I purchased this when my son was around 10 months old. I just found the ones where you have to suck with your mouth to not be very hygenic or convenient. I purchased this unit even though it was more expensive than others on Amazon because it said it was comparable to the ones in the hospitals. I wanted results rather than save money on something that would be frustrating to use or not as effective.
My son is now 3 and when he gets sick, the mucus gets stuck in his upper airways which has caused him to be hospitalized twice so far. This aspirator really did save his life and made our lives so much easier. This unit took a beating, we used it multiple times a day and it sucked so much out of his nose.
I also can compare it to the ones in the hospital. I would honestly say it is definitely comparable to the suction you get from the hospital.
This should be on every new mothers baby list. It's something you didn't know you needed until someone tells you. Let me tell you then -- you need this in your life. It will make your child more comfortable, it will make your life easier, and it will last you a long time.
It is very well made and my child was never scared of it. In fact, he lays down for me when I tell him it's time to suck his nose. He even does it himself, it's really that easy. I think he's so agreeable to it because he knows he feels so much better after. That speaks volumes.
Oh, final note - for really thick mucus, spray some saline in their little noses. Also, run the unit in some water before and after you use it. It will make for much easier cleanup. From time to time, I soak the parts in alcohol to disinfect.