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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Ok........so I how do I stop my 2.2 DS from picking his nose and eating it?????

37 replies

mishymoo · 21/09/2007 21:24

We have tried everything we can think of...

Ignoring it
Telling him:-
'no, that's not nice'
'you'll lose your finger'
'it'll make you poorly'

I know it may just be a phase, but he does it everywhere, nursery, shops, etc..

Any suggestions would be great.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

j20baby · 21/09/2007 21:35

hmm, its meant to help boost their immune system if they do this gross i know, maybe try and distract him

FrannyandZooey · 21/09/2007 21:37

Ds told me the other day very confidentially "I used to eat what was in my nose you know Mummy. I can't IMAGINE doing it now!"

he is 4.5 so just wait a couple of years maybe

Desiderata · 21/09/2007 21:37

Well, I shall watch this thread with interest, because I'm old ... and I still do it

It's more friendly than flicking it ... or sticking it under the table!

Original poster

mishymoo · 21/09/2007 21:39

aargh Desi

j20 - we have tried the distraction - it works for about 5 seconds and then he is back digging!

OP posts:

lionheart · 21/09/2007 21:46

I read somewhere there is an evolutionary explanation for this,

to do with germs and resistance and all that

(where is MB? She might know).

BettySpaghetti · 21/09/2007 21:51

He will probably just grow out of it. Interesting about boosting the immune system though.

DS sticks his finger up his nose, drags out the contents, looks at it and then puts it back up his nose!

Its DPs fault as one day he didn't have a tissue or any way to dispose of the "bogey" that DS was holding out on his finger (in the way that toddlers do) so DP just told him to put it back where he found it. Maybe you could try that approach

Desiderata · 21/09/2007 21:55

Well, you can start with me

I never had a day of school or a day off work in my life through illness. It was a drag. There were times when I was the only kid left in the classroom ... eating my bogies.

lol

Original poster

mishymoo · 21/09/2007 21:56

I wish it would boost his immune system - since starting nursery a year ago, I think he has had a cold (snotty nose) every month if not twice a month - perhaps that's why he picks so much!

I have tried giving him vitamins but he doesn't like the orange flavoured liquids and I can't seem to find chewable strawberry flavoured ones for 2 year olds. Don't suppose any one has any other ideas, please

OP posts:

lionheart · 21/09/2007 21:58

Although if you follow the immune logic it would work better if you picked someone else's nose.

popsycal · 21/09/2007 21:58

ignore

I panicked the other day.. ds2 (2.5) is a monkey for putting stuff in his mouth. We were in the car and I could see him chewing. when I asked what he was eating, he said,
'Just me bogies mummy. Not having a choking!'

Original poster

mishymoo · 21/09/2007 21:58

oh yuk LH

LOL at Desi again...

OP posts:

pointydog · 21/09/2007 22:07

take tissues with you and wipe his nose roughly every time you see him do it

pointydog · 21/09/2007 22:07

while saying 'dirty boy'

Spidermama · 21/09/2007 22:08

Don't stop him. It's good for him. Just teach him to do it away from the gaze of others.

Spidermama · 21/09/2007 22:09

See.

lionheart · 21/09/2007 22:13

lol, I knew I'd seen it somehwhere.

Original poster

mishymoo · 21/09/2007 22:17

I still can't quite believe that's true! But then growing up, picking your nose was always 'dirty' so how it is supposed to build an immune system I just really don't know

My DS is living proof that nose picking does not improve immune system - he constantly has a runny nose - poor little thing!

OP posts:

paolosgirl · 21/09/2007 22:19

I'll keep an eye on this thread, because I have a great stonking 10 year old who does this, and it drives me . I swear I will cut his picking finger off one of these days

lionheart · 21/09/2007 22:20

Don't let him see the research, pg.

Original poster

mishymoo · 21/09/2007 22:20

oh no, don't tell me i have another 8 years or more of this....

OP posts:

paolosgirl · 21/09/2007 22:25

He's just come down to say night night (it was a late night in our house - they were allowed to watch High School Musical tonight and stay up late as a treat), and saw my post.

He's spent the last 5 minutes with his finger up his nose, saying "look at me, I'm sratching the inside of my nose"

Desiderata · 21/09/2007 22:33

OK, mishy. I'm not usually helpful if I can help it, but you must buy ABIDEC. He'll love it. One spoonful a day. It's a multi-vit with added Omega 3.

I give it to ds on the days when he hasn't/won't/can't eat anything. He looks forward to it because the flavour (slightly lemony) is fantastic.

And keep up with the snot It's evidently good for you. Just make sure, as others have said, that he does it in private.

lilolilmanchester · 21/09/2007 22:39

I've just been looking for my copy of "Toddler Taming" by Christopher Green, but think I lent it to someone (my toddlers are 10 and 14!) There was a section in there called "bad habits in nice children" and nose picking was one of them. Green's view was "look around you at any traffic jam and you will see an adult picking their nose". The other one i remember was about biting. "Don't worry, they'll grow out of it(unless they go on to play rugby)".
Not constructive for you, I know, but perhaps will help you see that it's not abnormal... I'm not big on childcare books, but loved that one.

nooka · 21/09/2007 22:39

I must admit I thought that everyone (pretty much) at some time or another picks their nose and eats it. Certainly all kids. The only thing you can do is discourage them from doing it in public. It's better than smearing it on the wall as ds did tonight (and he is 8!)

Malaleche · 21/09/2007 22:43

I told DD1 that snot is made of dead flies and the fumes from cars but that hasn't stopped her....
If you cut back on dairy there´ll be less snot...

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