When you have a baby, boogers and poop become part of your daily vocabulary. You don’t even blink twice when someone mentions them or when the words come out of your mouth.
One of the big things parents worry about is how to get boogers out of a baby’s nose. We’re talking about those deep ones that seem to be stuck in their brains!
Seriously though, when your baby has boogers it can make it hard for them to breathe and can make them uncomfortable. When they’re uncomfortable they’re surely going to let you know about it!
Let’s take a look at why those pesky boogers are there in the first place as well as what to do and what not to do to evict them from your baby’s nose.
In this article
What Causes Boogers?
Boogers are a mixture of mucus and other particles like bacteria, pollen, dirt, and dust. The mucus is there to keep contaminants like dust and pollen and other things out of the lungs.
Mucus traps these things while nose hairs guide the mucus out through the front of the nose or the back of the throat. When mucus dries out, boogers form. Gross, I know.
If your baby is producing a lot of mucus, they’re more likely to get boogers. This can happen if they have a cold or allergy or if there’s a lot of dry air around.
Our bodies make about 1.5 quarts of mucus every day. It’s not all in our noses, it’s all throughout our bodies. All of that mucus is either digested in the stomach after it’s swallowed or comes out through the nose or mouth.
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6 Ways to Get Deep Boogers Out of Baby’s Nose
While babies sneeze to get some of the boogers and mucus out of their noses, it doesn’t all come out. That’s when those deep boogers form and it’s time to get to work.
Here are 6 ways you can try to remove deep boogers from your baby’s nose:
1. Use Saline Spray
A saline spray can help to moisten and loosen boogers that are deep in the nose. Just don’t put too much. Your baby may get startled and you can forget about trying this ever again.
Instead, just use a couple of drops in each nostril if your baby doesn’t start freaking out. Let it sit there for a couple of minutes before using a nasal aspirator (aka booger sucker upper) to get the snot out.
- 100% PURE INGREDIENTS: Purified water, salt and ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda.
- ISOTONIC FORMULA: Unique nasal spray formula helps to naturally moisten dry nasal passages and clear congestion associated with year-round allergies and the common cold.
- RELIEVES DRYNESS: Gentle mist helps to moisturize and relieve dryness in the nose
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Check your pharmacy for saline. It’s a common item and shouldn’t be hard to find. It is not medicine so you can use it as frequently as you need to.
2. Nasal Aspirator/Bulb Syringe
Like we just mentioned above, using a nasal aspirator is another way to remove deep boogers from your baby’s nose. Just be warned, your baby may like this.
Think about it. Would you want someone putting a foreign object up your nose to suck something out? Didn’t think so.
To use a nasal aspirator, push the base of the bulb to get any air out. Next, gently insert the tip of the aspirator into your baby’s nose.
Put it to the side of the nostril and gently release the bulb. This will suck out any boogers. Expect your baby to flinch a little bit and maybe even let out a yell. It’s not the most pleasant experience.
When you take it out of your baby’s nose, you’ll want to give it a good push to get the boogers out of the syringe before using it again.
A nasal aspirator is best used along with the saline spray so that the boogers loosen up and are easier to remove.
- Three sizes of silicone tips - the perfect suction for every size stuffy nose, no filters needed - all you need to get those boogers out with no additional spending.
- Professional medical-grade quality - Safe for newborns and toddlers while still powerful enough to suck all the mucus, boogers and snot out immediately. BPA and Latex free.
- Waterproof and easy to clean - Simply open the mucus collection cup and rinse with hot soapy water. You’ll never worry again about exposing your baby to bacteria or mol
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3. Snot Sucker
This is as gross as it sounds, but it can be a good option when you want to know how to get boogers out of a baby’s nose. A snot sucker is a tool that includes a tube and device at the end to get the snot out.
Use saline to loosen things up and then put the tube into the nose. Here comes the gross part. You’re going to suck out the snot with your mouth from the other end. As nasty as this sounds, no boogers or mucus pass through the tube to your mouth.
- Suck the Stubborn Snot Away: We highly recommend using SALINE SOLUTION such as NoseFrida Saline Snot Spray to soften or dilute the boogers and stubborn mucus. Please wait 30 seconds to a minutes after using spray and then suck the snot away with your Comezy Baby Nasal Aspirator.
- Clean Babys Nose Easily and Effectively: Advanced water pump motor instead of the motor that generates power through exhaust, which generates a pressure of up to 65 Pa. It has a stronger suction capacity and would never stop working due to water ingress by the bottom seal design.
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You change the filter after each use so there’s no contamination. This can be an option if you don’t mind the process.
4. Electric Snot Sucker
If the idea of sucking out your baby’s snot with a tube grosses you out, there are other options. One is an electric snot sucker. It basically does the work for you. It’s a battery-operated device that uses wind power to suck out the snot.
Your baby may freak out a little bit when this device is used. But, she’ll like the feeling of being able to breathe better once those pesky boogers are out.
5. Boogie Wipes
Another option out there is Boogie Wipes. Chances are you’ve seen these on a store shelf. These are only going to work if the boogers are crusty and not too deep into the nose.
If they’re on the side of the nostril you may be able to get them out. But, if they’re jammed all the way up the nose, this is not going work. You’ll have to try one of the other options we mentioned.
6. Use a Humidifier
A cool-mist humidifier can be used to add moisture to your baby’s room and help clear the boogers and stuffiness.
You can also put her in a steamy bathroom and see if that does the trick. Run a hot shower and close the bathroom door. Sit in there with your baby for just a few minutes.
How You Should NOT Remove Boogers from Your Baby’s Nose
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While all of the above are options to remove deep boogers, there are several things you shouldn’t do to get them out. Here’s a rundown:
Q-tips
You shouldn’t stick a Q-tip up your baby’s nose for any reason, not even to remove deep boogers. If your baby squirms (which they likely will) you may hurt their nasal cavity and cause it to bleed.
Tweezers
Definitely don’t use tweezers to get deep boogers out of your baby’s nose. This is painful not to mention dangerous for your baby.
Eucalyptus Oil
Some people swear by essential oils to help solve all kinds of issues, including deep boogers in the nose.
If you’re leaning towards eucalyptus oil, you can forget about it because it is toxic for children under 2. You should consult your pediatrician before using any type of essential oils on babies.
Neti Pots
Neti Pots are often a go-to for many adults when they have stuffiness and boogers, but don’t use them for babies. It’s just not a good idea.
Causes for Concerns
While deep boogers in a baby’s nose are usually nothing to worry about, there are some cases where a call to the pediatrician is warranted. These include:
- Serious nose bleeding
- Change in mucus color
- Fever and/or trouble breathing
Of course, if you think something is just not right with your little one it’s always important to call your pediatrician just to be on the safe side. It will give you the peace of mind that you need.
