Should you use a bulb syringe routinely to remove mucous from a newborns airway?

Health Library Suctioning the Nose with a Bulb Syringe

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Suctioning the Nose with a Bulb Syringe

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Health Library Suctioning the Nose with a Bulb Syringe
How Do You Suction the Nose with a Bulb Syringe?
Needed Supplies to Thin the Mucus
Making Saline Nose Drops
Safety Tips
How often can you use a bulb syringe on a baby?
Can you use a bulb syringe on a newborn?
When should I use bulb suction on newborn?
What can you use for routine procedure to suction a newborn's mouth and nose?

How Do You Suction the Nose with a Bulb Syringe?

A bulb syringe is used to remove mucus from your baby’s mouth or nose. A stuffy nose can make it hard for your baby to breathe. This can make your baby fussy, especially when he/she tries to eat or sleep. Suctioning makes it easier for your baby to breathe and eat.

If needed, it is best to suction your baby’s nose before a feeding or bedtime. Avoid suctioning after feeding. This may cause your baby to vomit.

Needed Supplies to Thin the Mucus

Before using the bulb syringe, you should thin the mucus with normal saline (salt water) nose drops. Needed supplies:

8-ounce cup of warm water
Small blanket roll
Kitchen measuring spoon
Nose droppers
Salt
Tissues
Clean jar with cover
Bulb syringe

Making Saline Nose Drops

Add ¼ level teaspoon of salt to the 8-ounce cup of warm water.
Stir to dissolve the salt.
Keep the solution in a clean, covered jar.
Discard the solution after one week.

Note: You may also use purchased saline nose drops.

Procedure

Wash your hands well before and after suctioning.
Lay your baby on his back with head positioned facing ceiling. Have someone hold your baby in this position or swaddle your baby in a blanket with arms at his side to keep him still.
Using a nose dropper, drop three to four drops saline solution into one nostril, unless otherwise directed by your baby's doctor. Hold baby in this position for one minute.
Before placing the bulb into the nostril, push all the air out of it with your thumb on the top of the bulb.
Carefully and gently, place the tip of the bulb into a nostril until nostril is sealed.
Slowly release thumb, letting the air come back into the bulb. The suction will pull the mucus out of the nose and into the bulb
Remove the bulb from baby’s nose and squeeze mucus out of bulb into a tissue.
Repeat steps 3 through 7 on other nostril. You may need to suction each nostril several times to clear all the mucus.
Gently wipe off the mucus around the nose with tissues to prevent skin irritation.
Clean bulb syringe after each use with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

Safety Tips

Avoid suctioning after feeding. This may cause your baby to vomit.

When suctioning the mouth, be sure to put the suction bulb toward the inside cheek of your child's mouth. If the bulb is placed in the middle of the mouth, your baby may gag and vomit.

Last Updated 07/2022

Reviewed By Leah Carnes, RN

Cincinnati Children’s has primary care services at locations throughout Greater Cincinnati.

Babies only breathe through their nose for the first few months. It is normal for a newborn to have periods of irregular breathing. Your baby may snort or even have a brief pause in breathing while sleeping. Your baby’s breathing pattern will become more regular in about a month or two.

It is also normal for your baby to sneeze often to clear his/her nose.

If your baby has trouble breathing due to a lot of mucous, follow these steps to remove the mucus from your baby’s mouth with a bulb syringe:

Squeeze the air out of the bulb syringe away from the baby’s face.
Gently insert the tip into one side of the baby’s mouth (pocket of cheek only). Do not suction the back of your baby’s mouth.
Release the pressure and remove the mucus.
Remove the syringe and empty the mucus by squeezing the bulb away from the baby’s face.
Repeat in the cheek pocket on the other side of the baby’s mouth.

Follow these steps to clear the baby’s nostrils of visible mucus:

Your baby may have trouble breathing due to swollen mucous membranes. Further suctioning of the nostrils may contribute to the swelling. Use the bulb syringe conservatively and only if you see visible mucous from your baby’s nostrils.
Squeeze the air out of the bulb syringe away from the baby’s face.
Gently insert the tip into the baby’s nostril.
Release the pressure and remove the mucus.
Remove the syringe and empty the mucus by squeezing the bulb away from the baby’s face.
Repeat in the other nostril.

In addition to the bulb syringe, try these tips to ease your baby’s breathing:

Raise the head of your baby’s bed.
Use a cool mist vaporizer in your baby’s room.

Cleaning the bulb syringe:

Clean the bulb by flushing it out with hot soapy water after each use.
Do not wash in the dishwasher.
Do not use the baby’s bulb syringe on other children.
Do not insert into baby’s ears.

In addition to the bulb syringe, try these tips to ease your baby's breathing:

Raise the head of the baby's bed.
Use a cool mist vaporizer in the baby's room.

How often can you use a bulb syringe on a baby?

Wash the dropper and bulb syringe in warm, soapy water. Rinse well, and squeeze to remove any water. The bulb syringe can be used two to three times per day as needed to remove mucus. It is best to do this before feeding; the saline and suction process can cause vomiting after feeding.

Can you use a bulb syringe on a newborn?

A bulb syringe is usually used to gently suction mucus out from your baby's nose. It can also be used to remove saline nasal wash from his nose. A bulb syringe is best used when your baby is younger than 6 months old.

When should I use bulb suction on newborn?

A bulb syringe removes or suctions breast milk, formula or mucus from your baby's nose and mouth. You may use it when your baby chokes, spits up, has a stuffy nose or sneezes. We suggest you keep a bulb syringe close at hand, especially during feedings, and use it when necessary.

What can you use for routine procedure to suction a newborn's mouth and nose?

Your child may need to have his/her mouth and nose suctioned with a bulb syringe or with a suction catheter. Parents and all hospital caregivers can use a bulb syringe.