How do I stop my 23 month old from picking his nose?

Question

My son has begun to pick his nose lately and eat it. It makes me cringe! ! I have tried to reason with him and tell him to stop but he doesn't listen. I am afraid he is going to get sick from putting dirty fingers in his nose and in his mouth. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

positive reinforcement for not doing it.

Answer 2

I told my children that cleaning their nose is part of grooming your body, and that a tissue is required in public places.
So if they choose to use a finger on their 'bats in the bat cave' they have to do it in the bathroom or their bedroom. Almost always that would mean leaving an activity or video behind and they will choose the tissue. ( a 23-month old may still need help catching the bat!)

Same for my nailbiters (toenails too! EWWWW!) Use clippers or your teeth- I don't care! just do it where I can't see.

I think your son is getting a payoff from engaging you. Just lay down the rules, give him two 'choices' -you can pick your nose and eat it in your room or use a tissue and stay with me. It will take a few reminders~just don't bend the rule!

Answer 3

The best techniques to use with children this age are distraction and redirection. When he begins to pick his nose, use that moment as a teaching moment, and show him how to use tissue. Set a goal - but don't make the goal be that he won't pick his nose and eat it...instead, make the goal be that he will use tissue when he has boogers, or something like that. Make it a positive goal. Catch him when he first starts picking, and then reward the heck out of him when he uses the tissue as you've shown him. And remember, even if you've shown him how to do it once, you may need to do this for up to a week and reward that positive behavior! I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Every child does this. 23months or 6 yrs...its not as gross as you think. every person on this planet swallows mucus every day. even YOU. it is harmless.

if your worried about it...encourage him to use a Kleenex. they make boxes with cute pics on the boxes, and cartoon characters, let HIM pick out a box of Kleenex that HE likes, and keep it in his room. tell him that those are HIS and that only he gets to use them.
he may find that SO cool that he decides to use them. show him how to blow those boogies out of his nose, and where to put the used Kleenex. also encourage him to wash his hands after wards by using a fun kids soap. *there are some soaps that are different and wild colors or foams*. make it FUN not punishment.

and don't worry about him getting sick. if you could get sick from picking your nose..the whole world would be full of sick people! ha ha.

Answer 5

The person that said put hot sauce on his finger should be ashamed, if you had something in your nose would you get it out? I know you don't like him doing that, keep his nose clean as you can and don't make a big thing out of it, none of us are going to let something stay in our nose, hopefully we want all put it in our mouth, he is way to little to reason with. when you see him do this why don't you say let mommy clean your nose, clean it and don't make a big deal out of it. thank God that you have a child that can do things for himself, just love him and be proud of him.

Answer 6

Well, if he is getting a huge reaction out of you every time he does this, he may continue just to get your attention. Not that he isn't getting enough, but sometimes children do these things just to get a reaction. Try to just ignore the problem, maybe have a little chat, I understand he is young, but try to be creative and explain to him what could happen. My dad used to tell us that worms lived in our noses and if we picked them the worms would bite us. Sounds cruel, but it worked.

Answer 7

the same as when they like to put fingers in the mouth put rub garlic on the tip, and check if he does not have irritated skin in his nose maybe that is the reason why he is picking at it.

Answer 8

This one made me laugh nothing against you or your child.
I have a three year old and when he was younger I never reasoned with him, I told him NO, and when ever he would do it I would say no and get a tissue and teach him to blow his noise, however kids will be kids and every now and then I have a three year old that still chooses to pick his noise instead of getting a tissue, its when he trys to wipe it on me, when I get grossed out. lol
they will grow out of doing it, you just have to be stong and tell your child no.
good luck

Answer 9

You can't. He will pick. He will eat. He will probably get sick at some point. Sooner or later he'll stop on his own. Or he won't. There are bigger problems to worry about.

Answer 10

You don't. Just tell him not to eat it. I'm 33 and love to pick my nose!

Answer 11

No...but if you find one let me know...my son is the same age and does the same thing...only he shows it to me first. I find if I just ignore him he stops..If I make a bigger deal out of it he keeps doing it