Is this a thing people actually do?

[sheriffofnottingham]

My best friend has an 8 week old DS. Last night she told me the story of how during a conversation with the health visitor she asked what to do if DS gets a cold because he can't blow his nose. She was told by the heath visitor that most parents just suck the snot out of DCs noses.

At this point in the conversation I nearly threw up (as did my friend at having to recount the story). Do parents actually do this? Is it just because I don't have children that I find it beyond disgusting?

[jacks365]

You suck it out with a special device that looks like a tiny turkey baster.

[honeythewitch]

I think your friend is pulling your leg.

[Pointeshoes]

Yeh those sucker things work well. Bit gross too though!

[Beastofburden]

god no, I have three and you just made me

just. No. Way.

I did get a little suction thingy once and slurp it out, that was bad enough. the child was disabled so we had to do something about it as he couldnt.

[MaidOfStars]

Yep, it is a thing people do. I have witnessed it first hand. Perhaps this predated the availability of special devices designed to do the same job.

She spat, by the way.

[Beastofburden]

Not leg pulling, I was advised that too, 22 years ago.

And i retched,

[Eatriskier]

The devices are like this:

www.fridababy.com/shop/nosefrida/

or this:

www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-Us/Bathing/Essential-Medical/Babies-R-Us-Nasal-Aspirator(0028109)?cm_mmc=Google--ProductListingAds--NA-_-Babies%20%22R%22%20Us%20Nasal%20Aspirator&gclid=CNK3pYaDkrwCFSTkwgodbBUAug

mainly - you don't literally put your mouth around and suck.

The first one is by far the better if your friend is looking for one IMO.

[Mellowandfruitful]

There's a device you can buy - DH and I always called it the 'snot sucker' though that's not its official name - where you suck, that draws the snot out but it goes into a little chamber not your mouth Boots have them. Or there are sprays you can use that are just water, not like the adult decongestant sprays, that loosen everything up. I think part of the explanation has been missed out!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

I never sucked the snot out of my kids noses.

[sheriffofnottingham]

Oh thank god for that! Might give her a ring later to make sure it's me that's got the wrong end of the stick on that one and not her!

[HyvaPaiva]

There's a product especially for this. You can see it here.

[UriGeller]

The sucker things are the most satisfying piece of equipment!

I suppose if my newborn couldn't breathe at all, at the last resort if I couldn't find the sucky thing I'd suck their snot out but bleugh.

[MyNameIsKenAdams]

Get a little sucker thingy from the Chemist. Works a charm. Strangely satisfying too.

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

Boots sell a little device for this. You stick one part in your mouth ad one up the babies nostril. Even though there's a separator in the middle it still made me retch. My partner nearly collapsed laughing.

Have since bought a little bulb one, but think saline spray and wiping works better.

[squoosh]

I know the bond between a mother and baby is stronger than titanium but seriously, has any human ever loved another so much that they'd suck the snot out of their nose??

[MeepMeepVrooooom]

Ahaha yes I agree with people who are saying it's a little sucker you get from a chemist.

What exactly were you thinking OP?

[somuchtosortout]

I had the misfortune to witness our babysitter do this exact thing to my baby when living in the West Indies. I must point out I really don't think it is common practice there, it was just her....

I was so grossed out on her behalf! It has never occured to me to even do that!! (And I still would not do it to my own child!!)

[GlitzAndGiggles]

I've got a sucking device but my friends mum said she used to actually suck her kids noses because they didn't have stuff like that back then

[LeafyGreen13]

When my baby was born we all had colds so she was about 5 days old when she caught it. I just couldn't bring myself to use one of those things so just used the squirting breast milk up her nose method.

[Whatisaweekend]

My old au pair told me that in her home country there is a device you can fit to the Hoover!!! Think she may have been having me on.......

Anyway, I had one of the tiny turkey baster things which worked quite well and have also heard of people sucking it out (in extremis though, surely

[Crowler]

I'll admit it did occur to me during some particularly stuffy, long nights when my kids were babies. But I couldn't bring myself to do it.

My husband's friend has admitted to doing this.

[WaxyDaisy]

1. Squirt breast milk up nose

2 roll up tissue and pull the tube shape across front of nose from one side to the other

1. Watch incredibly long string of snot follow the tissue

I tried one of those sucky things, but caught the virus from the baby that way

[MysterySpots]

My DS and BIL recently revealed to me that they do this. I have been a mother for 10 years and I had vaguely heard that some people do this but really thought it was an urban myth. I can't imagine anything more vile and I have a pretty more strong stomach for body fluids. Also, surely you are massively increasing your risk of getting whatever bug they have picked up? I know you're probably going to get it anyway... Much as I loved my babies I can't ever imagine doing it. I really hope they never do it front of me because I think I would have to leave the room.

[steppemum]

my friend had one of those sucking things like a turkey baster. She used it all the time.
I could never see the point, I just wiped their noses.
I also did the squirt up the nose when they were a bit dry and bunged up and it loosened it and then i wiped with tissue.

[thenicknameiwantedisgone]

My old au pair told me that in her home country there is a device you can fit to the Hoover!!! Think she may have been having me on.......

She was not having you on!! I have a Czech friend who said the same thing. When she told me we were at a BBQ and had all had a few drinks so I assumed she was winding me up, it took her a long time to convince me that she was actually telling the truth. I was astonished

By the way, I may well have picked my children's noses but I have NEVER EVER sucked snot out of them - yuk! (Why isn't there a vomit emoticon???)