Baby Put Something Up Their Nose
The short answer
Toddlers frequently put small objects up their noses - beads, food, peas, small toy parts, tissue, and more. Sometimes you see it happen, but other times the first clue is a foul-smelling, one-sided nasal discharge days later. If you can see the object and your child is calm, you can try the "mother's kiss" technique (closing the clear nostril and gently puffing into your child's mouth). If you cannot see it or your first attempt fails, do not keep trying - see your pediatrician or visit urgent care.
By Age
What to expect by age
Babies under 1 year rarely place objects in their own noses because they lack the fine motor control. If a young baby has one-sided nasal discharge, it is more likely from a cold or blocked duct. However, an older sibling could place something in a baby's nose, so consider this if you notice unexplained one-sided symptoms.
This is the peak age for nasal foreign bodies. Toddlers are curious explorers who test where objects fit. Common items include beads, small food pieces (peas, beans, raisins), foam, tissue paper, small toy parts, and button batteries. The "mother's kiss" technique works best for smooth, round objects near the front of the nose: close the unaffected nostril with your finger, place your mouth over your child's mouth creating a seal, and give a short, sharp puff. This often pops the object out. Never use tweezers or forceps, as you may push it further in.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- You saw the object go in, the child is breathing fine, and you can see it near the nostril opening
- The object came out easily with one attempt of the mother's kiss technique
- A small amount of blood-tinged mucus after the object is removed
- You suspect a foreign object but cannot see it
- Your toddler has persistent, foul-smelling discharge from one nostril only
- The object did not come out with a gentle attempt at home
- Your child has had recurrent episodes of putting things in their nose
- Your child put a button battery in their nose (this is an emergency - batteries cause chemical burns within hours)
- Your child is having difficulty breathing through the affected side
- The object has been in the nose for more than 24 hours and there is worsening swelling or discharge
- You pushed the object further in while trying to remove it
- Your child put a magnet in their nose
Sources
Related Resources
Related Physical Concerns
Baby or Toddler Nosebleed
Nosebleeds are very common in toddlers and young children, especially during dry winter months. Most nosebleeds come from the front of the nose (anterior nosebleeds) where tiny blood vessels are close to the surface and easily irritated by dry air, nose picking, colds, or allergies. While they can look alarming due to the amount of blood, nearly all nosebleeds in children are harmless and stop within 10-15 minutes with proper first aid.
Baby Always Congested (Stuffy Nose)
Babies are naturally noisy breathers because their nasal passages are very small. Many parents worry their baby is "always congested" when the sounds they hear are actually normal newborn breathing. True chronic congestion can be caused by frequent colds, dry air, or irritants. Saline drops and gentle suctioning are the safest and most effective treatments for infant congestion.
Baby Put Something in Their Ear
Toddlers sometimes insert small objects into their ear canals - beads, small food, crayon tips, small toy parts, and occasionally insects fly or crawl in. Unlike nasal foreign bodies, ear foreign bodies should almost always be removed by a medical professional because the ear canal is narrow and the eardrum can be easily damaged. Do not try to remove objects with tweezers, cotton swabs, or your fingers, as you are likely to push them deeper.
Toddler Has Bad Breath
Bad breath (halitosis) in toddlers is common and usually has a simple cause. The most frequent culprits are mouth breathing during sleep (which dries out the mouth), sinus congestion, a foreign object stuck in the nose, poor tooth brushing, or a mild throat infection. Bad breath is rarely caused by stomach problems in children. Most cases resolve by addressing the underlying cause, such as treating congestion, brushing teeth more thoroughly, or having a foreign object removed from the nose.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
Baby or Toddler Body Odor - When Is It Normal?
Babies and toddlers can develop body odor from several benign causes: sour milk caught in skin folds, sweating, diaper area odor, strong-smelling foods in the diet, and certain medications or vitamins. True body odor (like adult BO from apocrine glands) should not occur before puberty. If your baby or young toddler has a persistent unusual body odor that is not explained by skin folds, diaper, or diet, it could indicate a metabolic condition, infection, or foreign body (especially in the nose or vaginal area). Unusual persistent odor warrants a doctor visit.