How to Get a Baby to Sneeze: Effective Methods
All parents want to make their babies feel better from time to time. While there are many ways to do so, sneezing is an effective way to eliminate the loveliest of all diseases – drool. Sneezing may be simple, but it is also effective and convenient.
Sneezing is a reflex action resulting from mucus or phlegm buildup in your baby’s respiratory system, specifically the nose.
However, getting a baby to sneeze may prove to be humiliating. You want to make it fun for your child, but not too hard and stressful. This guide will give tips on how to get your baby to sneeze without much work.
How to get a baby to Sneeze
First use Saline Nasal Drops
The best way to get a baby to sneeze is to give him a saline nasal drop. This will make him breathe easier and help clear his nose of mucus. You can find these drops at any pharmacy or grocery store. They are inexpensive and easy to use.
However, you need to ensure that your baby has no underlying medical conditions that might make it difficult or dangerous for him to take the drops. If he does have any issues, talk with your doctor before trying this method of getting him to sneeze.
Use a Humidifier
A humidifier can be especially useful if you’re trying to get your baby to sneeze or help them stay healthy. It’s also one of the most effective ways to prevent dry skin and eczema.
A humidifier will increase the moisture in the air and make it more likely that your baby will sneeze in response. And using a humidifier is simple: plug it in, set the temperature and humidity that works best for your baby, and let it work its magic!
Humidifiers have been proven to reduce cold symptoms like coughs and congestion by up to 50%. They also help relieve dry eyes and noses, which is especially helpful during winter months when air quality can be poor due to increased pollution levels.
Incorporate a steam session
One of the most effective ways to get your baby to sneeze is by incorporating a steam session. Steam rooms are great for relieving congestion, but they work even better when you add herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint, or ginger.
Steam therapy has been used for centuries to fight colds and other respiratory ailments. Now, new research shows it can help babies release their natural defenses against viruses. So, by subjecting your baby to various steam sessions, you can easily induce their sneezing.
Try Natural Chest Rubs
You can do chest rubs to help your baby’s respiratory system. They’re not just for sick babies; they’re also good for infants with colds or allergies or for anyone with nasal congestion. The idea behind chest rubs is that the warmth from your hands and arms will help clear mucus airways on your baby, inducing sneezing and breathing.
Simply, you can do a baby chest rub by rubbing your hands together, then applying them to your baby’s chest. You can also try a more involved version of this by using a baby humidifier, steam inhaler, or even a warm cup of water with a squirt bottle of saline solution (typically used in hospitals).
This technique might take some practice before they get into the groove.
Give your baby warm baths
Babies can’t sneeze without being tickled. So, if you want to get your baby to sneeze, give him a warm bath and watch him try to blow his nose! The water temperature should be about 100°F or warmer. Your baby will probably be uncomfortable at first, but the feeling will become more pleasurable as they get used to it.
Warming up their body will help loosen congestion in the nose and throat and make it easier for them to sneeze or breathe through the nose nostrils. However, if you’re interested in trying this technique with your baby, make sure that you have a warm bath and some towels on hand.
Once your baby is in the tub, try gently rubbing their back with one hand while gently tickling their nose with the other hand (or vice versa). If all goes well, they’ll start blowing bubbles!
Using a nasal aspirator
You can often coax babies into sneezing by using a nasal aspirator (also called a bulb syringe or bulb syringe). In this device, a clear tube connects to your baby’s nostrils. You use this tube to pull up mucus and wipe off their nose with a cotton ball held in one hand while holding the tube in the other.
Some parents find that holding the tube tightly enough makes their baby sneeze more easily than others, so experiment until you find what works best for you!
All in all, the basic design of the nasal aspirator makes it easy to use. It has a soft tip on top of your child’s nose and then a bulb that you squeeze to create suction. You can purchase an inexpensive nasal aspirator from your local drugstore or pharmacy.
Take your time and know when it out
You don’t have to force your little one into reacting; just let him know it’s okay and then wait for the inevitable eruption. Some infants thrive on this routine, while others could care less; still, if you want him to participate, it’s important to schedule regular “sneeze time,” during which you spend at least five minutes actively engaging with him and then returning him to his crib or playpen.
Conclusion
All in all, there aren’t many ways to get a baby to sneeze. Some methods are more successful than others, although nothing is guaranteed. If you’re in a situation where you’re trying to make a young child (or anyone, for that matter) sneeze, it’s imperative that you be cautious and respectful of the baby’s wants.
Hopefully, these tips will help you achieve your goal, so you can make someone else’s day just by making them sneeze or sniffle.