Study Finds Mother's Kiss Can Dislodge Objects Kids Stick Up Their Noses

Most adults can avoid the temptation to shove objects into their noses, but on the whole, little kids are far more prone to heeding the urge. Consequently, emergency rooms get more than their fair share of lodged crayons and entrenched erasers. Removing such obstructions often involves hooks, glue and/ or balloon catheters, but apparently, there’s another, far simpler way that could work in a solid percentage of cases.

According to a new study published in The Canadian Medical Association Journal, a technique called “The Mother’s Kiss” is “neat”, “very safe” and may work as much as sixty percent of the time. The simple procedure only requires the mother to put her finger on the opposite nostril, seal her mouth around her child’s and blow air in with force roughly equivalent to a sneeze. If done correctly, the object may shoot out the other nostril or at least get close enough where it can be removed via fingers.

Speaking to ABC News, Dr. Henry Ou of Seattle Children’s Hospital said “The Mother’s Kiss” works best with items that are really plugged so force can be generated, but he also cautioned that if the mother mistakenly blows the object into the airway, it can make the situation far worse.

As backwoods remedies passed down through generations go, this one actually seems logical, sound and backed by science. More people need to know this exists. Hopefully, the study, led by Dr. Stephanie Cook, will be the first step toward making that happen.