What’s the best and safest saline nasal spray for babies and infants?

You might be wondering how to clear a baby’s nose? Babies are much more sensitive than adults or even children, so can the same practices be used? According to parents.com the best way and only safe way to clear a baby’s nose is with a saline nasal spray. But Dr. Lon Jones a family physician in Texas switched to using one with xylitol because the saline was not helping to prevent his own sinus issues nor any of the ear infections he saw in his patients. He began using the xylitol because Finnish doctors showed that chewing gum sweetened with xylitol prevented many chronic ear infections, and his granddaughter had the same problem. Xylitol, these researchers found, helped prevent the attachment in the nose of the bacteria that cause most ear and sinus infections. Dr. Jones thought that putting the xylitol where the bacteria lived–in the nose–would be better than in the mouth. When he used this on on his granddaughter she had no further problems. He used it on kids in his practice with chronic ear complaints more than 90% of the complaints disappeared. He tells this story and why xylitol helps in his book No More Allergies, Asthma, or Sinus Infections. While a saline nasal spray is good, a saline nasal spray containing xylitol is a whole lot better. We recommend Kid’s Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol, the only saline nasal spray containing xylitol. It is a natural saline and xylitol solution that is safe for infants and toddlers.

I don’t like putting anything in my baby’s nose. Why should I do this?

First of all babies need to breathe through their noses when they nurse. Needing to unattach from the nipple is disturbing to both the mother and the baby. Secondly the nose is designed to clean and humidify the air we breathe to make it healthy for the lungs; mouth breathing bypasses this preparation.

Then there are the dental benefits. Preventive oriented orthodontists are united in their understanding that mouth breathing that begins in infancy and continues without intervention can distort the shape of the mouth, jaw, and face as the muscles relax and affect how the bones of the lower face grow and develop. This distortion leads to orthodontic need when the child gets to teenage years that can cost up to $10,000. Truly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

How to Use a Saline Nasal Sprays for Babies

If the baby can breathe through the nose hold them in the crook of your arm and raise them to as vertical a position as you can, like in the picture. Spray both sides of the nose and then lay them down on their backs so the spray can drain to the back of the nose where it is most effective. Dr. Jones recommends doing this preventively at every diaper change; that was the routine he used on his patients where he saw the 90+% decrease in ear complaints.

If the baby cannot breathe through the nose lay them down on their back and tilt the head back (if possible). Gently squeeze the saline nasal spray bottle so the liquid drips out in drops. Squeeze about two drops into each nostril. The baby may sneeze some of the saline drops out, but some of the saline will still make it into the nasal passages. Simply wipe the excess away with a tissue. In this case it is very important to do this often, like at every diaper change, so that nasal breathing can return as soon as possible.

Since the saline and xylitol have been inserted into the nasal canal, natural breathing will help pull the solution in further, where it can continue doing its work.

The saline solution helps clear the allergens, bacteria, and other debris from the nasal passages. The addition of xylitol helps improve the effectiveness of the saline solution. Xylitol also helps create a layer in the sinuses that makes it difficult for debris and allergens to stick and cause inflammation, which in turn can increase mucus production and therefore create congestion.

Kid’s Xlear nasal Spray with Xylitol is a patented solution that reduces inflammation and naturally opens airways. The kid friendly bottle allows you to deliver a gentle mist when squeezed or dispense the solution in drops. It is a non-GMO, drug free formula that can be used as often as needed without the risk of rebound congestion or addiction.

Click here to learn more about Kid’s Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol.

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