A couple days after we got to Tokyo, my parents took me to a baby store nearby where I found this. It was an experimental purchase that turned out to be so amazingly good I’m going back to get another one this weekend so I can keep one in my bedside table and one in the diaper bag. This is available at various drug stores and baby stores in Japan and also at Amazon.jp (but not Amazon.com). It’s available from me, too. Just lemme know if you want one.
Traditionally, Japanese people would suck their babies’ snot out with their mouths. One night a few months ago when Rinah was having trouble sleeping because of a stuffed nose and I couldn’t clear out anything with the snot sucker we had, I remembered what some of my Japanese church friends did with their babies and I considered it, but was too grossed out to actually try. This product is the alternative for people too squeamish to suck and spit. The several bulbous snot suckers we have collected do not work and after I’m done using one, she’s screaming and her nose is still stuffed.
She hates this new one, too, but at the end of the ordeal, the little container has gobs and gobs of gooey yuckiness. The best part of all is that she can sleep through the night instead of waking up and crying because her nose is too stuffed to breathe. During the day, after a snot-sucking session, I don’t need to wipe her nose for at least an hour or two which means I don’t have a baby running around with snot running out of her nose or smeared all over her face and a rough red patch under her nose from too much wiping. Also, no more latching on, nursing for just a little bit, then coming up for air, and latching back on again, over and over and over.
Here’s a closeup of the thingy (click to see full size) and a pic of how to use it. You’re gonna have to settle for the manufacturer’s picture ’cause I have my hands full when I’m using it. I know if looks gross but it works really well and the snot all goes in the bottle part, not your mouth.
Apparently, there is something similar made in Sweden called the Nosefrida that comes recommended by lots of magazines and Dr. Sears, but I haven’t tried it so I don’t know how well it works in comparison.
Hmmmm . . . that does look like it would be pretty effective. Sustained suction instead of suck and expel, repeat, repeat, repeat, with screaming baby.
Wow. I’m intrigued by it. I’ll show Rita and I’ll bet we’ll end up getting one. Having something that does more than tick the kid off would be fantastic.
And I’ve too been tempted to try the mouth over nose thing when she’s had a lot of breathing trouble, but way too grossed out to actually try it. Ick. One of my coworkers said that what they do (and I was shocked and have no intention of trying this) is to put their mouth over the kids mouth and BLOW. Seems like it could harm their lungs or something. :-P
How much is that necessary nastiness? LOL. I think I might want one for the new little one.
With my own head cold right now, this might even work better than Kleenex!
I suppose you could do it to yourself. LOL.
It costs about 12 bucks.
Can you get me one please?
Okie dokie. And one for Jake and Rita, too. And a couple more just in case. LOL. Maybe a whole suitcase full! Ben would so love that.
That reminds me of a line from an old bluegrass song I knew . . . “She blows her nose on old corn bread and calls it chicken pie.”
I want one!!
Yup, I want one. Jubilee hasn’t had much stuffy-nose stuff this winter, but it’s a lot of trouble when she does. I know exactly what you mean about about the nurse/come up for air.
I’m in for one…
I’m going to the baby store tomorrow! :)
Count me in….sounds great. Any other great Japanese items we might like?
A much simpler solution (& cheaper) is to cut up part of an onion, put it in a bowl with a tablespoon of water – so it will not dry out too quickly- and place it beside the bed close to the baby’s head. And ta da…the baby sleeps peacefully all night (unless of course the baby has other ailments such a fever, etc.)Of course everybody else’s nostrils in the home will also be cleared up. :-)
Hmm….I know I left a comment last night, but I don’t see it here. Anyway, we’d like to get one too. Any other great Japanese baby items we should know about?
I got one for each of you! Susan, thank you for the onion tip. I never heard of that one before and will try it next time she is sick.
That is really funny, you could also go to the local headshop and buy a water pipe. A little modification with a soft tip for babys nose and there ya go.
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