NoseFrida nasal aspirator: revolutionizing the snot sucker

Ah, the nasal aspirator. This ubiquitous bit of baby gear has a place in most nurseries for good reason: babies inevitably get congested and must be "suctioned" so they can breathe properly while they nurse and sleep. Problem is, most bulb syringes are hard to maneuver, especially when the suction-ee is wildly protesting. (I've never met a kid who will willingly allow the tip of a bulb syringe anywhere near his or her nose.)

The NoseFrida is a pen-shaped chamber with flexible tubing and a filtered mouthpiece attached. Yes, mouthpiece. (Stay with me here.) Chamber goes next to kid's nostril, mouthpiece goes in parent's mouth, and with a little gentle suction, out comes the snot, er, mucous, into the chamber. A filter keeps the whole operation hygienic.

According to the NoseFrida press material, the variability of the suction makes all the difference. I must say the idea gives me the willies, but then, the snot sucking days are behind us -- our nasal aspirator is living its second life as a bathtub toy. Apparently this device is common in Europe (the NoseFrida was developed in Sweden).

AJ of Thingamababy tried it out himself, while Greg of Daddy Types had his own funny commentary.

Win it! I've got a shiny, new NoseFrida right here! You know you want it! Say so in the comments, and I'll choose one lucky winner at random tonight.

Comments

[Tanya Espanya]

I love this site, and even though I am currently unable to contribute anything, I am taking notes.

I remember my aunt using the round end of a bobby pin on my poor little cousin, and then resorting to the slurping. Ugh.

I'm due in June and would love a shiny new NoseFrida!

[adrienne]

Wow, our bulb aspirator is one of the few baby essentials that everyone in our family despises yet we still categorize as indispensable.

The baby hates having the blue onion shoved up his nose, and we enjoy neither the snot suction process nor the bulb's clean-up. This item looks much easier to keep clean. We already had to resort to making sucking sounds so the aspirator wouldn't freak the baby out (so we're already over 75% of the way to total humiliation already).

[Elizabeth]

I'd love to try the NoseFrida on my perpetually stuffed up 7-month-old!

[Heather W]

Well, I have to admit I'm curious (if not exactly eager). I'd try it out... I think.

[Tom]

When I start to hear him breath loudly, I pick boogies out of my 3 year old son's nose using tweezers. I gently push up on the tip of his nose to get a good view, reach in with the tweezers, grasp a boogie and pull it out.

[Kristine Toone]

I'd love to try one out!! My little guy can't STAND our bulb syringe!

[Tricia]

I would love to try one out.

They look similar to what midwives use to deep suction out the babies when they are born.

Tricia

[Kate]

Oooh, I want to try this!

[kelly jeanie]

I'd love to try it!

[Mel]

Ahhh the bulb syringe. The bain of my existence. And yet? Like so many other unpleasant items, it is nonetheless essential. I'd love to give this a try. If it works as well as advertised, I might just implode with joy.

[Jaime]

Okay...I have to admit that I'm wildly curious about this! I'd love to try it out!

[Jen]

I was looking at this online a couple of weeks ago. The combination of logic and grossness- it seems to be the perfect product for my husband to try out on our daughter!

[Rach]

You know, it all sounds gross until it's 3 a.m. and you're up with a baby who can't breathe and you would try just about ANYTHING. I know in some cultures, caretakers just suck on the babies noses directly with their mouths and spit out the snot. I guess once you've been covered in poop, pee, snot, blood, and whatever else, it just doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore!

[Rob Slagle]

Please put me in the drawing.

OT- any hacks on getting days flip-flopped for a newborn? mine will not sleep at night unless you hold her (she's 4 weeks old).

[andi]

Ew. I am disgusted and yet, I want one. Count me in.

[Stephanie T.]

It's true, I want it! (Even if it is embarrassing to admit...)

[emjaybee]

Yes, we'd like to try it! Our kid is always congested. And seeing my husband do this would make me laugh and laugh.

[Terri]

Oh, I want that!

[Amy :)]

My son and any future children I have would LOVE a NoseFrida.

[Anne H.]

I REALLY, REALLY want this! My poor 9 month old DD is so stuffed up and fights me every time I come at her with the bulb syringe! This sounds like it would do a world of good for us both!!

[WWBD]

I'm morbidly curious. Sounds like a perfect way to get my husband more involved in baby care!

[Deborah]

Yep, I would try it. I'm also curious about this new product I just spotted in the One Step Ahead catalog:

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/117/516781/117.html

[Deborah]

Yep, I would try it. I'm also curious about this new product I just spotted in the One Step Ahead catalog:

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/117/516781/117.html

[beth]

Count us in!!! I've been trying to find something to use once "Old Trusty" bites the dust. Apparently no one makes one like the one we have anymore- at least no where I've looked!

With colds and allergies, ours gets a workout. And anything to make it work the first time is worth the trouble and possible gross-out...

Thanks!

[dot]

me me me!

[Andrew]

In my 10 month journey as a parent I never liked using the bulb aspirator because you can't really hold it in an angle that's comfortable for you as well as your child while applying the appropriate pressure.

I'd love an alternative.

[Kate]

I'd like to put my name in the hat.

[laura]

Cleaning up my baby’s snot
Is not
Something I enjoy
But I’m the mommy and I do
What I must for baby boy.

A tissue wipe is not enough
For that ghastly green and yellow stuff;
When he sees the blue bulb coming, he cries and screams and fights,
His distress at my solution keeps me up at night.
I’m thinking that Nosefrida might—
just be the one—
Solution for my son.

If we got the freebie, why Asha I’m sure I’d
Be sure to sing Nosefrida praises very far and very wide.

[vanessa]

omg i'd love something like this its sooo difficult to get my toddler to let me get the boogies out ... this is an awesome invention

[Kayla]

Sick fascination, maybe, but I want it!

[Carolyn]

I'd definitely be interested in trying it.

[Jane]

I would love to have this in the medicine cabinet, it looks much easier than the two parent take down with the bulb syringe.

[Pamela]

I hadn't used the regular bulb-shaped snot-sucker much since my son was a baby, but I got it out recently for a persistent batch of the stuff. He (20 months) loved it! He is now super keen on sticking things up his nose. (For better or for worse.) He grabbed it from me and even bestowed a rare early "mine" upon it. I think he'd like the new version even more ;-)

[Jack's Raging Mommy]

Considering that this was my latest post, yeah, I could use it :)
http://jacksragingmommy.com/?p=474

[cranky mama]

I do. I do want one. It disturbs me, but I want one.

[Christopher]

My little Henry (8 months) hates the bulb thing... Mom can work it but I'm hopeless. I would love to try out something that would let me help relieve his congestion

[ksmce]

count me in too!

[kween]

Oh, oh, oh! I want it! Me! Me! Me! Gimme gimme gimme!

[Katie A.]

EWWWW!!! But after using the snot bulb on two kids this looks great for the one on the way. Count me in.

[ikate]

I read about this on Thingamababy and am intrigued given that we are in the throws of suckage with a 5 month old. I would love to try this!

[Sandy]

Given the fact that I tolerate my kid stuffing all kinds of things in my face and my mouth--food, pre-chewed food that he owuld like to share with me, his feet, his grubby hands, yucky baby foods that we compare to snot... sure I would risk trying this as well.

At least I'd get the chance to keep my mouth ready for suction action so that takes away the opportunity for expletives and exclamations.

[Jill]

Don't put me in this drawing- I'm past this stage. I simply taught my babies how to blow out through their noses. They've got to learn to blow someday. Wait until they're breathing clear, then make a game of it. Both my boys could blow their noses well by eight months. Too much equipment for such a short period of time. Simplify your life!

[Lorri]

Oooh, pick me, pick me :-)

We've ALL got that nasty congestion here, and being able to help clear out DD's nose would be a great help!

[fuzzypeach]

I've heard great things about this gadget!

[Matt Clements]

I would love to try it!

[marct]

#2 on the way in July! Would love to try it out!

[John Kemp]

This comes at an opportune time. My 5 month old daughter is riding the snot train (not to be confused with soul train) and she would surely appreciate this. I actually saw this here a while back and was planning on buying one!

[teri]

ok, i guess i have weird children. not only did my guys not fight the bulb syringe, they would bring it to me when they were stuffy. they would make a bit of a face when i suctioned, but once the nose was clear, they would give me a huge smile. i was amazed at how early they made the connection between the syringe and relief from congestion. they also never fought taking medicine....even icky stuff. like i said...they aren't normal.

this contraption....dunno. i guess i would try it if i were desperate.

[Melinda]

I was just saying I needed a good nose suctioner today at the Dr office. My 7 month old is sooo snotty!

[T-mom]

I want it! I need it! I can't live without it!

[Shauna Struessel]

I've got a perpetually snotty little boy and the standard brain vacuum is NOT working. I would love to try this.

[Christy]

Pick me, pick me!!! (So to speak...)

[Monique]

Yes, PLEASE! My eight-month-old daughter is in the depths of a miserable cold right now . . .

[Marlo]

My son would get a kick out of using one of those. Count me in!

[Tracy]

OOOH... I want it, I want it! Anything has got to be better than that awful syringe.

[Matteo]

Here in Italy we use something very similar, called Narhinel which is still working quite well for our two 3 and 21 months old little girls.
The only problem is that the nostril side is a throwaway part "for hygiene", but we carefully wash it and reuse for clear economic reasons. Of course each child has her own, to avoid passing infections.

[Jasmine]

I want to suck snot out my kiddo's nose! Pick me!

[Sharla]

WoW, I would love to have that. I hate those bulb syringes!

[Heather]

Oh please pick me! :o)
My little guy needs his nose sucked every day and he HATES the bulb (we call it the poofer).
I think this looks like a fantastic product!

[Zoe]

My daughter is the queen of the running nose and HATES the bulb. I have a son due in late May and as odd as this thing sounds, I would give it a go.

[Zoe]

My daughter is the queen of the running nose and HATES the bulb. I have a son due in late May and as odd as this thing sounds, I would give it a go.

[Isaac]

Yes, please!

The question is how to keep it on the kid's nose long enough.

[Tim]

I'd love to win one. Our daughter has been stuffed up all winter, and the bulbs just don't cut it.

[Erin]

Pick me, pick me! My 9-month-old's nose (currently filled with yucky green stuff) will thank you for it.

[Isaac]

Yes, please!

The question is how to keep it on the kid's nose long enough.

[shannon]

My 2 1/2 year old son still lets me use the bulb syringe on his nose. All of my friends think its so weird that he doesn't mind. The problem it just doesn't work that well. I would LOVE to try the Nosefrida. So pick me!

[Trisha]

Ooh,pick me! I would love to give this a try, I bet I could get my daughter to stick it up her nose herself!! The blue nose bulb thingy is hated at our house, I basically need a straight jacket for Naomi to get the snot out!
So, anyway. PICK ME! :)

[drew]

this post sucks:-)......

[Ted Miller]

I want it! I'm not gonna try to sell you on why I'm most deserving, just know that I won't use an anonymous bald-headed bulb to suck out my baby's snot.