Bloody Nose Picker....Next Stop....HOME!!! Vent...

[TBird]

UGH!!! I currently have a 5 year old who does everything he can to pick his nose BLOODY every day....I'VE HAD IT!!! I spend my days pulling him out of corners, his head out of his lap, anywhere he can inconspicuously pick his nose until it bleeds all over the place. I noticed he was a nose picker, but it's gotten worse & worse. Today I saw him sneak into a corner & I was right on top of him but not before he got a nice bleed going all over the floor, his clothes, and the daycare area rug.

I bleached everything to-be-damned (including all the stray droplets that the other kids could have gotten into) and then called his Auntie (his guardian). She claims that they are taking him to the doctor because something is wrong with his nose. OKAY Auntie, but he will not bleed on top of these kids day in & day out. I told her to bring him a change of clothes, but she is (of course) too busy at work. FINE....he can wear my son's clothes but when she gets here today, I will let her know that the next time will be THE LAST TIME. I will call her, and she will pick him up IMMEDIATELY!!! She didn't sound like she realized the seriousness of blood in a daycare setting. Bleeding on it's own is one thing, but it hasn't bled by itself ever (believe me...I hope nothing's wrong), and he's literally scratching his brain every day....and he knows it's wrong....unacceptable.

[SandeeAR]

I broke my 2 y/o nose picker in two day. I warned him and warned him. Then I brought out the socks. Yep, a pair of my tube socks. I put them on both hands (on a two y/o they go up to the shoulder). I told him to go play. (He could use his hands, just not his finger up his nose). He stood there for about 5 minutes holding his arms out, looking at me funny. I finally said, shoo, go play. He walked away, but wouldn't pick up a toy.

In about 5 more min, of his standing there, I ask him, "If I take off the socks, are you going to keep your finger out of your nose? " He nodded yes. A few minutes later I saw him try again. I picked up the socks and he stopped. Had to pick up the socks a couple more times that afternoon.

Never touched his nose again, until Mom got here. I told her what I did. This was on a Friday. She told me on Monday, that she did the same thing on Saturday. Monday, I had to pickup the socks one time. Hasn't had his finger in his nose since.

[Zoe]

I broke my 2 y/o nose picker in two day. I warned him and warned him. Then I brought out the socks. Yep, a pair of my tube socks. I put them on both hands (on a two y/o they go up to the shoulder). I told him to go play. (He could use his hands, just not his finger up his nose). He stood there for about 5 minutes holding his arms out, looking at me funny. I finally said, shoo, go play. He walked away, but wouldn't pick up a toy.

In about 5 more min, of his standing there, I ask him, "If I take off the socks, are you going to keep your finger out of your nose? " He nodded yes. A few minutes later I saw him try again. I picked up the socks and he stopped. Had to pick up the socks a couple more times that afternoon.

Never touched his nose again, until Mom got here. I told her what I did. This was on a Friday. She told me on Monday, that she did the same thing on Saturday. Monday, I had to pickup the socks one time. Hasn't had his finger in his nose since.

Love this. Great idea.

To the OP, I think sending him home to get a point across may be just what the family needs to get him some help.

[bice99]

Great advice, ladies happyface

Love this. Great idea.

To the OP, I think sending him home to get a point across may be just what the family needs to get him some help.

[TBird]

Love this. Great idea.

To the OP, I think sending him home to get a point across may be just what the family needs to get him some help.

Thanks guys....I was feeling kinda mean for a milli-second there but I do have to think of the safety of the other children in my care. And like you said...maybe they'll actually take him to the doc to see if anything's going on up there!!!

[nannyde]

mitted sweatshirt

[My3cents]

UGH!!! I currently have a 5 year old who does everything he can to pick his nose BLOODY every day....I'VE HAD IT!!! I spend my days pulling him out of corners, his head out of his lap, anywhere he can inconspicuously pick his nose until it bleeds all over the place. I noticed he was a nose picker, but it's gotten worse & worse. Today I saw him sneak into a corner & I was right on top of him but not before he got a nice bleed going all over the floor, his clothes, and the daycare area rug.

I bleached everything to-be-damned (including all the stray droplets that the other kids could have gotten into) and then called his Auntie (his guardian). She claims that they are taking him to the doctor because something is wrong with his nose. OKAY Auntie, but he will not bleed on top of these kids day in & day out. I told her to bring him a change of clothes, but she is (of course) too busy at work. FINE....he can wear my son's clothes but when she gets here today, I will let her know that the next time will be THE LAST TIME. I will call her, and she will pick him up IMMEDIATELY!!! She didn't sound like she realized the seriousness of blood in a daycare setting. Bleeding on it's own is one thing, but it hasn't bled by itself ever (believe me...I hope nothing's wrong), and he's literally scratching his brain every day....and he knows it's wrong....unacceptable.

it sounds like it has become a habit now, but I wonder if his nose is dry. A little vaseline can help.

I love the mitted sweatshirt idea......just curious if someone is going to pull abuse out on that one. :confused: Restricting, tormenting, yada yada, taking away freedom.

Best-

[Blackcat31]

mitted sweatshirts rock....for a variety of reasons.

I have used the concept before and it DOES work!! happyface

However, I would add that in order to avoid any accusations of restriction, tormenting and such as PP mentioned, I make sure the parent is on board with the idea. Most times, the parent is just looking for something that works too.

[jojosmommy]

I know your looking to stop the behavior but I have a quick fix for the bleeding. Moisten a tea bag and place it over the nostril, breathe through nose obv. The tea bag stops the bleeding quick. Never had an issue with it.

[countrymom]

yup, bad habit thats for sure. How about instead of socks, really think gloves, you can't get gloves up your nose.

[Heidi]

I broke my 2 y/o nose picker in two day. I warned him and warned him. Then I brought out the socks. Yep, a pair of my tube socks. I put them on both hands (on a two y/o they go up to the shoulder). I told him to go play. (He could use his hands, just not his finger up his nose). He stood there for about 5 minutes holding his arms out, looking at me funny. I finally said, shoo, go play. He walked away, but wouldn't pick up a toy.

In about 5 more min, of his standing there, I ask him, "If I take off the socks, are you going to keep your finger out of your nose? " He nodded yes. A few minutes later I saw him try again. I picked up the socks and he stopped. Had to pick up the socks a couple more times that afternoon.

Never touched his nose again, until Mom got here. I told her what I did. This was on a Friday. She told me on Monday, that she did the same thing on Saturday. Monday, I had to pickup the socks one time. Hasn't had his finger in his nose since.

I was going to suggest socks-or a Nanny De custom sweatshirt!

[SandeeAR]

I broke my 2 y/o nose picker in two day. I warned him and warned him. Then I brought out the socks. Yep, a pair of my tube socks. I put them on both hands (on a two y/o they go up to the shoulder). I told him to go play. (He could use his hands, just not his finger up his nose). He stood there for about 5 minutes holding his arms out, looking at me funny. I finally said, shoo, go play. He walked away, but wouldn't pick up a toy.

In about 5 more min, of his standing there, I ask him, "If I take off the socks, are you going to keep your finger out of your nose? " He nodded yes. A few minutes later I saw him try again. I picked up the socks and he stopped. Had to pick up the socks a couple more times that afternoon.

Never touched his nose again, until Mom got here. I told her what I did. This was on a Friday. She told me on Monday, that she did the same thing on Saturday. Monday, I had to pickup the socks one time. Hasn't had his finger in his nose since.

I was going to suggest socks-or a Nanny De custom sweatshirt!

It's January and we are having 60-70 degree weather here in Arkansas. A sweatshirt would never work in the south. That is why I used the socks.

[sahm2three]

I buy those little cheap stretchy gloves, they come in like a 3 pack for $1.50 or something, and put them on them. They make them for tiny hands too. They can continue to play, but if they try to put them fingers in their nose, it won't fit and they stop trying. Then I just wash them.

[daycare]

the mitted shirts or socks work like a char,...just like they work for your dog or cat when you want them to stop bitting at their leg.

I had a DCB that had surgery on his hand. He came to me like this and was never told why. Well he had stitches in his thumb from the surgery and because he is a thumb ****er he kept getting it infected. So when the parents told me what they were doing I was a little take back at first.

They took his shirt and turned it inside out and tied it into a knot. then turned it the right side out. He had no use of this hand at all. I felt bad at first, but I understood why it had to be done. I guess before coming to me, the infection was so bad that he got a staff infection and was in jeopardy of losing his thumb.....OMG and he is only 2.

I hope that the parents or aunt will be on board to help stop the child from doing this because it does sound like a bad habit....

[TBird]

Bloody Nose Picker Update...

First let me thank you all soooo much for your ideas and support!!! Blood makes me really OCD & really nervous so it helped that you guys are calm professionals!!!happyface

So, after one more bleed-out on Friday, I called Auntie so she could speak with 'Little Johnny' about sitting tight and not picking until they can get him to the doctor. I tell her how I can't contain the blood when he picks & hides and how dangerous it is for the crawling/walking infants that I have in my care. I tell her that I will give him the phone & she can talk (he's 5 years old so he understands clearly). She says to me....."What should I say to him???" I'm like HUH??? Uh boy.......I say "Please tell him not to pick his nose until it bleeds & that you'll get him to the doctor first thing on MONDAY or he can't come back to daycare."

Anyway, she spoke to him......we had one more bleed-out and I reiterated at pickup that he'd be sent home next week (this week).

So, fast forward to today......they arrived late from the doctor's office. happyface He has one more visit with a specialist on Friday (not sure what for or what exactly the issue is with his nose) but he hasn't picked at it today at all (so far). Maybe he knows he's getting help. Anyhoo, I'm still sending him home if I have to clean up a ton of blood today but I'm so glad they are doing what they are supposed to be doing as his guardians. All's well that ends well!!!happyface