20month old has cough & congestion. using saline & suction but he screams w the suction. could it be hurting him or just annoying to him?

Could Hurt: Concentrated saline solution does burn the nasal passages. If you make the salt solution yourself, some suggest putting a pinch of baking soda in with the sodium cloride to buffer the acid that is formed by adding salt to water. If you are buying then look for a product that is buffered to reduce the sting.

Annoying.: Home/pharmacy prepared nasal saline solution of less than 1% ( 0.65% ) concntration and the use of appropriate blue color suction bulb although is irritant to the nasal mucosa, rarely is harmfulif used approprietly. Advice to parents; even you may notice child is gaging, choching- like, need not to warry, child will swallow the solution and this will clear his upper airways, i like it.

Bulb suction: Bulb suction is annoying to toddlers. The saline itself does not hurt. Try nosefrida device or cleannoz. These devices are new and are less traumatizing to the child. Use a vaporizer. You can also use vicks. Honey based cough meds such as zarbees or hylands are ok in a 20 month old child.