Snot Sucker!

Before you became a mom, did you ever see another mom do something that really grossed you out? Like stick a finger into her baby's diaper to check for poop? Or pick up a pacifier off the McDonald's floor and pop it in her mouth to "clean" it?

While I can homestly say I've never done the finger in the diaper thing (only witnessed it. Ew.), I have done the paci trick (but not at McDonald's... yet.).

 And perhaps equally as yucky, I have also sucked snot from my child's nose. Read on-- it's not as gross as it sounds (okay, maybe it is. Just keep reading). 

When Little was just 5 weeks old, he was super congested. It was interfering with his ability to nurse and he was snoring at night. I felt terrible because the (stupid piece of crap) bulb syringe from the hospital was too big for his teeny baby nostrils and I couldn't get the snot out. I told my husband, "If I could, I would literally suck the snot from his nose." He looked at me in shock and horror but I meant what I said. I wanted to get that snot out by any means necessary, even if that meant sucking it out myself. 

So I did... with the help of the best invention ever: the NoseFrida "Snot Sucker."  I bought it at Buy Buy Baby and it was about $17 for the Snot Sucker plus replacement filters (These are important!)

The NoseFrida is this clear plastic pencil-shaped tube with a filter and "straw" attached to one end. At the other end of the straw is a mouthpiece which allows you to actually suck the boogs and snot from your babe's microscopic nostrils. It sounds disgusting, and it is, but it WORKS!

It's something I never would have done pre-baby, but as you know, there's nothing a mama bear won't do. Plus, have you ever seen how NASTY the inside of a "clean" bulb syringe can be? Barf. Mold and old boogers. 

So, if you want to be cool like me and suck snot out of your kid's face, here are some tips:

1) Buy the replacement filters! Otherwise you run the risk of accidentally slurping snot into your mouth. Ain't nobody got time fo' dat. 

2) Use saline nasal spray beforehand. You don't have to go buy the million dollar bottle of baby nose spray, just the dollar stuff from CVS will do. A couple drops in each nostril will help loosen up all the gunk and make the whole process much easier. 

3) If your babe is still pretty little, prop him or her up with a Boppy. You'll want your hands free to ever-so-lovingly restrain your angry babe during this process. 

4) Clean it right after you use it. Speaking from experience here. For stubborn boogs that can get stuck in the "booger catcher" part, I use one of my extra little pipe cleaner thingies that came with Little's bottles. Yummmm. 

Again, I know the idea of this may repulse you but it really does work! Good luck with your boogie adventures:)

Love!

Katie

PS- Tell me something disgusting you swore you'd never do before you were a mama. 

Images via fridababy.com