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As any parent understands, all of the little things involved with a little baby are impossible to plan for.
One such stressful situation is a baby with a nose that’s clogged.
As Murphy’s Law dictates, a baby has a way of always developing these nasal problems in the middle of the night. Not being able to comfort a baby in such physical discomfort, especially when both you and your baby are tired, can be such a problem that many parents look for a solution by researching the best nasal aspirator for babies.
Nasal aspirators are sometimes referred to colloquially as snot suckers or booger suckers, and do just what their nicknames indicate. They suck the excess snot and boogers out of your child's nose, allowing the baby or toddler—and the parent—to breathe easier.
There are several advantages to using a nasal aspirator.
The primary benefit is simply clearer nasal passages. This is especially important for babies because they're only able to breathe through their nose for their first six months of life, so if your baby sounds like its really struggling whenever it gets the sniffles—your intuition is correct!
The benefits that come with improved breathing ability are often felt in other areas of your baby’s life: he or she may start to eat and sleep better as ancillary benefits of clearer nasal passages.
The only disadvantage to using a nasal aspirator may be that some babies experience obvious discomfort as they have their stuffy noses cleared out. This can be mitigated by doing some research on the best nasal aspirator for babies, and finding the best fit for your child.
There are several factors to consider when shopping around for nasal aspirators that may distinguish one model from another:
A nasal aspirator has to rely on something to generate the force that sucks out the snot and boogers. Most nasal aspirators use some form of manual suction. The two major types of nasal aspirator design that use manual suction techniques involve squeezing a soft bulb to generate suction and using your mouth to suck up through a tube. Automatic nasal aspirators, usually battery-operated, contain a small electric motor that powers the suction. An aspirator with an automatic suction method does not require any sucking or squeezing on the part of the parent, and its motor will emit a sound and vibration.
Nasal aspirators come in a variety of different sizes. Since part of the benefit of the device is the convenience it affords, make sure the size is appropriate to your situation.
No, it doesn’t necessarily matter how pretty your snot sucker is. Design, when it comes to choosing the best nasal aspirator for toddlers, means how easy it is to take apart, put back together and clean. Some aspirators are designed to be entirely reusable, while others involve some parts that are meant to be replaced with each use or every few uses. Some aspirators are dishwashe-safe, while others are intended to be hand-washed; its design will determine how easy it will be for you to clean.
As with any product that comes in a variety of options, nasal aspirators have some pricing fluctuation between them. The simpler devices are generally less expensive, though that doesn’t necessarily mean they are of lower quality or effectiveness.
Before we look at all the details, here's an overview of the best models on the market, which are perfect whether you have a newborn or a toddler.
Nasal aspirator | Features we love | Rating | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
BoogieBulb Baby Nasal 
| - BPA, Phthalate, and latex free | ||
Little Martin’s Drawer 
| - Lightweight and compact | ||
FridaBaby Nasal 
| - Comes with replacement filters | ||
BabyBubz Baby 
| - 100% Lifetime Guarantee | ||
Baby Nasal Aspirator 
| - Money back guarantee |
Now, if you want all the details on nasal aspirators, keep reading!
The BoogieBulb is a classic take on the manual suction devices hospitals use to naturally clear a baby’s nose of snot. The BoogieBulb is cleanable and reusable, so a small investment in this simple product can pay off with years of clear nasal passages.
Keep it simple! Sometimes, the simplest design can be the most effective. This is true of the BoogieBulb. All you need to do is stick the syringe up the nose, squeeze the bulb and twist apart to clean.
This electronic model from Little Martin’s Drawer has taken the hard labor out of sucking the snot from your baby’s nose.
As opposed to the manual nasal aspirators parents are familiar with pumping until their hands and wrists are fatigued, this battery-powered nasal aspirator uses a pump motor to clear your baby’s nasal passages and sinuses of snot and boogers.
The quickness and efficiency of this hospital-grade electric aspirator will leave both you and your baby with more time to breathe and rest easily.
When it comes to a job like cleaning the inside of a nose, the most important feature of a product is results. This electric aspirator simply removes more snot and boogers from deeper in the nose than manual aspirators do.
Coming from Sweden to help the worlds’ babies breathe easier, the FridaBaby performs the classic function of a nasal aspirator with a unique design twist. Instead of a hand squeeze, this snot sucker allows parents and caregivers to use their mouths to suck the boogers out of a baby’s nose.
A small, winding plastic tube (or, “nose hose”) attaches between the giver’s mouthpiece and the receiver’s nostril cover. Boogers are then sucked through the tube and into a disposable booger catcher.
The simple yet effective design of this product is quite the feat of engineering. The design allows for a situation where, on the baby’s end, the tube does not need to be placed completely inside the nose; rather, it can rest gently on the outskirts of the nostril. This is a bonus for babies who, quite understandably, don’t like having foreign objects up their nose.
Any list highlighting the best nasal aspirator for babies and toddlers has to include this booger sucker.
Like the FridaBaby, the BabyBubz model uses the parent or caregiver’s mouth to suck the baby’s nose clean. In this model’s design, however, there are two distinct tubes: one from the baby’s nose and one from the parent’s mouth. Both tubes lead to a central container where the boogers and snot are stored after being sucked through the tube.
The design of this aspirator is impressive. Because the central booger-storage container is so easy to take off and clean (you simply unscrew a cap to get inside), it is conveniently reusable—no need to worry about whether or not you have enough replacement containers.
This nasal aspirator provides a simple, compact design that allows you to quickly and efficiently use your mouth to suck the boogers from your baby’s nose through a short tube. It looks and feels almost as if you’re sucking through a straw.
Of course, you don’t want this stuff to actually reach your mouth; and it won’t, as the boogers and snot are blocked from entering the suction tube by a plastic flap on the piece inserted into the baby’s nose.
What separates this model from other suction-based aspirators is its compact design. The short tube and smaller-than-average suction container make it easy to store and perfect to travel with. It could be the best option for on-the-go snot suction.
Overall, deciding which nasal aspirator is best for you and your baby comes down to what you feel would work best for your situation.
The light hum of an electric aspirator, for example, might bother some babies while being a source of comfort for others. Some parents can’t get past the idea of sucking the boogers out with their mouths and so they should choose a model with a different suction method.
A clogged up nose, especially in the middle of the night, is stressful enough without an aspirator that is uncomfortable for either the baby or the parent.
Each design comes with benefits and drawbacks, so you just have to decide on the factors you value most. You might need to try a few different options to see what works best.
A baby with clear nasal passages can breathe, eat and sleep more easily, so finding the right aspirator is certainly worth the investment of time and money.
Featured image: Sean Freese - Day 35 "The Nose Knows"
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