3 reasons why children put Lego up their noses

Children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, have an uncanny ability to surprise adults. One of the more disturbing discoveries parents can make is that their child has stuck a diminutive object, such as a Lego piece, up their nose.

Queensland Children’s Hospital recently reported Over 1,650 children presented to the emergency department with foreign bodies in the nose over the last decade. The most common items were Lego bricks, beads, marbles, batteries, buttons and crayons.

As Christmas approaches, we’ll likely see more of these little items showing up in our homes as toys, gifts or novelties.

But why do children put such things up their noses? This is how natural curiosity, developing fine motor skills, and a circumscribed understanding of risk can be a unsafe combination.

1. Children are curious creatures

Teenage children are naturally curious creatures. During infancy and preschool, children explore their surroundings using their senses. They touch, taste, smell, listen and look at everything around them. It is a natural part of their development and a gigantic part of how they learn about the world.

Scientists call it “curiosity-based learning“. They say children are more likely to explore unfamiliar objects or when they don’t fully understand how they work. This may explain why juvenile children tend to be drawn to modern or unfamiliar objects in the home.

Unfortunately, this fit developmental curiosity sometimes leads to them putting things in places they shouldn’t be, like their nose.

2. Children are great at imitating

Teenage children often imitate what they see. This is confirmed by research that followed the same group of children over time imitation plays a key role in child development. This activates certain critical neural pathways in the brain. Imitation is especially essential when learning to use and understand language and while learning fine motor skills such as walking, clapping, catching a ball, waving and writing.

Put simply, when a child imitates, it strengthens brain connections and helps him learn modern skills faster. Anecdotally, parents of juvenile children will have the opportunity to see their younger children copying the expressions or gestures of their older siblings.

Putting objects up your nose is no different. Teenage children see older children and adults placing objects near their faces – when they blow their nose, put on makeup, or eat – and decide to try it themselves.

3. Children don’t understand the risks yet

Teenage children can be curious. However, they do not have the cognitive ability or reasoning ability to understand the consequences of putting objects into their nose or mouth. This can be a unsafe combination. Therefore, supervision of the baby is crucial.

Petite, dazzling objects, objects with engaging textures or objects that resemble food are especially tempting for little ones.

What can I do?

Sometimes it is obvious that the child has put something up their nose, but not always. Your child may have pain or itching around the nose, discharge or bleeding from the nose, be nervous or uncomfortable.

If your child has difficulty breathing or you suspect that he or she has inserted a pointed object or button cell battery, seek immediate medical attention. Button batteries may burn and damage tissues in just 15 minutes, which can lead to infection and injury.

If your child puts an object where it shouldn’t:

• keep tranquil: Your child will react to your emotions, so try to remain tranquil and confident

• assess the situation: can you see the object? Is your child in a challenging situation?

• encourage your child to do so blow your nose gently. This can facilitate you move the object

• take your child outside in the sun: A brief exposure of a minute or two can cause a “sun sneeze” that can cause the subject to move. However, you should avoid sniffing as this may cause the object to travel further down the respiratory tract and into the lungs

• never attempt to remove the item yourself using tweezers, cotton swabs or other tools. This can push the object deeper into the nose, causing more damage.

If these methods do not remove the object, your child is not distressed, and you do not suspect the presence of a pointed object or button cell battery, see your GP. They may be able to see and remove the item.

Prevention is better

Preventing these events starts with keeping diminutive, shiny, tempting objects out of children’s reach and teaching them not to put objects up their nose or mouth.

Supervision is key. Parents and caregivers can also be strict about what they bring into the home. If there is an alternative product, such as a similar product that does not require a button cell battery, consider purchasing it.

Curiosity is a characteristic of children and a key learning process in the early years of life. However, this curiosity combined with a circumscribed ability to recognize danger can be a risky combination. By being aware of dangers, being supervised and taking appropriate action when incidents occur, parents can keep their children unthreatening while exploring the world.