I hadn’t heard about the nose picking study so I’m thrilled to hear about it! My toddler does this. I decided not to stop her.
My thought process went something like this:
1) She’s not in immediate danger so I’ll observe. (It’s a different story for me if there are other adults nearby who don’t share my inclination to observe first then react.)
2) Children learn by using all their senses. Smaller children learn by putting things in their mouth and tasting them.
3) Boogers, from my memory, are salty and a bit savory. Not foul tasting or bitter which one would expect from inedible or dangerous substances. Also, salt kills bacteria.
4) Children learn to do things either by watching those around them, or by instinct. Since I don’t eat my boogers nor does anyone else in our household I assume it’s instinctive. I also know from her older siblings that the inclination subsides with age.
5) Will a germ that already has access to the nasal passage do better in the digestive tract? I wouldn’t think so. But i do know that children (and adults) do receive certain immunities by ingesting small quantities of otherwise problematic substances. Poison ivy for instance.
However, even with the study I can’t be certain that its good idea. First, studies seem to come out on a daily basis contracting each other. Plus, the environment in which my child is growing up in is vastly different from any other generation so instincts can’t be relied on. (Hating carseats with a passion is an instinct that I’ve decided needs to be redirected, for instance.)
I get what you are saying, but this can become problematic. It’s actually a daily dilemma I face: Do I do what I think is best for my child or what is acceptable by mainstream standards.
Most of what gets caught by nasal mucus ends up in the digestive tract anyway. I once had an ENT specialist nurse tell me all the assorted bodily substances that find their way into your stomach without you even noticing. It’s one of those things you just have to shrug off, I think.
Good to know. It reminds me of advice I read somewhere that advised not putting anything on your skin that you would worry about eating as it was going to end up inside you anyway.
I hadn’t heard about the nose picking study so I’m thrilled to hear about it! My toddler does this. I decided not to stop her.
My thought process went something like this:
1) She’s not in immediate danger so I’ll observe. (It’s a different story for me if there are other adults nearby who don’t share my inclination to observe first then react.)
2) Children learn by using all their senses. Smaller children learn by putting things in their mouth and tasting them.
3) Boogers, from my memory, are salty and a bit savory. Not foul tasting or bitter which one would expect from inedible or dangerous substances. Also, salt kills bacteria.
4) Children learn to do things either by watching those around them, or by instinct. Since I don’t eat my boogers nor does anyone else in our household I assume it’s instinctive. I also know from her older siblings that the inclination subsides with age.
5) Will a germ that already has access to the nasal passage do better in the digestive tract? I wouldn’t think so. But i do know that children (and adults) do receive certain immunities by ingesting small quantities of otherwise problematic substances. Poison ivy for instance.
However, even with the study I can’t be certain that its good idea. First, studies seem to come out on a daily basis contracting each other. Plus, the environment in which my child is growing up in is vastly different from any other generation so instincts can’t be relied on. (Hating carseats with a passion is an instinct that I’ve decided needs to be redirected, for instance.)
You probably should teach her not to do it in public, though, for reasons unrelated to her physical health.
I get what you are saying, but this can become problematic. It’s actually a daily dilemma I face: Do I do what I think is best for my child or what is acceptable by mainstream standards.
Most of what gets caught by nasal mucus ends up in the digestive tract anyway. I once had an ENT specialist nurse tell me all the assorted bodily substances that find their way into your stomach without you even noticing. It’s one of those things you just have to shrug off, I think.
Good to know. It reminds me of advice I read somewhere that advised not putting anything on your skin that you would worry about eating as it was going to end up inside you anyway.
I think you messed up the negatives there.
I do not know whether it’s a good idea, but I have to say, the taste is still as good as in the first days. I have never been left unsatisfied.
I have absolutely no clue why I got into that habit, though. Probably eating chocolate at the same time, earlier on.