SNEEZING
Frequent sneezing (occurring more often than what would be considered normal) is a very common sign in infants with Neonatal Abstinence from any substance.
NOTE: The Following Videos found in this kit under the Parenting Tips from Specialists will provide more information and/or demonstration that might be useful for some of the interventions recommended here.
THE SOOTHE Technique
STRATEGIES BY DISCIPLINE
NEURODEVELOPMENT
Determine root cause by consultation with your baby’s doctor.
Be aware that sneezing can be a sign of distress. Keep the baby calm and comfortable.
Reduce stimulation (lower lights and keep background noise to a minimum) and calm the infant.
Use the Soothe technique to calm the baby (click here)
MEDICAL
Determine the root cause of the frequent sneezing with the help of your baby’s doctor.
Your baby’s doctor may want to know:
When the sneezing started
How frequently does the baby sneeze.
Is the baby congested
NURSING
Tell your Baby’s doctor about the frequent sneezing.
Remove mucous in the nose using a bulb syringe to see if this helps.
Reduce stimulation and calm the baby.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Keeping your baby calm will help reduce sneezing. (the Ollie swaddle (theollieworld.com) was specifically designed with the NAS baby in mind as it offers moisture wicking and stretch with pliable restriction). Make sure to use safe swaddling instructions offered by the manufacturer.
Reduce external stimuli (decrease artificial lighting, background noise, and eye contact), rhythmic rocking upright position with baby turned away from you, while applying gentle but firm pressure to chest area, support legs in flexed position, gentle but firm touch when handling. These strategies may help reduce sneezing and are part of the SOOTHE technique (click here for more information)
SPEECH PATHOLOGY
Do not feed the infant while sneezing.
Reduce the amount of noise in the environment.
Monitor the baby’s cues for other needs the baby may have.