Easy way: How To Teach A Toddler To Blow Their Nose

When can toddlers blow their nose? Many children are ready to learn how to blow their nose around the age of 2 or 3 years old. It is a skill that takes time and lots of practice to learn. Teaching kids to blow nose helps them feel better when they have a cold or a runny nose. It is a good step in toddler health and hygiene. Getting toddlers use tissues can be a fun process.

How To Teach A Toddler To Blow Their Nose
Image Source: lookaside.instagram.com

Why Teach Your Little One to Blow Their Nose?

Learning to blow the nose is helpful. It helps your child feel better. A clear nose makes breathing easier. It is important when they have a runny nose. It also helps when they have a stuffed nose relief need. Blowing helps get the mucus out. This means fewer germs stay in their nose. It is a simple way to help them stay healthy. It teaches them about taking care of their body. This is part of toddler health and hygiene.

Helps them breathe better: When the nose is clear, air goes in and out easier.
Makes them more comfortable: A runny or stuffed nose feels yucky. Blowing helps fix that feeling.
Helps stop germs: Blowing mucus out helps remove germs. This is good for them and for others.
Gives them control: They can do something to help themselves when they feel sick.
Part of growing up: It is a simple skill many kids learn.

Is Your Toddler Ready to Learn? Interpreting Readiness

Not all toddlers are ready at the same age. Look for signs that your child might be ready to try. These signs show they can understand simple ideas and copy what you do.

Here are some signs to look for:

Can they copy you? Can they make faces you make? Can they copy simple actions?
Can they follow simple instructions? Like “Give me the block” or “Sit down.”
Can they blow air out? Can they blow bubbles? Can they blow out a candle? This is the same action but for the nose.
Are they curious? Do they watch you blow your nose? Do they try to copy you sometimes?
Do they tell you their nose is messy? This shows they know something is there.

If your child shows some of these signs, they may be ready to start. If not, wait a little while. You can try again later. Never force them to do it. Make it a choice and a fun game.

Getting Ready: Gathering Your Tools

You do not need many things to teach nose blowing. The most important thing is tissues. Using tissues for toddlers is key. Get soft tissues. Toddlers have soft skin. Rough tissues can hurt their nose.

What you need:

Soft Tissues: Choose ones with lotion or extra softness. Have a whole box ready.
A Mirror: A small hand mirror or standing mirror works.
Light Objects: A feather, a small piece of paper, or a cotton ball.
Yourself: You need to show them how to do it.

Find a good spot. A place where you can sit together is nice. The bathroom sink is good because there is often a mirror. It is also good for washing hands after.

Simple Steps Teach Toddler Blow Nose

Teaching a toddler takes small steps. Do not try to do it all at once. Start with just blowing air. Then move to the nose. Then add the tissue. This is the easy way. These are simple steps teach toddler blow nose well.

Here are the steps:

Learn to Blow Air (Not from the nose yet!)
Bring Air Blowing to the Nose
Add the Tissue
Practice and Make it Fun

Let’s look at each step in more detail.

Step 1: Learning to Blow Air

This is the first and most important step. Your child needs to know what blowing feels like. They need to know how to push air out. They often know how to blow from their mouth already. We need to show them air can come from their nose too.

Here are ways to practice blowing air:

Blow a Candle (or Finger): Hold up your finger. Pretend it is a candle with a tiny flame on top. Say, “Let’s blow out the candle!” Take a breath. Blow air out of your mouth. Show them how the ‘flame’ (your finger) moves. Now, let them try. “You blow! Make the flame go out!” Do this many times.
Blow a Feather: Get a soft feather. Put it on a table. Say, “Let’s make the feather dance!” Take a breath. Blow air out of your mouth onto the feather. Make it move. Now, let them try. “You blow the feather! Make it dance!” This helps them see air moving things.
Blow on a Mirror: Hold a mirror close to your mouth. Blow air onto it. It will get foggy. Say, “Look! I made a cloud on the mirror!” Let them try. “You make a cloud too!” This shows them air comes out warm.
Blow Bubbles: This is a fun way to practice blowing air out of the mouth. It is not the nose, but it helps them learn to push air out. “Blow the bubble!”

While doing these games, sometimes put the feather or mirror near your nose. Blow air out of your nose. “Look! I can make the feather move with my nose!” or “Look! I can make a cloud with my nose!” This starts to connect the idea of blowing air to the nose area. Keep it light and fun. Do not ask them to try with their nose yet. Just show them you can do it.

Step 2: Bringing Air Blowing to the Nose

Once they can blow air well from their mouth, start focusing on the nose. This is a core toddler nose blowing technique.

Show Your Nose: Point to your nose. Say, “This is my nose. Air comes out of my nose!”
Practice Blowing Air ONLY from the Nose: Close your mouth. Take a breath. Push air out through your nose. Make a soft blowing sound. You can put your finger under your nose to feel the air. Say, “Feel that? Air comes out!” Let them try to feel the air from your nose.
Ask Them to Try: Now, ask your child to try. Say, “Can you push air out of your nose? Close your mouth. Take a little breath. Now, push air out of your nose! Just like Mommy/Daddy!”
Use the Mirror Again: Hold the mirror under their nose (not touching). Say, “Can you make a cloud on the mirror with your nose?” Encourage them to push air out. Even a tiny puff of air is a great start! Praise any attempt. “Wow! You tried! Good job!”
Use the Feather Again: Hold the feather near their nose. “Can you make the feather dance with your nose?” This gives them a goal.

At this stage, they might just make a sound, or a tiny bit of air might come out. That is okay! The main goal is for them to try to push air out through their nose when you ask. Do this for short times. A few tries is enough for one practice session.

Step 3: Adding the Tissue

Once they understand pushing air from their nose, it is time to add the tissue. This is how you start using tissues for toddlers to blow their nose.

Show the Tissue: Hold up a soft tissue. Say, “This is a tissue. It is soft. We use tissues for our noses.”
Show How YOU Blow with a Tissue: Put the tissue to your nose. Show them how you cover your nose with it. Take a breath. Blow air out through your nose into the tissue. Make a sound if mucus comes out (like a soft ‘phhhh’). Show them the tissue after (maybe there’s nothing, that’s fine). Say, “See? The air goes into the tissue.”
Let Them Hold the Tissue: Give them a tissue. Help them hold it up to their nose. Do not worry about covering both nostrils perfectly yet. Just get the tissue near the nose.
Ask Them to Blow: While they hold the tissue, say, “Now, push air out of your nose! Blow!”
Praise the Effort: Again, praise them for trying. “You put the tissue there! Great job!” “You tried to blow! That’s wonderful!”
Show What to Do Next: After they blow (or try to), show them how to take the tissue away. Show them where to put it (in a trash can). Say, “All done! Put the tissue in the trash!” Take their hand and help them put it in the bin.
Wash Hands: This is a very important step in toddler health and hygiene. Always go to wash hands after using a tissue. “Now, let’s wash our hands to get them clean!” Show them how to use soap and water.

This step connects the blowing action to the tool (the tissue) and the clean-up. Keep it simple. Do not expect them to get mucus out right away. Just getting the tissue there and trying to blow is a big step.

Make Nose Blowing Fun for Kids

Toddlers learn best when things are fun. If it feels like a chore, they will not want to do it. Make it a game! This is the best way to make nose blowing fun for kids.

Here are ways to make practice fun:

Games to Play

Feather Race: Sit across from each other. Put a feather between you. Use your noses to blow the feather back and forth. “Blow the feather to Mommy!”
Tissue Monster: Crumple up a used tissue (from your nose!). Make a funny ’tissue monster.’ Help your child blow the tissue monster off the table with their nose. “Blow the monster away!”
Nose Bubbles (Carefully!): This needs adult help and maybe some saline spray first to make the nose wet inside. Put a tiny bit of bubble solution just inside the nostril opening (do NOT put it deep). Have them try to blow. A little bubble might form! This is very fun and shows them air comes out. Use very little solution and be careful!
Silly Sounds: Make funny sounds when you blow your nose. Encourage them to make sounds too. A silly ‘honk’ or ‘phhhhht.’
Blow the Paper Ball: Crumple tiny bits of paper. Put one on their hand near their nose. Can they blow it off with their nose?
Imitation Game: “Mommy is blowing her nose! Now you blow your nose!” Make it a simple copycat game.
Sing a Song: Make up a simple song about blowing noses. “Blow, blow, blow your nose, gently blow like the wind blows! Get the sniffles out today, hip hip hip hooray!”

Using Praise and Rewards

Lots of Cheer: Cheer loudly for any try. “Yay! You tried! So good!” “You put the tissue on your nose! Amazing!”
High Fives: Give high fives after they try.
Happy Dance: Do a little happy dance together.
Stickers: Use a sticker chart. Give a sticker for trying to blow. Give two stickers if a little bit of mucus comes out.
Small Treats: A tiny piece of fruit or a single cracker can be a reward for trying hard.
Happy Words: Say “You are learning!” “You are so clever!” “I am so proud of you for trying!”

Making it fun takes away the stress. It turns a yucky job into playtime. Short, fun practice times work best. Do not wait until they are sick to practice. Practice when they are well and have a clear nose.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Like any new skill, blowing the nose takes lots of practice. A toddler will not get it right away. They might blow air in. They might blow from their mouth. They might not blow at all. This is normal.

Short Practice Times: Practice for just a few minutes at a time. Do it maybe once or twice a day when they are well.
Be Patient: Do not get upset if they do not do it right. Just gently show them again. Use simple words.
Do It Yourself: Keep showing them how you do it. Kids learn by watching.
Put Tissues in Easy Spots: Have tissue boxes in places they can see them. In the living room, in their room, in the bathroom. This makes it easy to grab one for practice or when they need it.

Consistency is key. Regular, short, fun practice sessions help them learn over time. These toddler nose blowing techniques become easier with repetition.

Helping Toddler with Runny Nose

When your child has a cold, their nose will run or feel stuffed. This is when the blowing skill is most needed. Helping toddler with runny nose feels much better if they can blow.

Be Gentle: When they are sick, they feel bad. Be extra gentle and patient.
Remind, Don’t Force: Say, “Your nose is running. Do you want to try to blow it? Here’s a soft tissue.” Do not make them do it if they are feeling too miserable.
Offer Help: Say, “Let Mommy help you.” You can hold the tissue for them. Guide their hand.
Gentle Wiping: If they cannot blow, you will need to wipe their nose for them using tissues for toddlers. Be very gentle. Press the tissue softly to their nose. Wipe downwards gently.
Keep Tissues Close: When they are sick, keep tissue boxes where they can reach them easily.
Teach Throwing Away (Again): When they use a tissue while sick, remind them every time to put it in the trash right away. This is very important for stopping germs.

Using the skill when they are sick shows them why it is useful. It helps connect the action to feeling better. Even a small blow that gets a tiny bit out can be a big help.

Toddler Stuffed Nose Relief

A stuffed nose can be harder to blow than a runny nose. The mucus is thicker. Helping toddler with runny nose or stuffed nose might need more than just blowing.

If your toddler’s nose is stuffed:

Try Saline Spray or Drops: A few drops of saline (saltwater) spray made for babies/toddlers can thin the mucus. Wait a minute or two after using it, then try blowing. Ask your doctor first if you are not sure about saline spray.
Use a Humidifier: Running a cool-mist humidifier in their room helps keep the air moist. This can make mucus thinner and easier to blow or clear.
Warm Bath: The steam from a warm bath can help loosen mucus. Try having them blow their nose after a bath.
Gentle Patting: Sometimes gently patting their back can help loosen mucus.
Still Try Blowing: Even with a stuffed nose, encourage them to try blowing gently after using saline or humidifier. It might help a little bit.

Blowing is a great way to get mucus out, especially for runny noses. For stuffed noses, it is one part of helping them feel better. Combine blowing with other safe methods for toddler stuffed nose relief.

What If It Doesn’t Work Right Away? Troubleshooting Tips

It is very common for toddlers to take a long time to learn this. Some kids get it quickly. Some take months or even years. Be patient!

They Blow In Instead of Out: This is very common. Gently remind them, “Push the air out!” Show them again by feeling the air come out of your nose. Go back to the feather or mirror game focusing on pushing out.
Nothing Comes Out: That’s okay! The goal first is just to push air out. Mucus coming out is a later step. Praise them for just doing the blowing action.
They Don’t Want To Try: Do not force them. Make it a game. Try a different fun activity (feather vs. mirror). Try again another day. Let them see you do it often.
They Are Scared: Maybe it feels strange. Make it very gentle. Use soft tissues. Do not hold their head tightly. Let them control the tissue at first, even if it is messy.
They Put the Tissue In Their Nose: Gently stop them. Say, “The tissue goes on your nose, not in your nose.” Show them again on your nose.

Remember, the main goal in the beginning is just getting them to try to push air out through their nose when you ask. The actual clearing of mucus comes later with practice. These simple steps teach toddler blow nose foundation first.

Tissues, Please! Getting Toddlers Use Tissues

Learning to use tissues is part of the process. It is not just the blowing, but the whole routine. Getting toddlers use tissues correctly involves more than just blowing into them.

Steps for using tissues well:

Grab a Tissue: Show them where the tissues are. Let them pull one out. This builds independence. “Let’s get a tissue!”
Put it to the Nose: Help them hold the tissue to their nose.
Blow! Encourage them to push air out.
Wipe: Show them how to wipe downwards gently after blowing. Or you can do the wiping for them.
Look (Optional but helpful): Sometimes showing them the mucus on the tissue helps them see why they blew. “Look! It came out! Now your nose feels better!”
Throw Away: This is vital. Guide them to the trash can. “Tissue goes in the trash!” Make a game of throwing it in.
Wash Hands: Every single time after using a tissue. “Now we wash hands to get the germs off!”

Repeating these steps every time helps them learn the full habit. This is part of good toddler health and hygiene. Having tissues in easy reach helps getting toddlers use tissues when they need them.

Connecting Nose Blowing to Health and Hygiene

Teaching nose blowing is a big step in toddler health and hygiene. When they blow their nose and use tissues properly, they help keep themselves and others healthy.

Key hygiene points to teach:

Covering Coughs and Sneezes: Teach them to use a tissue or their elbow. This goes along with nose blowing.
Putting Tissues in the Trash: Mucus has germs. Putting tissues in the trash stops germs from spreading.
Washing Hands: This is the most important step! Germs from the nose get on hands. Washing with soap and water gets them off. Sing a song while washing (like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” twice) to make sure they wash long enough.

Talk about germs in a simple way. “Germs are little tiny things we cannot see. They can make us sick. Blowing our nose and washing our hands helps get rid of germs!” This helps them understand why these steps are important for their toddler health and hygiene.

Table of Fun Practice Ideas

Practice Activity	How to Do It	What it Teaches	Materials Needed
Blow a Feather Race	Put a feather on a table. Blow with nose to move it.	Pushing air out of nose.	Feather
Make a Mirror Cloud	Hold mirror under nose. Blow with nose to make it fog.	Feeling air come from nose.	Small mirror
Blow a Paper Ball	Put a small crumpled paper bit on hand or table. Blow with nose to move it.	Pushing air out with force.	Small paper bits
Tissue Monster Blow	Crumple a tissue. Blow it off table with nose.	Combining blowing with a ‘target’.	Used tissue
Nose Bubbles	(Carefully!) Put tiny bubble mix near nostril. Blow to make bubble.	Air comes out of nose clearly.	Bubble solution (tiny)
Silly Sounds	Make funny sounds while trying to blow nose.	Makes practice fun & less scary.	None
Copycat Game	Parent shows blowing, child copies.	Imitation and action.	Tissue (optional)

These fun activities use toddler nose blowing techniques in a playful way. Remember to keep it light.

When Blowing Is Hard or Not Possible

Sometimes blowing is not the easy way. For very young toddlers (under 2), or when they are very blocked up, you might need other methods.

Wiping: Gently wiping the nose with a soft tissue is always an option. Use tissues for toddlers that are soft.
Nasal Aspirator: For babies and young toddlers who cannot blow, a nasal aspirator (bulb syringe or fancy electric one) can help remove mucus. This is good for toddler stuffed nose relief when blowing does not work.
Saline Drops: As mentioned, saline helps loosen thick mucus before wiping or using an aspirator.

The goal is to help them feel better. Blowing is a great skill, but it is not the only way to help a runny or stuffed nose, especially for little ones just learning.

Celebrating Success (Big and Small)

Every little step is a success.

Did they try to blow air? Celebrate!
Did they put the tissue on their nose? Celebrate!
Did a tiny bit of mucus come out? CELEBRATE LOUDLY!
Did they throw the tissue away? Celebrate!
Did they wash their hands? Celebrate!

Positive feedback is very powerful for toddlers. It makes them want to try again. Do not just wait for a perfect nose blow. Celebrate the effort and the small steps along the way. These simple steps teach toddler blow nose skills gradually.

Pulling it All Together: The Easy Way

Teaching a toddler to blow their nose is a journey, not a race. The easy way is to break it down into small, fun steps.

Start with air blowing games. Make feathers dance!
Show them air comes from your nose.
Ask them to try pushing air from their nose.
Add a soft tissue. Practice holding it and trying to blow into it.
Make it FUN with games and silly sounds (make nose blowing fun for kids).
Practice often when they are well.
Be patient. It takes time and many tries.
Praise EFFORT more than perfect results.
Connect it to feeling better and staying healthy (toddler health and hygiene).
Teach the whole routine: tissue, blow, trash, wash hands (using tissues for toddlers, getting toddlers use tissues).

Helping toddler with runny nose or getting toddler stuffed nose relief is a great goal. But the process of learning is just as important. Enjoy the silly moments. Keep trying. Soon, they will grab a tissue all by themselves! These toddler nose blowing techniques will become a helpful skill they can use for life. It is a key part of growing up and taking care of themselves.