The great snot debate- to wipe or not to wipe?

[BiffChipsandKippers]

DD, nearly 3 has an awful cold. Snot constantly streaming down her face, bloodshot eyes, cough... the works. Wiping get nose constantly is making it really sore (skin becoming very red and tender, she's crying everytime it's wiped).

I'm a wipe it once every hour/thirty minutes type whereas DH would do it every 5. At pick up for my elder DS from after school activity the volunteer ran off immediately to find a tissue and wiped her nose (they do know her in another context so not a weird overstep by any means) and I couldn't help but feel a bit judged. I had wiped it when we left the house which is approx 8 minutes away.

AIBU?

YANBU- continue to wipe at frequent intervals but don't overdo it
YABU- wipe it more often you neglectful grunt

Also, if IABU, any tips on what to use/how to wipe to prevent it getting so sore??

YABU, but not for the reasons you outlined in your “choice menu” above

Put vaseline on frequently

Will she tolerate any cream, like Sudocrem or Vaseline as a protective barrier?

I used to put a barrier cream around nose area to protect it, but both frequent and less frequent wiping have their downsides.

Yes, I was thinking a trip to the chemist for some vaseline may be in order. However she won't tolerate any kind of baby face cream or anything on her cheeks so I don't hold high hopes 😏

Please wipe your kid’s nose!

Wipe it with a water wipe, or damp muslin or hankie or other cloth.

Put Vaseline on their nose after wiping. It really helps prevent soreness.

Not fair on everyone else to leave the snot there to be spread more easily. I think the skin gets more sore with the constant dampness anyway.

I couldn’t leave mine with visible snot pouring out of their nose.

If she’s fine with having her nose wiped, you could put the Vaseline on a cloth and rub it on her nose with that

Can you use something softer than a tissue like a hankie or a muslin

I’ve always wiped whenever there is visible snot, so during a particularly bad cold this would be almost constantly. I have often wondered why there are so many snot nosed kids whose parents don’t wipe them away immediately. Do they not see it? Does it not turn their stomach seeing snot everywhere? Interesting to see a different perspective I suppose as I just could not get my head around it. I always used wet wipes rather than an actual tissue and never had any issues with dry or sore skin but agree some kind of barrier cream is the likely answer. The wet snot on her face constantly is going to be more of an irritant than having her nose cleaned.

But those balsam tissues - more expensive but they make a massive difference if you have a really streaming cold and are wiping / blowing all the time. They won't irate her skin nearly so much (or at least not once it heals up a bit). Also second sudocreme / vasiline

Doubt she was judging you but probably felt sorry for your child with a snotty face! Smother her nose and top lip with Vaseline when she’s asleep and it should help!

Absolute no to just leaving snot for an hour, that is disgusting. Welded on crusty snot will make nose sorer than just wiping it. YABU

Is this a debate? I’ve always just wiped it!

Use a nasal aspirator

Good God of course you wipe! It’s truly vile seeing kids covered in snot running around 🤢🤢

Vaseline when she is asleep.
sensitive baby wipes are good during the day. Less abrasive than even the softest of tissues.
she May not like cream on her face - but it for her good- so you and DH may need to pin her down and apply it quickly. You don’t want impetigo which is a risk with sore and broken skin.

Wipe and Vaseline. And teach her to blow her nose?

I have to say I didn’t know this was a debate. If a child has a snotty nose, you wipe it.

Definitely barrier cream/moisturiser and regular wiping!

🤮 candle nose

Get some happinose vasaline on a tissue etc

Balsam tissues make a massive difference. Hay fever sufferer here, so I know!

use a flannel/cloth to gently wash of any crusts every now and then.
and yes to a barrier cream.

I can't stand seeing those long green snots. It would be a definite wipe from me.

We haven't been anywhere today other than to pick her brother up, and I've kept her off nursery so she's not been spreading anything anywhere 🙄

It is literally not possible to wipe every time there is visible snot unless I don't cook/pee/drive/walk from car to door to pick up. She is an absolute bloody mess and crying everytime I go near her with a cloth or tissue. I have been using muslins actually which does seem gentler. Will definitely try barrier cream on a muslin tomorrow, that is a good tip. I tried letting her put cream on my face first earlier which she found amusing but still wouldn't let me anywhere near her face with it 😵‍💫