These are my top 5 tips to avoid an ear or nose foreign body in kids. Jerald S. Altman, MD
It’s very common for kids to stick things where they don’t belong: namely the nose and the ears.
The list of things they insert just keeps continues to grow, from candy to rocks to beads and buttons.
All of these foreign bodies can lead to some serious health issues, including blocked airways, nosebleeds and punctured eardrums.
Removing these objects from where they don’t belong is one thing; but, avoiding such situations in the first place has its own merits. This is why parents should take all preventive measures possible to shun such possibilities. Read on to find out the top 5 tips to save children from foreign bodies.
1. Observe from a Child’s Perspective
Look at your home from the point of view of your child. Think about where they could go, what they could do with things lying around the house and so on.
It’s wise to check low tables, floor, and below the furniture for toys, furniture and keys along with other tiny objects.
2. ‘Keep out of reach of children’
There’s a reason this statement is mentioned on medicines. Keep all small objects away from the reach of children. Install child-proof locking mechanisms on cupboards and containers.
3. Keep the Trash Away
Toddlers don’t have any dislike of digging into the trash. Keep the trash in a place that is inaccessible to them, particularly when it contains small objects that you have thrown away.
4. Watch As They Eat
It’s not just beads and buttons that children insert up their nose and into their ears. They can do the same with the food they eat. Peas, sweet corn, and beans are some of the common things extracted from the nasal and ear cavities. Keep your eyes on them when they’re eating.
5. Talk to them
It is a good idea to have a family discussion with children who can talk and understand. Let them know how dangerous it is to stick things up their nose and ears. A pep talk can work wonders!
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