If you’ve ever struggled to suck out your child’s goopy little nose with one of those nasal syringe bulbs the hospitals send home with new moms (talk about a moving target!), the Nosefrida is your solution. Put one end of the suction tube against (not inside) your child’s nose, and suck gently on the other end to draw out mucus. But wait! Before you say “Ewww!” and flip the page — a filter blocks any ickies from reaching your mouth. Satisfied Europeans have been using the Nosefrida (which is new to the United States) for more than a decade (www.nosefrida.com).
Older children can try using a neti pot, an ancient method of clearing the nose and sinuses. A neti pot looks a little like a genie bottle. You literally pour warm salt water from one side of the nose through to the other, clearing mucus and relieving dryness and itching. Neti pots are available at most healthfood stores and many drug stores, or order online (www.himalayaninstitute.org).
Stuffy noses breathe easier on cold nights with help from a humidifier or vaporizer. Cool-mist humidifiers and steam vaporizers both increase the humidity in the air and can ease congestion, nosebleeds and even dry skin. Don’t forget the old-fashioned alternative: A few minutes in a steamy bathroom with the shower running can do wonders to loosen congestion.
And finally, for kids who need breathing treatments for asthma or other respiratory illnesses, consider the child-friendly KidO’s Bear. Invented by a Plano paramedic and a Dallas physician, the Bear puts a nonthreatening face on nebulizer treatments. The bear is especially helpful with frightened children who need emergency oxygen or medication via an oxygen mask, which can scare children and aggravate their conditions (www.kidosbear.com).
