One of the most helpless feelings in the world is having a congested baby or toddler who can't quite figure out how to blow their nose. It's awful to watch them struggle to breathe. Sure, we have the bulb and the NoseFrida, but sometimes it just seems like nothing will do the trick. That's why parents everywhere are hella intrigued by this video of a mom using acupressure massage to alleviate her little girl's sinus pain.
"I wanted to share with you a little something that's been helpful since my little girl has caught a cold," mom Sia Cooper wrote on Instagram.
Cooper, the mom behind the hugely popular Diary of a Fit Mom Instagram account (you might remember her viral Target workout videos), explained that one night while eating dinner, her sick daughter could hardly breathe. Instead of reaching for the cold meds, Cooper tried a special technique to open the little girl's sinus cavities.
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The mom used massage to apply pressure to acupuncture points in the toddler's face.
"Simply apply direct pressure with your fingertips and gently rub to get that drainage flowing," Cooper explained in the clip. "Also helps to temporarily relieve a little pressure so your little ones can feel better! Also works good for adults, too."
If you're sitting there thinking, wow, I didn't know this was a thing -- um, neither did we!
But it turns out, it is a legit way to help sick kids, as long as you adhere to a few guidelines.
"The combination of touch and acupressure is very healing … as long as a parent is familiar with acupuncture and acupressure points. Moms and dads need to be careful not to push too hard as tiny faces are tender," Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a nationally board-certified acupuncturist and integrative doctor, tells CafeMom.
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If you're interested in trying this technique on your own kids, Trattner recommends consulting with an expert first. "It is good for a parent to consult with a specialist because if done too hard, it can be uncomfortable or a parent can miss the points," she explains.
You can find specialists in your area by searching online at the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Trattner also recommends watching tutorial videos online, but only if they were made by board-certified professionals. And, as always, you should reach out to your child's pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.