How to use a Bulb Syringe for a Baby

You’ll do anything to relieve your child of congestion. Colds are often considered mild by adults, but for babies they can be very uncomfortable because they cannot blow their noses or clear mucus out of their nasal passages. A bulb syringe should be a part of every medicine cabinet. Continue reading to find out when and how you can use a suction bulb syringe.

What is a Bulb Syringe?

The bulb syringe works as a nasal-suction device to clear a baby’s lungs. The bulb syringe is used to suction mucus out of the nose.

Amazon has a wide variety of products that can help you remove mucus. You’ll find electronic devices, such as the NoseFrida, and many other options. Bulb syringes are the rubber or silicone bulb used to create suction by manually squeezing. This is the device that you may receive from the hospital after taking your baby home.

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Bulb Syringes: When and How to Use Them

Since babies can’t clean their nasal passages, they often cry and fuss. A bulb syringe will help to relieve congestion and improve breathing. Cleared nostrils will make eating and sleeping more comfortable.

According to Nicole Leigh Aaronson M.D. a pediatric otolaryngologist with Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware, and clinical associate professor of otolaryngology, pediatrics, and Thomas Jefferson University, a bulb syringe should be used when examining if a child is congested. It’s important to not suction too much, as this can irritate the nasal lining. She says that suctioning should not be done more than four time per day.

Bulb Syringes: How to Use?

When using a bulb-syringe, parents should use gentle pressure and never force the device. The device only needs to be inserted into the tip nostril of the baby to remove mucus.

You can use the nasal bulb syringe with or without a saline solution. Dr. Aaronson says that nasal saline solution can be used to thin the secretions prior to suctioning. You can buy saline solution in stores, or make it yourself.

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We’ve provided instructions on both the right and left-handed ways to use a syringe bulb.

Use of a bulb-syringe with no saline

• Squeeze the air out of the bulb using a clean syringe.
• The tip of the bulb-syringe should be placed in the nose of the baby
• Release the bulb to draw mucus in the device
• Squeeze the mucus onto a tissue
• Repeat the process on the opposite side
• After cleaning the bulb syringe with warm soapy l water,

Use a bulb-shaped syringe to inject saline

• As the baby is lying on its back, place three to four drops of saline in each nostril
• Let the saline sit for about a minute to thin out the secretions
• Use the bulb syringe as described above.

You should not suction your baby’s nas after feeding, as this can cause vomiting .

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How to clean a Bulb Syringe

It becomes obvious why a bulb syringe needs to be cleaned after every use when you consider the work it does! Dr. Aaronson suggests cleaning your bulb with hot soapy water. Follow the steps below to clean a bulb syringe.

• Add a little soap to warm water in a bowl.
• Put the tip of bulb in the bowl, and then suction the soapy liquid into the bulb
• Shake the bulb vigorously in order to evenly distribute the water inside.
• Squeeze out the water from the bulb and pour it into a nearby sink or garbage can.
• Repeat the process at least three more times to make sure that you have a clean interior. Rinse with water after each round.
• Use soapy water to wash the outside of your bulb
• Allow the bulb to dry while pointing it down towards the drain