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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Do you know the “mother’s kiss”? Nothing to do with a real kiss, this expression actually refers to a technique which allows you to expel an object stuck in a child’s nose. Explanations from Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
Children, especially the youngest between two and five years old, sometimes have fun sticking small objects in their nostrils: toys, peas, pieces of paper or eraser… Their imagination is boundless. The risk, however, is that the object will not come out. But don’t panic: there is a way to expel the object, using the “mother’s kiss” method.
What is “mother’s kiss”?
This method, shared in a video by Australian pediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead, is simple and easy to perform on your child. If you notice that he or she has a small object stuck in his or her nose and can no longer get it out, here is what to do:
- Lay your child on his back, explaining to him what you are going to do and reassuring him;
- Close the nostril that does not contain the object with one finger;
- And stick your mouth to that of the child before blowing gently into it, ensuring that it is airtight;
According to the nurse, in a few breaths, the small object should come out, expelled.
Questioned, Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo, explains the mechanism. “By blowing air through the mouth, we create excess pressure, which is evacuated through the nose. As the empty nostril is blocked by the finger, the air will naturally pass into the blocked nostril and pushes the stuck object towards the exit.” explains the doctor.
“This is more effective than trying to remove the object with glue or trying to grab it with your fingers: you risk injuring the child or pushing them even deeper” specifies our expert.
Be careful if the object does not come out, if it is of a dangerous nature, such as a button battery or if it prevents the child from breathing properly, there is no time to lose, you must call 15!