® Cleanable costs $14.95 for the 1 oz. size (recommended for Preemie Babies and Smaller Newborns) and $17.95 for the 2 oz. size (most popular and recommended size for most newborn infants).

“It works well when used correctly, meaning squeeze from the bottom and not the sides.”

The BoogieBulb® is designed to operated by placing the nasal aspirator into your hand with your thumb on the very bottom and your index finger on one side of the long tube with your middle finger on the opposite side.

Next, with your thumb, press the bottom of the nasal aspirator all the way in and hold it there. This must be done before placing it in the baby’s nose.

“It did take some work to get used to it at first, but it’s a quick learning curve and once we figured it out, it was much easier and faster!” The BoogieBulb_® nasal aspirator is easy to use. If you’ve never used a nasal aspirator on your baby before, don’t worry follow our steps with illustration here to get the best results from the BoogieBulb_® product.

“I especially love that it comes apart for easy cleaning! MUCH better than the one piece bulbs the hospitals give out!” To clean your Cleanable nasal aspirator, pull apart at the center rim.

Boil a pot of water and drop the two half pieces into the pot. With the Cleaning Solution, place it in the pot of boiling water until it dissolves.

Boil for 10 minutes. Remove the nasal aspirator pieces from the pot and rinse off with cool water. Lay pieces flat to air dry and when dry reassemble for later use.

The BoogieBulb® Cleanable is the world’s first true cleanable and reusable baby nasal on the market.

The NoseFrida

The Nosefrida “The Snotsucker” Nasal Aspirator is a safe and effective way of cleaning your baby’s nostrils. The non-invasive design forms a seal outside the nostril instead of going inside. Then by the power of your own mouth, you can create the suction necessary for aspiration.

Highlights

• Non-invasive design forms a seal outside the baby’s nostril
• Parent-powered mouth suction is strong and effective
• Pieces come apart for easy cleaning
• BPA, Latex Free and Phthalate Free

What Parents Are Saying

“While the the gross stuff never reaches the mouth, the whole idea of it can make some parents stomachs turn.” Instead of going inside the nose like the bulb, it forms a seal with the outside of the baby’s nostril, creating a vacuum. Then red mouthpiece is used to SUCK out the snot.

“I always get sick after I use it because it’s the same as inhaling my baby’s sick germs.” Clinical studies have proven that the hygiene filter prevents mucus and bacterial transfer from child to user.

“I have lost some, dropped them on the floor repeatedly, and ended up throwing some away because of it.” With the NoseFrida you have to change the filter often, the new filters normally cost $3.99 for a 20 pack.

People say they are pretty easy to go through rather quickly because they need to be changed after each use. ” The NoseFrida retails at $14.99 and includes 4 filters – 1 pre-loaded and 3 extras.

“I’m having a hard time getting some of the sticky boogies out of the nosefrida. I have tried soaking it in hot soapy water but some still remain.” To clean, the Nosefrida should be detached from the tubing and washed with warm water and soap and allowed to dry. Dishwasher safe. Hygiene filters should be changed after each use.

“It’s kind of gross, but it’s really effective.” Parent-powered (mouth) suction is strong and effective in removing the snot.

How It Adds Up

The NoseFrida and the BoogieBulb® are both known to work well in relieving stuffy noses for your little ones. It really comes down to your comfort level (gag reflex) and your willingness to purchase additional products for usage.

Read more reviews from parents on the BoogieBulb® and see what they have to say about our products and why they love them.

The post BoogieBulb Nasal Aspirator Versus NoseFrida! appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

Dads come in all roles, work-from-home Dads, stay-at-home Dads, single Dads, or Dads who just want to be more involved with their babies’ health and everyday care. So why not make things easier for them?

Plus, it can be more frustrating for a new Dad who is learning how to take care of a newborn baby in the house. So Dads are telling other Dads about the BoogieBulb® and are saying that the BoogieBulb® is more effective and easier to use than the bulb the hospital provides.

One Dad’s Review

Here’s one Dad’s review of the BoogieBulb® Nasal Aspirator:

Sucking out boogers from Bethany’s nose is not my favorite thing to do, she cries all the time and it’s very frustrating.

I would always use the little blue nasal aspirator that the hospital give us when she was born, but I didn’t think it worked so I went online and I found babynasalaspirator.com and I checked out their info and it kind-of made sense that not all of them are the same, so I thought why not, let’s buy it. I got it a few days later and I got to tell you, it is really easy to use and it just clears her right up without any fuss.

You can also see it here.

And another thing, unlike the hospital bulb, BoogieBulb® also comes in the first true Cleanable and reusable baby nasal aspirator.

Nothing freaks out a new Dad than a hard to clean booger bulb, this just makes Dad’s job even easier.

Dads like easy!

Beware of Knock Offs

There are many knock off aspirators that claim that they can be cleaned but not in the simplistic way as the BoogieBulb®. These imitator aspirators only come apart at the top or come with a cheap brush that only allows you to clean the tip.

The BoogieBulb® Cleanable comes apart at the center of the bulb allowing you to completely clean the entire area of the bulb, eliminating the risk of mold buildup.

What about those other nasal aspirators out there? Well, there’s the NoseFrida, but who wants to suck out boogies with their mouth. No parent, Dad or Mom wants to suck their baby’s snot out of a tube…gross! Sorry Nosefrida!

So like Greg Lake and baby Bethany (if she could talk) says, “why not, let’s buy it.” And see what all the good fuss is about. Give it a try and you’ll see what all the other parents are saying about the BoogieBulb®, Dads included!

This post was dedicated to all the Dads, you are an important part of your children’s life…Happy Father’s Day!

The post How To Relieve Baby’s Stuffy Nose For Dad’s! | Happy Father’s Day From BoogieBulb… appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

Those days happen, the days we dread, your little one is sick and miserable. Your first reaction is to try and relieve that misery so your baby can rest better. But you can’t remember if you used that nasal aspirator the last time they were sick. 

As one Mom has said, “I can’t think of anything nastier than sucking up a bunch of boogers from my baby and not being able to clean out the inside.”

Well, the BoogieBulb® Cleanable takes care of that, the first cleanable and reusable nasal aspirator. So no more icky nasal aspirator.  This aspirator is completely cleanable and is the only cleanable medical grade nasal aspirator on the market. Just pull it apart in the center!

The most effective for clearing up congestion for you child, without the worry.

Our most popular size, is the 2 oz BoogieBulb® Cleanable, but also available in the 1 oz. and 3 oz. size. The BoogieBulb Cleanable is still very much easy to squeeze as well as has the same strong suction as the others, it just enables you to twist it open to clean the inside after every use.

Our BoogieBulb® Cleanable nasal aspirator is BPA Free and Latex Free.

And to make sure it’s free of bacteria every time, you can clean it more effectively by disinfecting your BoogieBulb at home.

Now available, our BoogieBulb® Cleaning Kit:

• Proven to kill bacteria and viruses in 30 seconds!
• Kills MRSA, VRE and Influenza A Virus
• 24 hour residual protection
• EPA registered and safe to use on baby products (no rinsing required)
• Non-toxic – completely odorless and colorless
• Made in the U.S.A

BoogieBulb® has partnered with PureGreen24™ to bring you the safest disinfecting solution on the market for your baby products. PureGreen24 contains no alcohol, bleach or other toxic ingredients. More advantages of PureGreen24 include being manufactured and bottled in the USA.

In the Cleaning Kit, also included is two of our BoogieBulb® Brushes to clean the neck of your BoogieBulb® nasal aspirators. This make cleaning easier and gets those hard to clean spots inside the BoogieBulb® Cleanable.

Did you know that cleaning your baby nasal aspirator on a regular basis will help prevent bacterial infections and will sustain the longevity of your baby nasal aspirator? Just another reason for getting the BoogieBulb® Cleanable and Cleaning Kit.

See another’s Mom’s review of the Cleanable BoogieBulb and why she loves it!

The post How To Clean Your Cleanable BoogieBulb Baby Nasal Aspirator® appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

But, does the BoogieBulb baby nasal aspirator actually work?

But how does the BoogieBulb® baby nasal aspirator work?

When your little one is suffering from nasal congestion the bulb can help ease that. The soft rubber and narrow tip makes it easier to suction the snot out of baby’s nose every time you and your baby need fast relief from those little boogies.

For severely congested babies you may use saline drops to loosen up the boogies before you use the BoogieBulb nasal aspirator. However, please consult with your child’s physician for the proper use of saline drops and to make sure it is okay.

Here’s how to use the nasal aspirator:

1. Hold the baby nasal aspirator at a slight angle. Place your thumb at the bottom of the aspirator.

2. With your thumb, press the aspirator all the way in. DO NOT do this in your baby’s nose, do this before you put it up to the baby’s nose.

3. Hold your baby in your arms or lay on flat surface and gently hold the head from moving. Insert the tip slightly into the baby’s nose pointing the tip in the direction of the mucus while the bottom of the aspirator is still pushed in. Release thumb to create suction. Repeat steps until nasal passage is clear.

Tip: block the opposite nostril while suctioning.

Aren’t those smiles worth it when you see your baby happy because they can breath again?

As for cleaning, if you are using the BoogieBulb® Cleanable, it twists apart in the middle so that it may be cleaned after each use.

Here’s how to clean the Cleanable nasal aspirator:

Twist apart the aspirator at the center and boil a pot of water then drop the two half pieces into the pot.

Take your BoogieBulb® Cleaning Solution and place it in the pot of boiling water until it dissolves. Place the two aspirator halves into the water and let it boil for 10 minutes.

Remove the nasal aspirator pieces from the pot and rinse off with cool water. Lay the pieces flat to air dry and when they are dry reassemble your Cleanable nasal aspirator.

Once both ends are together it’s ready to be reused again the next time you have to reach for that fast solution for you baby’s congestion.

Because it is easy to clean and dry completely, it eliminates mold build up. No other nasal aspirator/nose sucker on the market can guarantee this.

Being able to effectively clean the nasal aspirator brings parents the piece of mind they need when using the BoogieBulb and prevents the risk of a bacterial infection.

The BoogieBulb® baby nasal aspirator is a hospital grade nose suction every time it is used or your money back.

BPA free, Phthalate, Latex Free.

We also guarantee this is the best baby aspirator on the market!

Don’t take our word for it, here are some of the things parents are saying about the BoogieBulb.

This bulb is perfect. The suction is great and the material is soft so it is easy on the baby. Then I can take it apart and clean it.

First of all, thank you for making the BoogieBulb® nasal aspirator available. These are so handy to have around and the suction is the best!

The post Baby Nasal Aspirator Review – Does BoogieBulb Nasal Aspirator Work? appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

It’s a latex free product with a slim tip for easy extraction, but best of all it will suck the snot right out for you, the store ones just don’t do it like the BoogieBulb.

That’s because our nasal aspirator products have strong suction which are guaranteed to extract the mucus.

The Boogie Bulb.

As parents, we can feel helpless and frustrated when having to take care of a congested baby. There’s nothing worse that seeing your little ones suffer from nasal congestion.

And buying the right one can be equally frustrating.

Meet Dr. Boogle and find out which size nasal aspirator best meets your needs.

Our BoogieBulb Classic nasal aspirators are BPA Free and Latex Free. These nasal aspirator have great suction quality and can be used on a regular basis. They are also easy to squeeze!

First, we have the Classic BoogieBulb 1 oz. bulb, we call the Wee, it’s about 4.5 inches in length and works best for those little boogers like preemie babies and smaller newborns. As well as the perfect size for your travel/diaper bag and for the parent who is always “on the go”.

Then, we have the Classic BoogieBulb 2 oz. bulb and our most popular seller. It’s about 5.5 inches in length and works best on those average snots, its ideal for newborns up to 18 months of age.

Then, lastly we have the Classic BoogieBulb 3 oz. bulb, we call the Mega and is about 6 inches long. This is our largest bulb and works best on those mucus monsters.

In other worlds it works best for older infants and toddlers. This one is also recommended if your child is severely congested for maximum suction and the most mucus extraction.

These baby nasal aspirators are disposable and are not recommended for long term use and you should replace your Boogie Bulb Classic often.

We also carry the BoogieBulb Cleanable in the 1 oz., 2 oz., and 3 oz. just like the Classic, this aspirator is completely cleanable and is the only cleanable medical nasal aspirator on the market.

All you have to do is pull the aspirator apart in the center! BoogieBulb now offers a cleaning kit for your baby nasal aspirators so that you can disinfect you product at home.

We have also partnered with PureGreen24™ to bring you the safest disinfecting solution on the market for your baby products.

The BoogieBulb Eco-Friendly is our newest “Earth Friendly/Green product line”. Earth friendly quality with a narrower tip, which makes it easier to squeeze. It is made with biodegradable materials and can be used for a longer duration of time.

I love the BoogieBulb® and I’m so glad I can purchase them online! There is no comparison, BoogieBulb® is the best aspirator on the market and work! Thank you!
-Trisha, TN

Whichever BoogieBulb you decide is best for your little one, be assured that we stand behind the quality of our products and we can assure you that you will not find a better nasal aspirator to do the job so you could buy with confidence.

The post The Boogie Bulb | The Original Hospital Grade Nasal Aspirator … appeared first on BoogieBulb®.

By LAURA JOHANNES Feb. 2, 2015 2:53 p.m. ET

The Ache: Nasal congestion can build up in children too young to blow their noses, and interfere with sleep and breast-feeding.

Parents are often advised to ease nasal congestion in infants and young children by using a hand-held bulb aspirator, which is placed in a child’s nostril squeezed to create a vacuum and released to suction out mucus.

But some pediatricians say this method isn’t always very effective and can irritate the inside of the nostrils.

The Claim: A newer aspirator design, in which the parent sucks on a tube to remove mucus, is more efficient and easier on the baby’s nose, say companies that sell the devices.

The Verdict: One of the devices available in the U.S. demonstrated efficacy in clearing congestion in a small study. Larger, better designed trials are needed to establish if it’s really better than the standard bulb, scientists say.

But pediatricians recommend the devices, which they say are fast, efficient and less likely to cause damage to the skin inside the nose.

“Rigorous data is lacking, but it’s a no brainer,” says Del Mar, Calif., pediatrician Lori Taylor.

A mouth-powered aspirator is “inexpensive, easy to use and parents tell us it works,” she says. Dr. Taylor’s medical practice recently began selling the NoseFrida, a Swedish-made device dubbed the “Snotsucker” by its U.S. distributor, FridaBaby LLC in Miami Beach, Fla.

For the first few months oflife, babies breathe only through their noses, says Ilaaf Darrat, a pediatric otolaryngologist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

Since babies have small nasal passages and aren’t able to blow their noses, she adds, congestion can build up. Children typically aren’t able to blow their own noses until around 2 to 5 years old, pediatricians say.

Many parents find the suction of the traditional bulb is weak and squeezing it repeatedly can be difficult with a screaming, squirming baby, adds Dr. Darrat, who heard about the NoseFrida two years ago from a patient and now recommends it to patients.

The $15 NoseFrida, manufactured by Sweden’s Nasalprodukter Sverige AB, is part of a class of devices powered by parents’ mouths.

Others include the $12.99 BabyComfyNose by Baby Comfy Nose LLC in Longmont, Colo. Both devices are tubes with a mouthpiece on one end to suck on and a tip that goes on the nostril. Since the tip rests atop the nostril, rather than going inside, it doesn’t irritate the inside of the nose, pediatricians say.

A 1997 study of 42 infants and children under the age of 3 found that use of the NoseFrida reduced congestion as reported by parents on a questionnaire, and helped the children sleep better.

The study co-authored by physician Magnus Jannert, who invented the device with his wife, Lena Liebera Jannert, was published in Svensk ONH, a Swedish ear, nose and throat journal, and funded by a predecessor company of

Nasalprodukter Sverige. The study didn’t have a comparison group.

While some parents may find the idea of sucking mucus distasteful, both companies say the gross stuff never reaches the mouth.

The NoseFrida has a removable foam filter (extras cost $3.99 for a box of 20), which a clinical trial, published in Svensk ONH in 2000, found effectively kept bacteria from reaching the part of the tube near the parents’ mouth.

BabyComfyNose, invented by company owner Peter Champe after he had trouble using a bulb on his own baby, hasn’t been tested in clinical trials, he says.

The design of the device -including an egg-shaped chamber between the nose and the mouth that collects most of the mucus-protects the parents from inhaling any, he says. He recommends parents place a wadded up square of toilet paper in the egg chamber for extra protection.

Ifyou can’t stomach the concept, standard bulbs work fine with good technique, says Jennifer Shu, an Atlanta pediatrician and a spokeswoman of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Point the tip of the device straight into the nostril, not at an angle, to avoid scraping the inside of the nose, and gently push on the opposite nostril to improve suction, Dr. Shu says.

And for those who hate that standard bulbs are hard to clean, the new BoogieBulb Cleanable has a twist-off top so it can be scrubbed inside. The bulb is sold by LRF Enterprises LLC in Phoenix for $17.95 for a 2-ounce bulb.

Whichever method you use, don’t jump to suction your child’s nose unless congestion is causing distress, such as difficulty sleeping or feeding, adds pediatrician Shakha Gillin, a partner in the same practice as Dr. Taylor.

Before suctioning, adds Dr. Gillin, first try spraying saline solution in the nose to thin the mucus and use a humidifier at night.

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