Daughter Picking Nose and Eating It

My son was a nose picker and would also eat it. It was at a stage when we were really working on sharing so a few times he would pick his nose and "share" it with mommy and try to get me to eat it. YUCK!!!! Luckly he grew out of this phase within a few weeks. I would tell him if he felt he needed to pick his nose that was fine but he needed to do it in the bathroom and needed to use a tissue to do it.

It is getting worse because she is getting a reaction from you. This is such a common thing amongst kids. The way I nipped it in the bud and made it so my kids did not want to ever do this, explain what boggers are! Explain what germs are inside her nose, strains of mucus carry a multitude of germs that are needing to work out of the body, why mucus happens and that she can get VERY sick if she continues.

Explaining these things helped my kids absolutely be kind of freaked them out to the point they are vigilant in using hand sanitizer or even washing hands if they itch, blow their nose or put their fingers around their nose (yes extreme I guess). I also explained would they want to play with someone that had their fingers in their nose or share toys with someone that picked their nose???

If you give her attention for it, it will worsen. Let her know she cannot play with other people's toys if she is going to do this. Try and keep her hands preoccupied in the times she is more apt to do it. I had the same problem with biting fingernails for a while. When I just decided to explain they will get sore fingers, that they are getting germs in their mouths and eating fingernails was not good for them then let it go, it stopped all on it's own. It was hard not to say anything but ignoring it helped a lot more then punishment or saying something.

Another thing you can do is tell her that every time you see her do it she needs to immediately wash her hands, kind of say "well if you are set on getting all into your nose then you are not going to get everyone else sick, so wash your hands EVERY SINGLE time you do it" and walk her in the bathroom without saying a word when you see her do it.
Good luck, another thing kids do.......! :)

Blech! My older two (7.5 & 4) are doing this too! I haven't tried this yet, but am going to... we have Mavala Stop nail polish left over from training our 7 yr old to stop sucking his thumb a year ago (worked so well!!), so I think I may put it on their picking nails, so that when they go to "eat" the boogies, the taste will deter them ;o)

Like all bad habits, I think the kids forget they're doing it, and this might break that cycle. I'll let you know what I find out on my end!

Ah, yes. My 3yo daughter is doing the same thing lately. I consistently remind her that boogers go into a tissue OR toilet paper. And remain a good example of what to do with boogers/snot/coughs/sneezes. The more I try to CONTROL a behavior the more stubborn my daughter gets, the worse the situation.
Picking is a hard habit to break, I think, and punishments might just make it a power struggle---which never turns out well. Ask yourself, who has the real problem with nose picking, her? or you? More often than not I find my aversion to something is deep seated, and has less to do with my daughter's behavior than it does my reactions. IOW my reactions cause the problem rather than solve it.

I make a point to compliment mine for using a tissue, positive reinforcement works wonders. We catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.
Good job mommin' A.!

Actually, most kids do it. It is really disgusting but it is usually just a stage. Kids like to do things that are forbidden. It just gives them a sense of control. A lot of times it is just something to do. I would just suggest not making a big deal out of it and maybe taking her to the store with you and letting her pick out a cute little girl Kleenex box. Those will be her special tissues for when she needs to clean out her nose. She will just channel her sense of control in a different way and you won't have to watch that stuff!

A.,
I've asked our doctors about this "problem" the biggest problem with it is that a child could cut the inside of the nose and get an infection. Other than it being socially unacceptable, there really isn't much WRONG with picking ones nose... now eating on the other hand... is gross, but most kids grow out of it quickly as the stigma with it is pretty fierce. Don't withold your love. Kisses, hugs are all fine. Boogers are not going to make you sick, really. Ask your doc!

V.

I thought you might find this interesting.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/135709/benefits_...

My mom just told me that picking your nose is a private thing we do in the bathroom with running water to help pull the boogers out and that was where boogers belonged going down the sink or in a hankie (which I thought was gross that she wanted me to have a piece of cloth and carry the boogers around...thank you kleenex and all versions of you) other than that she didn't make a huge deal out of it. If she saw one of us picking she just said go do that in the bathroom. I don't know, I think I played in the sink more than ate my boogers. maybe that's why I was so sick as a kid. haha.

My daughter started doing that (a bit younger, at 2) and we explained that when you have a booger, you get a tissue. So now of course she announces "have a booger, Mama!" and I'm sometimes scrambling in the car for something for her to wipe it on, but it seems to work. For now.

So sorry girlie! It made me laugh though. You are SOOOO not alone. :D My 4 yr old does it, and then laughs about it. I think he loves to see me grossed out. I just have to remember that he's a kid, and not my merit badge. ;D

My grandmother always used to make a game out of it with my kiddos. When she saw them picking their noses, she would tell them it was time for them to make a kleenex dance by putting a little boogie in it. They thought it was funny and it helped motivate them to get a kleenex.

I agree with what everyone has said. It's totally normal - gross, but unfortunately normal. And I would definitely say to stop making such a big deal about it or it will become all the more appealing to her. Simply let her know what you are supposed to do when you have boogers (tissue, etc) and quietly remind her of it with a simple "Remember what we do when we have boogers?" so that she feels like she's the one that is controlling what she's doing with them. I like the suggestion also of letter her pick out a tissue box she wants to use and then when she DOES use a tissue, be sure to tell her how proud you are of her and what a big girl she is, thank her for her good manners, and then be done with it. It will soon pass!

I just wanted to say that my husband does this! (It's not just kids.) He says they taste good because they are salty. Well, I guess I'd say to just ignore it like I do my husband's habit.