How Do I Get My 3 Year Old to Stop Picking Her Nose?

Hi D.,
My son is also 3 and going through the same thing. He says he can't blow his nose...finally I had to get a nasal aspirator and suck it clean. He hated it and screamed but his nose was just bubbling over with mucus. He would either pick it or wipe it across his cheek, I was afraid of impetigo. So I used the "nose sucker" much to his dismay. I only had to use it a few times and he got over his cold so it could have been worse, I have no idea what to suggest to get her to start blowing her nose again.
Hope this is a little helpful anyway.
Jess

We went through this same problem. My husband and I sat and explained how his nose worked and what it did for him. We told him that his nose was like a filter and it was filtering the dirt out of the air so that the grems and dirt wouldn't go into his lungs and make him sick. Addison like to snuff it back also. So now he walks around telling me that I need to blow my nose so that the dirt doesn't get into my lungs. I don't know if it will work for her but I know that I underestame my son's ability to understand the things I think are hard to understand.

Do you have one of those nose suckers the ones you get at the hospital when your baby is born. If so tell her you will start sucking out her nose like a baby if she cant blow her nose like a big girl.

Only thing I got.

Good Luck

I don't have any advice, but I do have a funny story. As I was reading your request my 2 1/2 year old sat up and told me his nose hurt. I got him to blow it and out came a little piece of wood! He just stuck some gum in his nose yesterday! My older son is four had he has never done anything like this. Strange.

Anyway, I was reading your request because my younger son is also a nose picker (among other things). Luckily, he will blow his nose. He is happy to have help getting the "icky" out of there. Good luck.

Put a tiny bit of vaseline on her finger and let her go-it will soften the inside of her nose and soon she will find other things to do.Like pick the wall paper off the walls.(My husband was a picker and that is just what he did and now at 62 he still picks only it bleeds more because he takes blood thinner) Some kids never grow out of these things. Be sure you put the vaseline on her finger as she may try the whole jar at one time if you let her try it. keep a sense of humor and buy some pretty hankies just for her to use. If she decides to eat it, she will not get sicker, only look funny. that is really ok too, and yes she will discover boys and never do that thing again.

Wow - I feel old - everything I have read so far is from young moms. Had a friend invite me to this site and this is my first experience with it. Both my boys are grown and I have lots of experience.
Take you daughter to the doctor to make sure she does not have an infection or somthing stuck up her nose. She is probably picking it because it hurts. Kids are famous for sticking things in their nose and ears and they can stay there for a long time and cause serious problems. My nephew stuck a bean up his nose. He was about 3. They had to have the Dr. remove it. If it ends up being nothing more than a habit you just have to treat it as any behavior you want to change - talk about it - stop her when you see her doing it by giving her a tissue and then you showing her by example. I'll bet she has a sinus infection and needs treatment.

Please let me know if you get any good advice. My 2 year old picks her nose. My 4 year old has never blown her nose. She says she can't do it. At least this will let you know their are others dealing with the same problem.

Try not being so serious about it, ya know make it fun instead of a chore. Blow your nose and make funny noises while you do it, then ask her if she wants to try to see if she can make those noises too! I always try to make stuff fun that my 3 yr, old daughter doesn't want to do, like blow her nose, take meds, etc. It usually always works and she ends up doing it more often cause she wants to show dad and she thinks it's funny! Or i'll throw in hey, Cinderella blows her nose! (that never fails)Just a thought!

sometimes the only thing we can do with our little free spirits is constantly remind them of their manners and continue to teach them what is proper behavior and what is not and hope that it sticks into their stubborn little minds sooner than later. If you continue to force the tissue issue you will lose all of your past self responsibility teachings to your daughter. Being self reliant is so important to a 3 year old and doing it herself and by herself is what is most important, but there is nothing in the hand book that says we can't continue to suggest correct ways to doing it, or pointing out what happens when we do it wrong. For instance, "See what happens when we pick our noses instead of using the soft tissues? It would feel so much better on our sore noses if we used soft tissues instead of our hard and pokey fingers." Three year olds can be hard headed, try not to be over bearing in this teaching experience, this is temporary, she'll eventually catch on...

D. you need to take your 3 yr. old to and ENT. She might be having fluid behind the eardrum or her sinuses may be bad. Something is making her uncomfortable enough to stop blowing her nose. And sometimes when they pick it could be because something is irritating them. So check with your doctor. I know as an adult there are times that blowing my nose has discomfort with it. So always rule out any medical problem.

I have the same problem with my 6 yr old. He had a musical at school the other day and I think I got more footage of him picking his nose than singing or playing the instrument. He usually only does it when he has a cold too! You might try buying the "little noses" nose drops. My son doesn't like it when I use it but I tell him if he needs to pick his nose than there's something in there that needs to come out. So if I see him picking his nose I threaten him with the nose drops. It works sometimes. You might try putting a vaporizor in her room to dry it up if it is runny. If all else fails there's always the hot sauce on the finger tips. That's what my mom always threatened with. J. C