How Did You Teach Your Preschooler to Blow His/her Nose?

Try having her close her mouth and breathe in and out really fast through her nose. Then try having her do a big breath in and breathing it all back out in one nose-breath.

It's difficult to teach while they are already stuffed up. I taught my kids when they were able to get air throw their nose. You have them practice by blowing on something that will move (like a balloon or tissue paper) and then have them blow on it through their nose with their hand over their mouth, and eventually with their mouth closed with out the hand over it.

Try telling her to pretend to blow out a birthday candle with her nose.

OH GOOD FOR YOU - our dreams are OURS --- . As for blowing her nose --- it is a tricky thing for little guys. So - as a long-time preschool teacher - here's my best ideas -. Practice as a game- and have some little rewards - gummy bears - or her favorite fruit---- THEN -- show her how ( you KNEW I would have you looking ridiculous) show her that mommy has to shut her mouth tight - and then make all the air push out of mommy's nose really hard, really fast - and you can show her with your facial expression- how much better you feel - then let her try. ( now here's the tricky part - you want to practice until she gets some part of it right - and then reward her for that - even if all she can do is hold her mouth closed - reward it - you NEVER want to end a practice on a ''failed'' 'note - and your hardest job as a parent will be - finding those baby steps toward the end goal that you can honestly reward and praise - ( ''well, she didnt get all the clothes in the hamper - but she got them all in a pile next to it ) you don't necessarily tell her to begin with what the reward is for - because you don't want to make her job too hard)

you'll do it--
blessings
J.

Aside from the nose blowing, if it is determined later on that she suffers from allergies, you must get her on a regular routine of washing her nose. My daughter is 10 and we have had issues with her nose since she was a toddler, turns out her adnoids are enlarged, and she was suffereing from CONSTANT nose stuffiness. She was a mouth breather, otherwise she would probably sufficate! My husband starting washing his nose with NeilMed sinus rinse a few years back as he often suffers from allergies and sinus headaches. What a huge difference this was for him. Sinus headaches gone, and definitely sick less often. Turns out the ENT I took my daughter to also uses this and swears by it. So, based on his recommendation I have my daughter using it and it is a God send! The adnoids are still an issue but Dr says as she grows she will outgrow them. Guess around 10 they should be fully grown.

Hi K.,
When I taught my kids how to blow their noses, some of them got it, some didn't. Try not to use the same term "blow" for both runny noses and hot foods. When food is hot, you could try using your hand to fan it and then blow on it. Be sure you say "hot, hot, hot!" When blowing her nose, tell her that she has to try to get the junk out of her nose. In order to do that, she has to close her mouth and blow. Demonstrate without a tissue if you can. Or put the tissue close, but let her see how you're doing it. The absolute BEST advice I can give you is to use chap-stick or some type of lip moisturizer on her nose. Use your finger to spread it because you don't want to infect your chap stick. It works like a charm and doesn't hurt at all. Make sure you start using it early, before her nose gets so sore. Best of luck to you and don't give up. Just keep trying and she'll get it. They all do!
S. B.

Have you ever tried a neti pot and/or a nasal irrigator? You can buy them cheap in Walmart. I use the nasal irrigator once to twice a day for my child. It comes with special packets you put in water for gentler irrigation. It is incredible what comes out of their little nasal passages, and it is wonderful to see how their breathing is unobstructed afterwards. You will have to follow instructions and do it for them gently the first few times to get them used to it. My child started doing it at age five by himself while in the shower. If you run out of packets you can use a quarter tsp. of noniodized salt instead. It's less traumatic than blowing and wiping once they are used to it. It works so well I have been able to forego allergy shots.

For an alternative to the bulb syringe, check out Nosefrieda. It seems really, really gross, but it gets the job done quicker and with much less distress than a bulb syringe, and it is actually very sanitary. Here's the website: http://www.nosefrida.com/ You can also get them on Amazon.

Well first, get yourself a chapstick and use that on her nose between blowings. I just had this problem and the chapstick helped immensely, also the lotion tissues.

Now for the teaching, I haven't read what others are saying but here's how I did it. Have her take a big breath and poke out her cheeks. Then demonstrate. Tell her if she blows, it will come out her nose. I found that if they opened their mouth, I quick put my hand over it and that helped. Of course, they have no claustrophobia, so the hand over the mouth doesn't bother mine. If worse comes to worse, try using the bulb syringe. I hated holding mine down for that though so getting them to blow was pretty important.

That's a tough one. I think in general they ARE too young to understand/coordinate it. My son always HATED the bulb syringe AND blowing his nose... Even at 10 yrs... he is just getting to the point that he doesn't fuss if I suggest he blow his nose (lol). My daughter on the other hand, always LOVED her syringe (and would even try to do it herself playing when she was about 1 yr) and has always known how to blow her nose (???!!!) and does it without fail if she is "drippy". She's 7 now and keeps her own tissues on her nightstand.
The only suggestion I could come up with that MIGHT work would be to put her in a warm bathtub and let her play. When she's been in it a few minutes ask her to try to make bubbles with her nose. Even if she doesn't "get" it...(or refuses to put her face in the water)... the warm water and steam will soften the mucous and it will run out on its on so you can wipe it away easier using the warm wet washcloth...

I always used the "lotion" tissues too. And putting a tiny bit of vaseline around the edges of her nose will help keep it from getting dried out and sore.
Good luck.

Up until my son could do it himself (around 3 years old) I used a nasal aspirator. I used it so often that he actually liked it. Even if your daughter isn't a fan, it's so quick and you can get so much out! Also, at bath time, when the kids are at all congested or snotty - to get the most out of their noses, I squirt saline spray up each nostril, this along with the warm bath really hoses the nose!

M.

I just saw your reply to the posting and wanted to add something different. Try teaching her when she's not congested...either in a pool or in the bathtub and have her practice blowing bubbles in the water out her nose. This will teach BOTH the blowing of the nose and how to keep water from going up her nose when she is swimming. :) Hope this helps! BTW- I have found Carmex applied to the nose will eliminate the soreness and redness overnight. Also, invest in the Kleenex/Puffs tissues with lotion in them...they really ARE softer when they are that sensitive. Good luck!

Just wanted to say I feel you - our 15mo old has an ear infection and is congested. She gets that she needs a tissue - she'll hold one up to her nose (so cute!). She does the same thing with thinking it's hot and blowing out her mouth. Good luck!

If you CAN get her to close her mouth... I told my child to close her mouth, press on the side of one nostril with her finger to close it, and blow out the other, then switch sides and do it again.

Also if your child is not allergic to aloe, then I also highly recommend Puff's Plus with Lotion to soothe red/sore noses.

Good luck,
M.

My son didn't learn until he was almost six. He was (and still sometimes is) a snorter. Ugh! It drove me crazy! He didn't get it until he started swimming without holding his nose. Use the bubbles out of the nose trick if your daughter is not adverse to putting her face in the water. Otherwise, just hang in there. You are not alone! J.

I know this is pretty late but I have a thougth about the sore nose. I have twin boys that are 2 1/2yr old. I am not sure what you are using to wipe noses but with my boys who seem to have constant running noses since starting school/daycare last february is those little blankets for babies. They are just the thin cotton ones you can get anywhere like target or walmart. I avoid the kleenex on them and they have never had a sore nose. Good luck!

I asked my pediatrician that same question and she told me that they are really too young to understand or to learn that. My daughter is 5 and she is just now learning. I guess that is why you see so many kids with runny noses. Hang in there.

I taught my son when he was 2. The trick is to make it fun. Say "Hey, wanna see a cool trick?" and be silly. Stick a small piece of tissue on your nostril and blow so the tissue will stay in your nose but moves foward (sorry I can't explain too well). And stick tissues in both of your nostrils and do the same. Make sure to act really silly - she'll love it!

Then ask her if she wants to try. I bet she'll get it in no time.

The problem w/ my son is that he doesn't want to most of the time. I think it bothers him when the stuff comes out, like a part of himself is coming out or something...

Hi K.,
Yes, sometimes teaching kids to blow cotton balls through their nose is a good start. Break it down for them, ie. first take a deep breath, close your lips and blow out your mouth. As an Occupational THerapist, I find that sometimes this is a sign of dysraxia or developmental motor incoordination. If you notice delays with coordination, you might have her evaluated by a pediatric Occupational Therapist who specializes in sensory integration.
Goodluck,
E.

Sorry this is late in responding but one of my sisters (sorry she's the only one I saw do this) held a kleenex up to my neice's nose, sort of lightly pinched one nostril closed & just said "here, you need to blow your nose, blow" & I think my niece was maybe 3?? but she did it. Don't know when she started her on it but if your child sees you blow, then they should get the idea how & also the need of it too. You can always explain what you're doing or why but it's usually self explanitory too. I saw my Mom take a Q-tip to clean my other sister's daughter's nose out. That was gross but it got the job done, I think she tried the kleenex first but that niece refused so hince the Q-tip. Good luck!

Have you had your daughter to the doctor?

He should be able to help clear the infection, if indeed it is infection. Getting her to blow her nose could be a chore, however, if you make a game of it, you blow yours and have her help you wipe your own ....just a thought.Poor baby I feel for her.

Good Luck

Hi K.... With both my daughters (one will be 3 in jan the other will be 1 next month) I started at 7months where I'd tell them "make an old lady face" and i'd scrounge up my nose and squint my eyes and breathe in and out really hard through my nose... and they'd immitate after a few times... well my 2yr old wakes up in the morning and automatically blows her nose now or comes and tells me "mommy boogies" and my 11month old just randomly does it (hey it gets her boogies out i just have to rush and clean them )... maybe you can try that with your 2.5yr old...may take some time but the silliness will surely bring some laughs...