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NUK Nasal Decongester review: a comfortable, non-invasive bulb aspirator for kids

Looking for a quick and easy way to clear your little one’s nasal passages? The NUK Nasal Decongester is a reliable option. But how does it fare against other nasal aspirators out there? Parent-tester and mum, Laura shares her honest review.

By Laura Westerman | Last updated Aug 19, 2025

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NUK Nasal Decongester
>>

Price: RRP £5

Price: RRP £5

What we like

  • Affordable

  • Easy to use

  • Suitable for all ages 

  • Clears mucus well 

  • Comes with a spare nozzle

What we don't like

  • No storage case included

  • May need to use more than once on each nostril

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Key specs

Age: From birth | Batteries: None

Our verdict

  • Ease of use: 4.5/5

  • Comfort: 5/5

  • Effectiveness: 4.5/5

  • Ease of cleaning: 4.5/5

  • Value for money: 5/5

An affordable, easy-to-use nasal aspirator, the NUK Nasal Decongester offers a fuss-free solution to clear your child’s stuffy nose, as I found when I used it on my 22-month old toddler. 

Unlike battery-operated nasal aspirators like the Braun Healthcare Electrical Nasal Aspirator, which come with preset suction levels and operate automatically, this manual aspirator involves inserting the tip of the wide nozzle into one nostril at a time, just enough to create a seal. When you release the bulb, it effectively suctions mucus without allowing air to escape. However, you might need to use it more than once per nostril if your little one has thick, sticky mucus. 

After using the NUK Nasal Decongester for a few weeks, I noticed that the bulb is bigger than the Boots Baby Nasal Decongester which I also tested, but still easy to carry in a changing bag or take on holiday in case of nasal congestion. It’s also easy to clean and comes with a spare nozzle, making it great value for money.

NUK Nasal Decongester

How we tested the NUK Nasal Decongester

I’ve used the NUK Nasal Decongester with my toddler, who is now 22 months old, for the last two months. 

She recently had quite a severe cold, so this nasal aspirator was used to extract mucus build-up as she was struggling to breathe through her nose, especially at night. 

During testing, I scored this nasal aspirator on five different criteria including: ease of use, comfort, effectiveness, ease of cleaning and value for money.

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How easy is the NUK Nasal Decongester to use?

The NUK Nasal Decongester is a bulb-shaped nasal aspirator that requires no setup or batteries. It’s one of the easiest nasal aspirators I’ve tried, so much so that my toddler even tried to use it on herself. 

Similar to other nasal aspirators like the Boots Baby Nasal Decongester all you need to do is squeeze the bulb to create a vacuum, and gently insert the nozzle tip into one nostril, while holding your finger over the other nostril. You then release the bulb to suction out any mucus. Repeat this process with the other nostril. 

NUK Nasal Decongester being squeezed

How effective is the NUK Nasal Decongester?

I found the NUK Nasal Decongester to have more suction power than the Boots Baby Nasal Decongester even though you use both in the same way. 

As my daughter’s cold was quite bad, I found a decent amount of mucus came out of each nostril the first time, however I did need to insert it again to get rid of any remaining congestion. I also found that using a saline nasal spray worked well if her mucus was too thick or sticky to be suctioned well. 

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How comfortable is the NUK Nasal Decongester?

My daughter generally found the NUK Nasal Decongester to be very comfortable, but was initially reluctant for me to use it on her. 

I was thankful that it was quick to use as she didn’t wait around long before wriggling out of my arms to resume playtime. 

The wide safety nozzle stops you from inserting it too far up your baby’s nostril, which was very handy. It’s a lot wider and shorter in size than the tip of the Boots Baby Nasal Decongester so much better designed in my opinion. It also comes with a spare nozzle. 

NUK Nasal Decongester and nozzle

Is the NUK Nasal Decongester easy to clean?

Yes! It takes minutes to clean. You need to take the nozzle off the bulb before rinsing out the two parts with soapy water and leaving to air dry. 

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Is the NUK Nasal Decongester good value for money?

Yes. With an RRP of just £5, it’s one of the most affordable nasal aspirators out there and effective enough for relieving nasal congestion in babies and toddlers. While I would have liked to see a storage case included for convenience and hygiene purposes, this is a nasal aspirator that most parents will be happy with.

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she is fully invested in discovering the best and most affordable baby products on the market, and sharing her knowledge and findings with other parents.

With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing pushchair product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier. 

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of baby product videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.