The bad news is that cold and flu season has hit our family hard. The good news is that we finally decided to get a nasal aspirator to help our son through the snottiest of seasons.
I’ve always avoided purchasing a nasal aspirator because, frankly, the concept grossed me right out. I mean, you suck snot. With your mouth. Alas, as it is with dirty diapers and smelly baby vomit, I got over it. Desperate for an end to an endlessly running nose and night time sniffles, I decided to give the NoseFrida nasal aspirator a shot, and I’m awfully glad I did. It only took one use to turn this skeptic into a fan.
It turns out that, while the concept is gross, the reality is not. One end of the NoseFrida is placed against the baby’s nostril to form a seal. A tube connects to the other end, and it’s the end of that tube that goes in your mouth. Then, you suck. And boy does it work well!
With clear nostrils, Grayson was happier and definitely slept better.
I’m also happy to report that, thanks to a disposable foam filter, the mucus gets nowhere near the user. It’s also remarkably easy to clean with some dish soap and water or on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Unfortunately, the NoseFrida is no easier for those of us with squirmy children to use than any other aspirator on the market. There’s no design flaw in the product itself, just an inherent difficulty with all aspirators that parents should be prepared for. It truly was something of a rodeo event as my husband and I corralled Grayson onto his back, holding his hands down and head still so that we could use the NoseFrida. However, it was the necessary restraint that Grayson protests, not the suction. In fact, once the suction starts, he seems to calm down. Regardless, the fight is worth the benefit of a mucus-free baby.
My only regret is that I didn’t buy the NoseFrida sooner.