Tips on how to teach a toddler to blow her nose is one of those things they don’t give you in the parenting manual. Oh you didn’t get one of those? Yea, me either, wishful thinking anyways. If there was one, I can only imagine this would be one of those fun tidbits they would leave out just to watch us struggle. I do not claim to be an expert in teaching a toddler how to blow her nose, but these are just some tips I have learned.
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How to Teach Your Toddler to Blow Her Nose
Model it for her!
You’re her super hero, the one she tries to emulate, right? Take advantage of that and actually model blowing your nose for her. It won’t give her the mechanics of it, but it will give her an overall idea of how it will look.
Toss the tissue
When you are trying to teach your child to blow her nose, first do it without the tissue. If you were trying to teach her to tie her shoe, would you cover up the laces so she couldn’t see what you were talking about? Start first by just getting her to blow air out of her nose. I remember the first time I was telling my daughter to blow, she was doing it from her mouth, and the boogers were still there she wasn’t helping any! So, toss the tissue, it will make it a little easier when you actually have to stick a tissue in her face.
Blow it at bathtime
Kids are little people who learn things by using their senses. When she is in the tub, have her put her face to the surface of the water and blow out of her nose. She will make bubbles and think it is the best thing ever! This will be helpful when you have to get her to blow her nose and you can tell her to blow like she was making bubbles in the tub.
Bring back the tissue
The tissue can be a helpful tool, you can show her how she can make the tissue dance by blowing on it with the air from her nose! You can start by showing her how to make it move with her mouth by blowing on it, then show her with her nose.
Make it a big deal
I remember the first time my daughter actually was able to blow her nose and have some success. She was so proud! Each time after that I just had to remind her of the last time she blew her nose, how she was able to clear it, do that again.
Be patient
This might be my biggest downfall. I swear it is in their DNA to hate their nose being touched let alone prodded and poked to get boogers out. No one likes to fight with their sick child to clear their nose, I mean we are only trying to help them what is their problem? So have some patience, and just know that I promise you will not have a teenager who does not know how to blow their own nose.
It’s one of the fun parts of parenthood, boogers and nastiness (I hope you can sense my sarcasm here). The sooner you can teach your child to blow her own nose, you will be a little happier. I hope these tips can help you out a little the next time you find yourself wrestling with a toddler to clean out their nose!
These are great tips!! I remember how hard it can be for them to figure it out when they are younger.
Some great tips! I always loved the praising part -Yay! You did it! Your’s so biggg! Especially when you get the big grins afterwards :)
This is almost as bad as potty training. But somehow they learn what we teach them and it all turns out ok.
These sound like really good ways to teach the little ones to blow their own noses. I wonder if any of us remember learning that lesson–I know I don’t–maybe I’ll ask my 93 year old Mom–maybe she remembers?
Seriously, I won the lottery with my girls- the both learned to blow their noses around a year old. Thank goodness, because they both have issues with our dry New England weather AND allergy season!
It seems as though this woudl be very difficult. Not quite there yet
We are trying to teach our daughter to blow her nose but it seems impossible! Will try out some of the tricks mentioned here.
I love love love the idea of teaching them in the bathtub! I wish I had thought of that when my kids were munchkins
I’ve never thought about this before. Toddlers can be kind of cute trying to figure it all out.
I remember these days, teaching mine was not easy. There are some really good ideas here that are sure to help. :-)