Stop nose picking and eating

[Dylangreencat]

My four year old has been a regular nose picker and eater, we continually tell him not to do this, he's eating bugs/germs, it's gross, it'll make him sick etc but he almost does it subconsciously now. It's a lot worse when he is sick or has a runny nose. We've told him to get a tissue and blow his nose which he will do but most of the time he just picks and eats without thinking! Any advice to get this to stop? He's about to start school and I'm worried he will be made fun of if he is doing this

Do you or any one in the house also do this?

My dd was the same..she stopped that and started lip picking, stopped that and started hair twirling etc etc.

I would let peer pressure take effect in this case.

Being made fun of, will likely stop him doing it much more effectively than you telling him not to do it.

No definitely not, he's the oldest and would hate his younger sister (only 5 months) to start copying hadn't even thought about it.

It's so frustrating, it seems like he doesn't even realise he is doing it, would much rather he just stopped than got picked on, he's quite young for the year group so don't want him to be made fun of

Could you get him a figet spinner?

I'm just following for ideas as my 6 year old is terrible for this. Particularly when relaxed such as when listening to me read her a story at night. Sometimes I get cross with her that I can constantly see her picking her nose while I'm reading to her!

My 6 year old ds is the same, he thinks it’s hilarious

It's pretty normal isn't it?
I do this. Just not in public.

At this stage I just want him to understand it's not something he should be doing as I'm sure older kids in the school and out and about will make fun of him! It's usually when he's watching TV or on his tablet but I've seen him doing it while playing, trying to redirect him to use a tissue

A brown adult picking their nose and eating it? Feel sick at the thought tbh.