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Dr. Bill and Martha Answer:
I have a long-haired cat and a short-haired dog. My 3-month-old son is breathing in the pet hair, and I want to know if this is a big danger for him? Every morning, his nose is full. Could the pet hair be the reason for this? Answer: Yes. Tiny nasal passages are very sensitive to animal dander. This is especially true in the first six months when infants are preferential nose breathers. This means that, unlike adults who can easily breathe alternatively through their mouths, infants don't willingly switch from nose to mouth breathing if their nose is stuffed. For this reason, it's very important to keep baby's nasal passages clear of irritants in those early months. So, keep the animals out of baby's sleeping environment. If your son still wakes up stuffy, put an air filter in baby's bedroom and leave it running. The best is a HEPA-type air filter. To help unplug stuffy noses, try the custom I call "hosing the nose." Spritz a few drops of saline nasal spray (available at pharmacies or supermarkets) into the stuffy nose and suck out the loosened secretions with a nasal aspirator -- what veteran parents lovingly refer to as a "snot-snatcher." Your baby may or may not outgrow the allergy to animal dander. Unless your baby is very allergic to the pets, certainly baby and pets can play together. They just shouldn't sleep together. |
