baby's blocked nose making feeding tricky...

[sushistar]

and him incredibly grumpy! What can I do? I've heard you can put drops in or something? He doesn't have any other cold symptoms, he's just bunged up especially in the mornings.

Get saline drops from the chemist and a nasal aspirator aka a snot sucker they work a treat.

bring him into the bathroom when you shower inm orning that'll clear him for a bit.

so if i go in boots and ask they'll have saline and a sucker thing?

ask for saline and a nasal aspirator lol.

Unless his nose is actually running the snot sucker probably won't help much, but the saline might. You could also try and damp towel on the radiator overnight (maybe with a drop of Karvol/Olbas oil etc on it) and propping the head of the cot up so that he is sleeping with his head raised a bit.

Good luck!

Karvol capsules are brilliant.

Sushistar - been having the same problem with my ds. I tried the saline and that seemed to help. Like your ds, it's worse in the mornings.
Try raising the head of his mattress as well.

i saw a thing in waitrose recently that you put over the nose and suck out the snot looked like a tiny plunger with a plastic tube (very scientific!)

The saline makes the snot soft though so it's easier to suck even if the nose is not running iyswim.

I have a specially patented technique (which he hates but no more cruel than spraying salty water up his nose!) which involves fairly firm pressing with a finger on the side of the nostril, towards the top and firmly stroking/pressing downwards. do it about 3-4 times, and if you're really brave (social services look away now...) press both nostrils at once (only once after the other pressing and stroking). This joint press will make him/her snort (well it does my little one!) and helps any bogeys out...

You might find a large green bogey can be pushed out this way, from each nostril! however it only works if the snot is at 'that stage' and not just stuck up in the sinuses (or wherever)

Haven't tried Karvol yet but that would be next on my list if not feeding well.

Also try feeding on whichever side troubles him least (if it all shifts left or right when he lies down, it can be uncomfortable IYSWIM) - so feed under-arm rugby ball style for one side and cradle hold for the other?

These things worked reasonably well for me..

I used to put karvol on a muslin and drape it over my shoulder.

i just stick my mouth over ds2's nose and suck

[vomit] but effective

you need to have a tissue handy for immediate spittage

I got a sucker thing and did it and a HUGE bogy came out of one nostril - no wonder the poor chap was blocked up! Got some karvol oil to put on a tissue in his basket tonight, ans some saline to use tomorrow.

Thank you for all your help!

I do the same as Tutter unless I am with company. Really easy & much less stressful for the baby than having gadgets or potions. Easy to re-clear mid way through a feed as well as you don't need a free hand

Also if your baby is only a couple of months old (not sure when this stops but mine still does it at 8 weeks)and you're feeding at night in the dark, put the landing light on and place baby underneath this will make your baby sneeze and hopefully help clear his nose. It doesn't have to be the landing light but it saves me waking dp up!

light makes the baby sneezy?!?

Yes it happens if sunlight is directly shining in the baby's eyes if out in the pram as well!