My Thoughts on the Nose Frida Nasal Aspirator
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There is no way to prepare a new mom for the amount of snot that will come out of her baby’s head.
Through all of the worries about changing dirty diapers and spit-up, somehow, baby boogers get overlooked. The Nosefrida purports to be the answer to the infant snot problem.
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What is the Nose Frida Nasal Aspirator?
The Nosefrida is a snot-sucking device that uses gentle suction to relieve stuffy noses. The nasal aspirator is dishwasher safe and comes equipped with a disposable hygiene filter that helps to keep a parent from inhaling germs while clearing the infant’s nasal passage.
Understanding the Nose Frida
The traditional nasal aspirator is a bulb syringe that uses air suction to pull mucus from a baby’s nose.
These nasal aspirators are thought by some to be too harsh for a child’s nostril. This is mostly because a baby’s nose is lined with fragile tissue that is easily damaged.
A delicate nasal aspirator that allows you to personally control the amount of suction is often considered safer for babies.
However, before you rush out to purchase the Nosefrida, you need to know more about this device.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Using the Nosefrida starts by putting it together. The aspirator needs to be thoroughly cleaned before the first use, and then the filter is placed between the nose hose and straw.
The straw is placed gently in the baby’s nose. It must be deep enough to create a vacuum-type seal but not so deep as to cause damage. The mouthpiece then goes into your mouth. You suck the snot out until you’re satisfied that the baby can breathe freely once again.
After each use, the Nosefrida is taken apart, the disposable filter is thrown out, and the device is cleaned with soap and water.
Old-Fashioned Suction
What you need to understand from the outset is that you’ll be doing the sucking. If that sounds like a deal-breaker, take another look.
While it’s true that the parent supplies the suction, the Nosefrida has a filter that is referred to in a not-so-scientific manner as “the booger catcher.”
This means that, theoretically, any mucus that is sucked out of your child’s nostril does not reach your mouth.
Health Issues and Concerns
Is the NoseFrida dangerous???
Even though the Nosefrida is made to protect you from virus-bearing boogers, there are some health issues that devices like this have raised.
There are some reports of mothers getting sick from using a snot-sucker. It’s not just moms and dads who are at risk. Babies can experience irritation or even nosebleeds if an aspirator is used too often or with too much force.
Because a baby naturally doesn’t love the feeling of a snot-sucker in the nasal passage, it can be hard to know if their tears and squirming are from being sick, from having an aspirator in their nose, or from the pain that is being caused by the aspirator itself.
Alternatives to the Nosefrida
The Nosefrida receives a lot of recognition because of its unique design, but there are other options for parents who don’t want to do the snot sucking themselves.
1. Nosebot
- DESIGNED BY A PEDIATRIC ENT: Dr. Steven Goudy created the unique nosepiece that occupies two fingers...
Nosebot is an electric aspirator with multiple settings, from low to high suction.
The design of the aspirator lets you hold your baby securely with one arm while the index and middle fingers of the opposite hand are used to grip the nose piece while it’s placed in your baby’s nostril.
2. Dynabliss Nasal Aspirator
- Effective: DynaBliss Baby nasal aspirator is specially developed for baby nose cleaning. The working...
If you don’t have the extra cash lying around, you may opt for the Dynabliss Nasal Aspirator.
This rechargeable device uses soft, moderate, and strong suction to remove mucus. It also comes with multiple tips because not all nostrils are created equally.
3. Oogiebear
- Gentle Yet Effective Safety for Newborns - oogiebear's innovative design, featuring a soft rubber...
The Oogiebear is a non-suction device that is used to reach and remove the baby’s boogers. The loop design can also be used for cleaning earwax.
4. Briggs Baby Nasal Aspirator
Lastly, you might be one of those moms or dads who stick with the tried-and-true .
This is the device typically offered by hospitals and is inexpensive enough to justify buying several to keep on hand. You need to remember that these need to be washed and thoroughly dried with warm soap and water after each use.
My Recommendation
- HYGIENIC: Disposable filters are clinically proven to prevent the transfer of mucus or bacterial...
- COMFORTABLE + NON-INVASIVE: NoseFrida creates a seal with the outside of the baby’s nostril for...
- TWO INGREDIENT SALINE: Natural sea salt and purified water specially formulated for small noses. No...
The truth is, as much research as you may do into different nasal aspirators, sucking your baby’s snot is never going to be a fun experience. My children hated nasal aspirators of any kind, but I found them to be a necessary evil when breathing was a concern.
As a parent, I can tell you that we used the NoseFrida and found great success with it. It was a weird feeling at first but after seeing and hearing the breathing of my son before the using NoseFrida and after that weird feeling was immediately overcome with the feeling of relief.
It’s the best choice for my family, but it’s possible it might not be for you. If you’re really struggling to make a decision I recommend you talk over your options with your pediatrician. Your child’s physician is likely able to offer advice that is backed by both science and a personal connection to your baby.
The Down and Dirty
Nasal aspirators aren’t pleasant but they are unfortunate necessities. Learning how to use it before you need it is an important skill for any parent.
Do you have questions or your own advice about using a snot sucker? Talk to us and other moms and dads in the comments!
