Is it good to put saline drops in your baby's nose every day?

Many mums share tips about using normal saline to rinse their children's noses. But is rinsing the nose with this solution really as good as people say? Let's find out with Momby in this article!

What is normal saline?

Normal saline is a 0.9% sodium chloride solution. It is made by dissolving 9g of pure sodium chloride in one litre of distilled water. It is called "normal" (physiological) because it is an isotonic solution, with an osmotic pressure equivalent to the body's natural fluids under normal physiological conditions.

Normal saline currently comes in three main types:

• Saline for intravenous infusion: packed in 100ml, 250ml and 500ml bottles and highly sterile. It is used for direct infusion when the body needs fluids, or to dilute medicines before they are given by infusion.
• Saline for the eyes, nose and ears: usually produced in small 10ml bottles. Saline for the eyes meets the standards for eye solutions, ensuring the highest level of sterility.
• Saline for gargling and cleaning wounds: available in 500ml and 1000ml bottles.

Benefits of cleaning your baby's nose with saline

Should you put drops in your newborn's nose every day? To decide, you need to understand the effects of doing so. Specifically:

• Cleaning your baby's nasal passages: normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) used to clean a newborn's nose has an osmotic pressure equivalent to body fluids. It helps remove mucus and dirt, making it easier for your baby to breathe.
• Supporting treatment of nasal problems: when a newborn has breathing problems such as a runny nose, wheezing or thick phlegm, regular saline drops are extremely important. They help clear secretions and ease discomfort, while supporting treatment and making your baby less likely to become unsettled and fussy.
• Preventing nasal illnesses: saline nose drops also help stop harmful bacteria from growing, helping to prevent nasal illnesses such as sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and sore throat (pharyngitis).

Should you put saline drops in your baby's nose every day?

0.9% normal saline is used by many parents to wash their child's face and as eye and nose drops every day. Keep in mind that:

• The purpose of nose drops or nasal rinsing is to clean the nose when a child has rhinitis or a runny nose. So you should rinse your child's nose when they are ill, for example with a cough or runny nose.
• In about the first month after birth, babies' eyes often water and produce sticky discharge. Normal saline can be used to clean the eyes, but only as prescribed and directed by a doctor.
• Young children's skin is often sensitive. Don't overuse saline to wash their face every day, as this can cause dry, irritated skin. Washing the face with clean water every day is enough.
• Never make normal saline yourself: equipment that isn't properly clean carries a risk of infection and can damage the lining of the nose, throat and eyes.

How to put drops in a newborn's nose correctly

Daily nose drops for newborns can be very helpful, but if done incorrectly your baby may lose the natural protective mucus layer. So keep these steps for giving saline drops to a newborn "in your pocket".

• Step 1: Wash your hands thoroughly
• Step 2: Prepare a bottle of normal saline and a clean cotton cloth
• Step 3: Lay your baby still on the bed and keep their head steady
• Step 4: Put 2-3 drops of saline into the nose and wait about 30-40 seconds for the dried mucus to soften
• Step 5: Tilt your baby to one side so the mucus drains out, then gently wipe around the nose and repeat on the other side

Now you have the answer to whether you should put drops in your newborn's nose every day. For saline to work well without harming your baby, follow the guidance of specialist doctors!
References:

VnExpress newspaper