Every Home Needs a Nebulizer

Saline we use

Nebulizer we use

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Nebulizing is a supportive tool, not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical concerns or worsening symptoms.

Why Every Family Should Have a Nebulizer

Nebulizing delivers a fine mist directly into the airways, helping loosen thick mucus, and soothe irritated tissues. Making it great for coughs, congestion, and any respiratory illness.

For kids especially, early airway support is very important. When congestion and inflammation build up, nebulized saline can help calm the lungs, thin mucus, and reduce the work of breathing before symptoms escalate.

Nebulizing is gentle, non-medicated, and safe for frequent use, making it a must-have first-line tool during colds, coughs, croupy symptoms, and post-viral congestion.

For many families, having a nebulizer at home can mean faster relief, fewer late-night panics, and sometimes avoiding urgent care or ER trips when symptoms respond early.

WHAT Should You Nebulize?

There are many things you can nebulize, but we have only exclusively nebulized saline in our home and it’s taken care of 100% of our needs so far.

How to Choose the Right Saline

STERILE

You want to look for something that’s intended use and packaging is STERILE. Typically you want to look for the little individual tubes. Packets and large bottles are not ideal. We will get to that in a few slides.

SODIUM CHLORIDE ONLY

Make sure it’s sodium chloride ONLY (NaCl / Na+). Sometimes saline will have added magnesium, potassium, calcium etc. While these can be nebulized, they’re typically best reserved for a medical setting in specific formulations and controlled dosing. At home these added minerals can make the solution too harsh for sensitive airways and can trigger coughing spells.

0.9-3% SOLUTIONS

Look for saline that’s 0.9% or 3%. 7-9% is medical grade, and can cause irritation to the lungs. 

A good rule of thumb is:

• 0.9% for gentle moisture and comfort

• 3% for loosening thick mucus 

We pretty much exclusively use 0.9%, and it’s been perfectly fine for all our needs. 

This is the saline I used to exclusively recommend. I ordered it myself, and it’s the same one my friend in the ER uses in her hospital. However, it is sold by a 3rd party on Amazon, which I can’t verify. 

If you feel more comfortable purchasing the same one from a medical supply company:

https://go.shopmy.us/p-35959217

Or this one on Amazon seems to check all the boxes, and is sold by Base Laboratories Amazon storefront.

✅0.9%

✅for inhalation

✅sodium chloride only

Breaking Down the %'s

When nebulizing at home you want to stick with 0.9-3%. We use 0.9% and it’s worked perfectly for every need we’ve had. Once you get higher than that, into the 7% and 9% range, it can cause irritation to the lungs.

7% and 9% hypertonic saline are used in medical settings when the goal is aggressive mucus mobilization or fluid shifting, not gentle airway hydration. They’re tools for specific and higher-acuity situations, not routine care.

Isotonic vs Hypertonic Saline

Isotonic and hypertonic just means how salty a solution is compared to your body. Isotonic means it has the same salt concentration as your body’s fluids, so it’s gentle and hydrating and doesn’t cause water to move in or out of cells.

Hypertonic means it has more salt than your body, which pulls water out of cells and towards the solution. In the airways, this helps draw moisture into thick mucus, thinning it and making it easier to clear.

I am often asked about these two types of saline when it comes to nebulizing:

Saline packets like this are made for nasal rinses and aren’t meant to be nebulized. They’re formulated for the nose, not the lungs, and aren’t sterile inhalation solutions. When aerosolized, their concentration or additives can irritate the airways or trigger coughing. 

Saline that comes in large quantities like this could theoretically be fine as long as its formulated for nebulizer or inhalation use. But it wouldn’t be my top choice, because once it’s open it’s no longer sterile. 

Your safest bet is to choose premade single-use solution tubes like this. You can get them on Amazon. I’ve never seen them in-person, but not saying you can’t find them somewhere. The pharmacist may keep some behind the counter if you ask, but I’m not sure. I would just order off Amazon. 

How to Nebulize

Another FAQ I get is HOW to nebulize. If you’ve never done it before it can seem intimidating, but it’s literally the easiest thing to do in the world. Just put the saline into the solution cup, turn it on, and breathe in the mist. 

Other FAQs

How much saline should I use?

• One whole tube (~1tsp)

How long should you nebulize?

• Until it’s empty. Usually takes 10-20 minutes; you can do this 5-6 times a day as needed

How do I clean it?

• You only need to clean the mask. You can clean with soap and water or spray and wipe with a natural, non-tox disinfectant like Force of Nature.

What age can I nebulize?

• Any age! Even babies!

Which Flow Rate to Choose?

Many nebulizers have slower and faster flow rates to choose from. 

Higher flow: produces finer particles that travel deeper into the lungs, making it helpful for lower respiratory support such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

Lower flow: Produces larger particles that tend to deposit in the upper airway, making it better for targeting the sinuses, throat, and upper airways.

Portable vs Table Top Nebulizer

There’s portable/hand-held nebulizers, and then there’s plug-in/tabletop nebulizers. Personally, we have a portable. I think the plug-in one’s have the capability of being a little stronger, and you don’t have to worry about the battery running out. But we’ve never had issues with our little one not accomplishing what we need. I always tell people to just find one in your budget that has good reviews. I don’t really feel like you can go wrong, as long as it actually works 🤷‍♀️

How to Nebulize with a Toddler Who Won't Sit Still

Just do what you can! Most likely with a toddler you aren’t going to get them to sit still long enough for a full session. That’s okay! Usually I’ll start with the mask on my youngest (18mo), which lasts all about 30 seconds. Then I just hold it near her while she watches a movie and let the mist blow in her direction. I’ll try and sneak in an additional 30 seconds or so with the mask directly on her here and there during that session, but I don’t over think it.

I have also been known to do it while my kids are sleeping. That is one nice thing about portable ones. They are quiet, and super easy to maneuver into any position you may need to get in. 

Can Babies Nebulize / How Long Can You Nebulize?

The nebulizing protocol I use does not differ for babies vs toddlers vs older kids vs adults. We all use the same solution (0.9%) and for the same duration of time. Although with my youngest, sometimes her sessions don’t last as long because she’s squirmy and impatient haha

Nebulizing 0.9-3% saline is a very gentle tool for all ages, but there’s no need to do it 24/7. Just as needed. Sometimes all we do is one session in a day,

up to about 5-6x a day (you don’t really need to do more than that). *a session is just one full saline tube until it’s gone. Usually about 10-20 min

Nebulizers vs Humidifiers

They work hand in hand most times! But have slightly different purposes. 

A humidifier adds moisture to the air which can help with sinus issues/congestion, dry coughs, and dry skin. It improves the overall air you breathe, and can actually help reduce the spread of pathogens if kept between 40-60%. I keep hygrometers in our rooms (like $6 on Amazon) and if I notice it dipping below 40% I’ll get our humidifers out as a preventative. When sick/congested I just have them on in bedrooms when sleeping, keeping an eye that the humidity doesn’t get above 60%.

Whereas a nebulizer is much more targeted. It turns saline or a medication or whatever it is your nebulizing into a fine mist that you breathe directly into your lungs and airway. It helps loosen mucus and calm inflammation. 

NEBULIZING CHEAT SHEET

What % saline?

0.9 or 3%

How much saline?

One whole tube (~1tsp)

How long should I nebulize?

Until the solution is gone, usually around 10-20 minutes (or for however long your child will let you you)

How many times a day can I nebulize?

Up to 5-6x a day

Can I use on a baby?

Yep any age!