What Can I Do? - Denver,CO

Does you daughter like princesses? We told our daughter that princesses do not pick their noses. It worked pretty well. Now whenever she does something unlady like we tell her Cinderella would never do that. Good luck!

I also have a 3 year old with this problem. She sucks her thumb and then puts her finger in her nose and most of the time smears the mucus on her face. It's been a problem for some time now. She was at a school for awhile and her teacher told me to have her keep a tissue in her pocket that worked for awhile. She's been home since April and I haven't really been on her to stop. She started a new preschool this fall and I told her that she didn't want her face dirty with boogies for her friends to see. She went quickly to the bathroom to wipe her face. I believe the same peer pressure will stop her from sucking her thumb also. Good Luck. I know this is a yuky subject and you are not alone with the problem.

You usually have to replace one habit (good or bad) with another (distration). Find something else to keep her hands busy. Get on the floor and play with her when she is doing it, or let her help you fold towel, sweep the floor (there are toy brooms). If she has a favorite blankey or stuff animal she let her carry it around to keep her hands busy, (at least you can wash it and it distracts her from the nose picking).

I would not stress out about it. She knows it bothers you and will keep doing it if she knows you will react. I had a similar problem w/ my daughter when she was 3 and I found that just ignoring it helped it not be a long term problem. If she hurts herself while doing it, remind her that it will keep happening if she keeps picking her nose, then drop the subject. I also think peer pressure, once she enters school can be a big motivator. also, try to remember that although it's gross, it will stop in time. Good luck!

A.