If you’ve ever been around kids for any length of time, you’ve surely asked yourself: Why, why on Earth, would a person eat the inner contents of their disgusting nose? The most basic answer is: Kids are gross, and they do gross things. But more specifically, in the words of a child I know (I’ll never say who): “I eat them when I’m hungry, and because they taste good.”
As gag-worthy as this may be to adults, the fact remains: Most kids have snacked on a booger or two. First, let’s touch on why—then cover how to curb the habit.
Why do kids eat boogers?
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There are a few reasons kids engage in this grody habit, besides the aforementioned fake-ass “hunger.” First, being curious, tactile beings who learn by watching others, they want to try what they see other kids doing. (And a lot of kids do this.) Secondly, they aren’t the most hygienic or hydrated beings, and they often play outside, where dirt lives. All these conditions make for dry, crusty boogs most easily removed by a finger. Once they’re out—again, hygiene not being their forte—rather than interrupt a high stakes game of red-light green-light or an episode of Ninjago to find a tissue, they eat it simply because it’s efficient. There’s no easier place to discard the evidence than down the hatch.
Some kids may pick and eat as a way to cope with feeling nervous or anxious. Others may eat them simply because they’re salty and crunchy, as Romper described, “like Cheetos that live up your nose. They are also really available.”
Complicating matters—ingesting the bacteria and pathogens in mucus may actually be good for them and their immune systems. Thanks a lot, science. So while you don’t need to worry too much about negative health implications, you probably don’t want little Joey to be the kid everyone still remembers, 30 years later, as the kid who secretly ate his boogers all through elementary school.
How you can get them to stop
The unfortunate truth is, unless you exact harsh punishment (which we do not recommend), getting kids to ditch the habit will be a process, not a quick fix. Here are some tips.
Identify why they do it: Depending on the age of your child, the kid responses offered in this conversation may not get deeper than “Because!” If they’re older, try to pinpoint certain times, feelings, or activities that may spur them to do it more often.
Explain the physical reasons why they shouldn’t: As soon as they’re able to understand, tell them why it’s not a good idea. (While there may be some immune system benefits, the three-time mother in me says this is an OK time to lie and blame it on the all-encompassing nefariousness of “germs.”) Let them know they may get nosebleeds or painful sores from too much picking.
Keep tissues everywhere: When trying to curb the habit, keep all the tissues nearby. Place a box in every room and point them out to your child so they can’t plead ignorance. Put tissues in their pockets; keep Kleenex in your purse, car, desk—everywhere, ready to be handed out at a moment’s notice.
Saline drops and humidifiers: These two booger-softening devices are your friends. The fewer crusty boogers lodged in their nasal passages, the less likely they are to go digging for gold.
Give their nerves a different outlet: If you notice the child picking and eating as a nervous habit, give their hands something else to do. Invest in a handful of Pop-its or bag of fidget toys they can manipulate while watching TV, or entering a new social situation.