Nosepicking - help!!!

[shardstar]

I have a real problem with my six year old and hope someone can help. She can not stop picking her nose.

We've talked about how the other kids may tease her and how it looks gross, but she continues to do it. She tells me that sometimes she gets teased now, and how a girl in her class said that she couldn't come over because she picks her nose. I asked her if that made her not want to do it anymore, and she said "no, she can just come over to my house instead". Obviously, she didn't get the point! I've tried putting kleenex in her pocket, and telling her that every time she wants to pick, to use kleenex instead. I've tried so may other things, but she continues to pick. I just don't know what to do! I feel so bad because I saw the way that kids who picked their noses were teased when I was a kid, and I don't want that for her. She has enough problems with having ADHD that she doesn't need any more.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[LaurieL]

Is she actually picking her nose or just kind of sticking her fingers in it. Is she on meds? On certain meds my son will do that kind of thing we have thought of it as a tic. He did it really bad on one med we have changed his med and it has lessened. He never really picked tho just stuck his fingers up there. It may not be something that she can control.

[swmom]

If she's really got something in there that's bothering her, telling her not to pick her nose won't work. We had this going on and I realized that it was uncomfortable and really needed to get it out. So, what I said was if you need to pick your nose, go to the bathroom and do it or somewhere where people aren't.
That way, she gets rid of that uncomfortable feeling and she's not offending anybody. It does take awhile for them to get in the habit of doing this.

Also, consider this. Does she have allergies? Is she on an antihistimine? If so, she may have more going on in there than most and feel the need to pick her nose more than most.

[shardstar]

She did it last year when she wasn't on meds yet, and she still does it now on meds. She started Strattera on Aug 1. I was hoping that the nose picking would stop when she started the Strat, but it didn't. She actually sticks her index finger in her nose and sometimes puts it in her mouth. You could be right, she might not be able to help it, but I still feel like I have to help her stop.

[shardstar]

I guess I should look into the allergy thing, but I think this more a bad habit. I don't know if it's a tic or a habit. How do you tell the difference?

[swmom]

If it's a habit, you can try to replace the nose picking with something else. Such as when she gets the urge to pick her nose, do such and such instead. I know that's easier said than done.

[TerryB]

Well, I don't know if this will help but my nephew put his hand in the front of his pants up until age 6. Talk about gross! It wasn't anything sexual just a comfort thing. He didn't know that he was doing it. We did a family intervention for his own benefit. Every person that was near and dear to him was instructed to calmly pull his hand out of his pants. Even his teacher and principal helped but not in a humiliating way. His mom actually directed him to wash his hands when she was the one catching him at it. Slowly, but surely, he learned not to do it and he definitely gets more hugs and kisses now (no one wanted to touch him before!)

I just remembered something my sister said about nose-picking. With her four kids she would make them wash their hands every time she caught them picking their noses. Eventually they all got tired of washing their hands.

I agree with swmom that sometimes there is something uncomfortable up there so the child needs to go into the bathroom, get it out, and wash his hands. This routine will probably eventually lead to the child being a little more selective about how badly the nose is bothering him/her and therefore how often s/he wants to go through the whole routine of going into the bathroom and then washing his/her hands.

If she cared to stop I would try putting a Band-Aid on the culprit finger and that would feel different in her nostril and remind her to stop.

I think that you are right to worry about this one. Nose-picking sets a child apart.

Terry

[Dakotah]

I had tears of joy when I saw this thread because I knew I wasn't alone. Last night at gymnastics I watched my son pick his nose the WHOLE TIME he was there. I couldn't tell him to stop because we watch through a window. We know he picks because he is anxious about something, not for the joy of picking... It got better for awhile but has returned. We sat down with him this morning (he's five) and asked him to stop (again) and his reply was "I want to but I can't stop" I told him we are going to try a few different things to help him. We are going to give him the options of 1) tape/bandaides on each finger ( he uses them all!) 2) gloves (he's a thumbsucker so I am not sure this one is fair) 3) a drop of vinegar on each finger print (he hates certain smells). We have tried hand washing but he has a serious issue with soap so we decided it was too hard on EVERYONE to make him wash his hands every two minutes. Also he picks his eyes. This one isn't as gross as nose picking. I'll be watching this topic for more advice!

TerryB you made me feel better that it isn't a more icky habit! Thanks!! Things can always be worse!!

[shardstar]

Thank you so much to everyone for your great advice! Last night I talked with her and told her that if she needed to pick that maybe she could try excusing herself to go to the bathroom and pick in private, and I think it might work! Last night she even did it at home and then again this morning. Hand washing and placing a band-aid on her index finger are both good ideas that I will also try. I guess time will tell whether it's an issue of something being up her nose that she needs to get out, or if it's a stress relief habit.

[TerryB]

I would bet she'll become more tolerant of mucus in her nose and if she is doing it to relieve stress she will probably find another habit but hopefully one more socially acceptable.

Here's a good story. It's a little off-color so I hope that I don't offend. When I was in third grade I had a school friend invite me to her house for a sleep-over. Well third graders are known to collect things, right? Well, she had a boogie collection on the wall over her bed. There must have been 20 of them all lined up! It was really hard to get to sleep that night. So, I guess things could always be worse!!! But seriously, I think you will be able to deal with this. It's nice of you to help your daughter through this. Our kids just don't get it sometimes but they do learn with our help.

Terry

[shardstar]

That was absolutely hilarious!!!! How gross!!!! I BET you couldn't sleep that night!!! I guess there are some out there who do nastier things than anyone would think! I guess we'll see what happens, and if I come accross any great remedies, I'll let everyone know.

[Dakotah]

Shardstar- I followed your lead and set my son down and talked about going into the bathroom to pick his nose and we also discussed the whole germ thing. He really wants to stop. Give us an update to let us know how it is going.

TerryB- Honest to God I had a friend who had the same collection! Hers was on the backside of her headboard! Yum Yum! Here's to good eatin' ;D

[TerryB]

Oh my Gosh Dakota... I think I'm sick.

[Dakotah]

Just a quick FYI and thanks. My son was nose picking free at gymnastics. I put a tiny piece of tape on each finger and it worked. I saw him go for the gold and stop when he felt the tape! He has really cut down at other times as well. Shardstar I hope you are having some success!

[MomX2]

I haven't read everything else here so appologize if this is a repeat of what has already been said. Something to consider is allergy. That can cause the inside of the lining of the nose to swell causing discomfort, irritation and feeling of not being able to breath. It can also cause itching. If the allergy is mild you may not see much by way of symptoms but she will feel the difference. Another possibility is the dry air in the winter causing irritation in a child with a greater sensitivity to such (have you ever noticed if she has sensitive skin). Offering her other alternatives such as a saline nasal spray might help some. It could also possibly be related to an obsessive-compulsive tendency but that is probably less likely.

Since it's a fairly common behavior in children you might just ask her to do it in private or get a tissue. That's advice provided in one of my children's health books.

[ohmama]

Here's something else you could try...
There's a product called "PONARIS nasal emollient" this was included in NASA's medical space kit for the astronauts so kids may think it's cool to use. It's for relief of Nasal congestion due to colds, Nasal irritations, Atrophic rhintis (dry, inflamed nasal passages), Allergy manifestations (rose and hay fever), and Nasal mucosal encrustations. You can get this over the counter at most any drug store but check with your doctor. It's not for infants or very young children.

There's also a product called "LITTLE NOSES" nasal spray/drops that could help for a child of any age.

I think nose picking starts for a good reason even though it often developes into a habbit or anxiety issue. If you can get to it before that happens you stand a much better chance of stopping it. It's definately not acceptable social behavior and would interfere with making friends and causing embarrasment for our kids. That's the most painful thing for all of us.

[Dakotah]

Thanks for more GREAT advice!! It is all worth a shot.

[shardstar]

Thanks ohmama and momx2! I think my next step is going to be to look into the allergy thing, and in the meantime try some of the mentioned nose emolients.

The trick of telling her that if she needed to pick her nose, to do it in private (like in the bathroom), worked for about two days, but then she forgot. I kept reminding her, when I caught her doing it, and she'd just say "oh! I forgot". Sooooooo, it looks like that's just not going to work right now.

You're right, nose picking really is socially unacceptable behavior. My daughter, if I do say so myself, is a very attractive girl, but when she picks her nose it really makes her look bad. It sets her up for teasing and embarassment. She's got so many other challenges, and I really hate for her to go through this. I have to say that it probably bothers me a lot more than it bothers her, though!

[jakesmomma]

Hi Everyone:

I read this post and couldnt believe how many kids are picking their noses. I know everyone may do it from time to time...but my son does it alot. The teacher's have sent notes home from school asking me to talk to jake about it. He seemed to stop alittle once we changed medications. I watched him pick his nose while he was in line during baseball drills, he looked like he was in a trance. I started to call his name from the side line to distract him. He keep on digging in his nose. I was really embarrased. Acouple mother's saw me and laughed. They said all kids do it. I do not think so. Not to the extent of Jake. I am going to try the nasal drops...Hopefully it will stop him from picking. It is a very embarrasing habit. He is 7 years old soon to be 8.
I wonder if it has to do with meds? I dont know. Let me know if the drops help..

[swmom]

If your child has allergies, and the congestion is rather constant, then he will most likely have the urge to pick his nose. Antihistamines tend to dry out the nose as well.

If your child has allergies, one solution to the nosepicking might be to make sure all efforts to clear up his allergies have been made.