How do I stop my 2.5 year old picking her nose and eating it?

[Elmeux]

Just that really. My 2.5 yr old DD picks her nose and eats it. It's disgusting. I definitely don't do it's not a behaviour I'm modelling. I haven't seen my DH do it, and she doesn't spend enough time on her own with him for me to think he does.

I'm at a loss - I've tried saying it's not nice, whilst not making too much of a fuss, I've tried just ignoring it whilst I secretly vomit in my mouth. I've saying it's gross/yucky etc but she just keeps doing it.

We're currently at a soft play and I've just watched her pick and eat the biggest bogey and shove it straight in her mouth. Just thinking about it is making me retch.

Anyone got any advice?

It's disgusting isn't it? My son never did it but all his three children have/ still do. The eldest I think has stopped now.
I tell them to stop it and they do stop in front of me. I remember friends doing it when I was a child

I think she'll grow out of it but it's revolting whilst it lasts

Not sure if there's an age restriction but could you paint her nails a pretty colour (but secretly put a layer of the stuff that stops you biting nails, it tastes horrible) on, so then when she picks and puts it in her mouth, she might be deterred because of the taste? And won't know it's actually from her nails?

oh god its normal!!!

She'll grow out of it when her peers either dont do it, or make comment or she gets bored.

Theres lots of disgusting stuff to come!

Every time she does it say 'oh no, now we have to go wash hands' and take her even when she resists. Make it a non negotiable rule. She won't care about germs so there is no need to go into detail, just explain her nose has dirty germs and she must wash her hands or she won't be allowed touch anything else. If she absolutely refuses washing and has a tantrum make her just sit there unable to touch anything so she gets the message. Don't get cross about the picking just say go wash your hands. Every single time.

She will get so fed up of missing out on fun that she will stop. Or get more clever and sneak off to do it in private which is OK too.

That's what we do where I work with children only a few months older than your DD.

This. I really couldn't care less about young children doing this. They don't learn it from anywhere- they just do it. Have you ever seen chimps doing the same? They're just little wild creatures. Don't worry about it.

Teach her how to blow her nose. Every snotty tissue gets a prize!!

Put that vile tasting stuff on her nails that people use to stop biting nails !

I'm sure she's just boosting her immune system 😆

“Stop picking your nose or your brains will fall out”

was the quote my dad used whenever he saw one of his 4 kids or 12 grandchildren having a rummage. As well as generally gettting a giggle, it seemed to have worked. None of the 16 of us grew up to be nose pickers (well not in public anyway!)

Yep!.... I'm sure I read a study somewhere back in the day (possibly antediluvian!) that said exactly that!

Choose your battles. Expect it to get worse than this.

Ha. Some great ideas here, thanks. I was a nail biter growing up, and grew to love that nail varnish stuff even though it was disgusting. I love the hand washing plan, I'll definitely give that one a go.

Totally normal and totally vile. I wish you strength.