Thanks to a gym daycare for 3 hours a week, our 2 year old has picked up the nasty habit of nose picking.
At first it was just inappropriate, but now he's picking it to the point where his nose bleeds make it inappropriate and unhealthy.
Any ideas? We've called his doctor, and she's basically told us nothing helpful--"well, you shouldn't have to worry unless it bleeds uncontrollably for a few hours..."
2007-08-06 15:07:57 · 10 answers · asked by FaZizzle 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Two things:
1) We don't believe in smacking, especially fingers. Love the band-aid idea.
2) It apparently doesn't hurt him to pick his nose until it bleeds. While I understand all kids pick their nose, this is getting WAY out of hand.
2007-08-06 15:22:16 · update #1
My friend's daughter did the same thing. Her husband put a big old bandaid around their little girl's finger so she couldn't get it up there. Eventually the behavior stopped. They basically had to keep "catching her"...and they'd give her a short time-out. It's absent minded behavior and from what my friend was told by their pediatrician, they had to keep drawing attention to it until the little girl stopped. The other thing they did is that once she went a whole day with no "picking" she got a very nice treat.
Eventually they stopped treating her for not picking because the behavior was over, but they found something else to give treats for!
Our big problem has been to get our 4 year old son to stop scratching mosquito bites as they were starting to infect so we used a similar approach but didn't put anything on his hands. I made sure his nails were kept very short and used time outs and rewards. It has worked wonderfully. He now catches himself scratching and immediately comes to get something put on the bite.
PS..I have to disagree strongly with both of the other posters...for one, picking can damage the nose lining and cause infections ..it does NOT help a child breathe.
As to putting hot stuff on the fingers??? Hello???? The child can rub his eyes!!!
I don't agree with slapping the child's fingers. Hitting isn't the answer. And no, I'm not "anti spanking" but if a parent is going to be vigilant enough to catch the behavior to slap the hands, the parent can use other methods of discipline.
You can make him stop...it's a matter of working at it. It's causing nose bleeds so it's a problem. And it may not stop just because other children stop. My girlfriend's brother picked his until he was 11 ...and he ate it too! Remember kids like that? Some behavior you can ignore, some is just dirty.
I can't believe folks are saying just let him do it....
If he played in the toilet would they say "just let him do it"? Two year olds try that one too.....
2007-08-06 15:14:16 · answer #1 · answered by GeriGeri 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Maybe his nose is dry inside?..There could be a scratch in there that is bothering him.
It is not a huge deal..just offer him a Kleenex to wipe his nose...No need to give him timeouts..put horrible things on his fingers..threaten him in anyway..my god..he is only picking..his nose!!!!
and it could be..he has discovered his fingers fit in his nose..somethiing he had'nt noticed before..all these small things we take for granted..are huge deals to children.
Just tell him..nicely...I am worried you nose will get a boo-boo...use a kleenex if it is itchy in there.
When was the last time anyone here was sent on a time out for picking their noase????...sheeshhh..get a grip people...
2007-08-06 15:24:04 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
let him watch you pick a boogie out of your nose and ask him if he wants a bite. Maybe he will be grosses out enough to stop.
2007-08-06 20:47:05 · answer #3 · answered by miss.mapitazie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep...just let him do it. Dont make a fuss in front of your child. Just ignore it. It will stop soon. My 2 yr old son picked and ate for a good 3 months...then just stopped one day!
2007-08-06 15:16:07 · answer #4 · answered by Hollyhobby 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, i think hell learn that its not nice to have your nose hurt if hes doing it just because he likes boogers, but since hes so little, and he keeps digging at it, you should go to another doctor and make sure theres not something up there bugging him, even if he happened to have bad sinuses he could stick his finger up there to stop the headache since he would know no other way.(just an idea, im not saying thats what it could be, but you know what i mean) other than that, tell him something yucky. my mom told me if i kept sucking my thumb either she would stick it in dog poo or it would fall off lol.
2007-08-06 15:17:57 · answer #5 · answered by ♥mama♥ 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
If it were me, I would make him wash his hands every time you catch him. Wash them VERY good......you know, so it takes..........FOREVER. Tell him that when you pick, you have to wash very good to get rid of all the germs. Make it a total inconvenience for him.
2007-08-06 17:17:41 · answer #6 · answered by Wendy B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with GeriGeri...put something bulky on his picking finger so he cant get it up there..
2007-08-06 15:16:17 · answer #7 · answered by starstudded07 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
haha sorry i dont think u can make a 2YEAR old stop picking his nose........and you think its inappropriate for a 2YEAR OLD...CHILD to pick there nose!!
2007-08-06 15:14:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
let him pick his nose
it helps him breath
2007-08-06 15:10:07 · answer #9 · answered by Haywood Jablome 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
at that age mattering on your discipline choices.. you could do time outs or smack his fingers.. you could dip his fingers in vinegar or a mix of water and tabasco.. would keep him from chewing his nails too.. basicly re-enforce its bad and hope he breaks from it
2007-08-06 15:13:02 · answer #10 · answered by jeselynn_81 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋