Ways to help children get rid of nasal congestion and runny nose at home.

According to ENT specialists, about 10% of infants with nasal congestion and runny nose develop complications due to parents' lack of knowledge in caring for them, leading to the condition worsening into sinusitis or bronchitis. So, what are the correct methods for caring for a baby with nasal congestion and runny nose at home? Please refer to the 5 methods below.

Clean the nose with saline solution.

– Instill nasal drops into your child's nose 3-4 times a day when they show signs of frequent sneezing throughout the day.

– If your child has a lot of runny nose, you should use nasal drops. If you stop using nasal drops when your child has a lot of runny nose, it will prolong the nasal inflammation and increase the risk of a more severe infection.

Step 1:Before administering the drops, soak the bottle in warm (not hot) water before instilling the solution into each nostril.

Step 2:Before administering nasal drops, it's necessary to blow or suction out any accumulated mucus or pus from the nasal passages; only then will the medication be effective. For young children who don't know how to blow their noses, adults should use a nasal aspirator to gently and correctly remove all mucus from the child's nose before administering nasal drops (do not use your mouth to suck).

Step 3:When administering nasal drops, it's best to have the child lie on their back. If lying down isn't possible, they should sit with their head tilted back as far as possible to allow the medication to reach the nasal cavity. When administering the drops, try to insert the tip of the dropper about 1 cm into the nasal cavity (but without touching the nose) and slowly instill 2-3 drops into the child's nose. After administering the drops, gently massage the sides of the nose for a few seconds.

For children with nasal congestion, after using nasal drops for 1-2 minutes, the mucus clinging to the nasal cavity will loosen and drain out, and mothers can use a nasal aspirator to remove it. Alternatively, if the child has a lot of runny nose, after using nasal drops, mothers can aspirate the nose again to prevent the mucus from being inhaled back into the nasal passages, which could lead to further infection.

Do not cover your nose with your hands while blowing your nose, as this will create a sudden increase in nasal pressure. Use soft, clean, disposable tissue for blowing your nose.

Massage the Yingxiang acupoint.

The Yingxiang acupoint, also known as Yingxiang or Chongyang, has a specific effect on nasal diseases. It helps to clear nasal passages, dispel wind-heat, and clear fire energy, thus treating rhinitis, nasal congestion, and runny nose.

Finding the correct acupoint isn't difficult as it's located right next to the nostril, on the nasolabial groove, about half a cun (0.8-0.9 cm) from the nostril. Massaging the Yingxiang acupoint is safe for all ages, including children, and doesn't cause side effects like antibiotics. If your child has a stuffy nose or runny nose, use your fingertip to massage the Yingxiang acupoint on both nostrils for 1-2 minutes. The child should feel a tingling sensation in the nasal bridge and a feeling of fullness or pressure in both nostrils and cheeks.

Note that you shouldn't use too much force. Ideally, when performing acupressure on a baby, you should use your little finger to reduce the pressure. You can do this several times a day, continuously for 5-7 days depending on the progress of the condition.

Apply oil to the soles of your feet.

As soon as your baby shows signs of sneezing and a runny nose, you should immediately rub eucalyptus oil on the soles of their feet, gently massaging each foot for about a minute, then put on socks. Although simple, this is very effective, especially for newborns.

According to VNE