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?

My friend did actually suck the snot out of her baby's nose (yuk). I used the sucker thing posted about above.

Some people do it with their mouths. AFAIK it's common in some cultures.

I've seen snot suckers (devices, not people) on sale in Chemists too.

A friend of mine is Chinese and she says her mum used to do it. I thought it was a wind up until another Chinese friend said it was quite common

just asked my mum if she ever did this to me and got the following response...

WHAT???????!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

My mum - restoring my world and making everything alright again (despite her overuse of punctuation)

DD2 and I have 'bogey clinic' as she is very mucusy, although it's getting better she's 6 now.

Nothing more than a hankie my nail if it was really bad as you could hear it when she spoke all bunged up and I hate the sight of snotty kids but I have never thought of sucking it out of her myself.

She thinks its hilarious as all 6 year olds do with anything snot related, sometimes I think she deliberately doesn't blow properly.

Do people routinely buy snot suckers, then?

I've always found a wipe with a tissue or poke with the screwed up corner of one enough.

Am I just lucky??

DH sucked the snot out of DS's nose when he had a cold at a few weeks old. I couldn't bring myself to do it!

A friend of mine has one of these It's a snot sucker THAT YOU ATTACH TO A HOOVER!! I kid you not, I thought she was joking.

My mum sucked our snot out 40+ years ago

Well I own one which you connect to the Hoover.
I might be strange but I think that if your child has a serious cold (with fever and yellow-greenish snot) than a bit of wiping and saline drops just won't do.
If the mucous doesn't clear up then it can easily affect the ear. Imagine if you are really ill and you have to blow your nose frequently but instead just wipe....
Anyway you just attach the thing to the hoover and it gently sucks the snot away.

I just do it myself and spit it out. DH taught me, he is from a West Indian background and it is common in his culture.

As far as I am concerned it is my child and I will do whatever is fastest and makes them more comfortable. I can think of far worse things like poo extraction and thread worm removal that I may have to do in their lifetime.

I bet snot sucking parents do that gross pre-chewing thing too?

My aunt did it with her babies, she is African.

I thought it was the most vile thing I'd ever seen, but then when I had my own babies I could I see the benefit of having that strong a stomach. I stuck to the turkey baster thing though.

'sucking the cold out' is what they call it in Jamaica.

I couldn't face it personally.

I bought one of the bulb suckers. The suction on it was very strong though, it made my baby jump and shudder!

My DH does this with ours. I think it's gross, but he doesn't seem to mind...

I have met a few people who do this, they are all of Jamacian descent, so perhaps it is a thing that some cultures find less vom inducing unacceptable. Personally, no. the little turkey baster thing or just zapping them with the nose spray thing. (Mind you, I use that less since having a cold last year I tried it on myself, it stings, no wonder babies scream when you do it )

Yep, I saw it with my own eyes in the West Indies. But a bought a sucker thing from Boots for my own DCs.

I used to use the little sucky thing and then saline drops after the nose was free of snot.

I felt pleased to be helping my snotty baby to breath. I'd have sucked it straight out if I had to but I'm glad I had the sucky thing.

"I bet snot sucking parents do that gross pre-chewing thing too?"

D'Snot-Sucker'H does not do pre-chewing thank goodness. He is Irish.

I bought one of the sucking things when DD was little. I could never use it as I was worried I might accidentally suck out her brain

Have not ever done it as it didn't occur to me but am not easily grossed out either so maybe would have considered it if it meant precious sleep time (i looove to sleep )

Can I ask, what is snots composition anyway? is it one of those bodily things that just looks grim but actually is little more than mucus and dust but we all freak out because it's slimy but it's actually nothing sinister at all just a bit grim.

Someone once told me there were more germs on your mouth than your bottom - not sure if that's true or particularly relevant

Snot is mucus, germs and sometimes white cells plus the odd nasal hair - yum!

hahaha - changed my mind, thanks