Mother’s Kiss a “Safe and Useful” Method for Removing Foreign Objects from Children’s Noses

For whatever reason, kids find it fascinating to place objects into their mouths, ears and noses. Unfortunately, this often leaves parents panicked and unsure of what to do or who to call. When an object is placed in the mouth, care should be determined by what was swallowed and whether or not choking is a problem; if a hazardous substance is swallowed or if the child is choking, emergency care should be sought. When something is stuck in the ear, an emergency room visit is the only safe option. For noses, recent study says that a “Mother’s Kiss” may be one of the safest and most effective methods of removal.

The “Mother’s Kiss” has been used to help remove foreign objects from the nasal cavities of children since at least 1965. It is performed by placing your mouth over the child’s moth, holding the open nostril and blowing into the child’s mouth. The goal is to use the force of air to push the object out of the clogged nostril. But until recently, no one really knew if the method was safe or effective; Dr. Cook and her colleagues set out to determine just that.

Pulling information from Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED Complementary, Allied Medicine and the British Nursing Index, Dr. Cook and her colleagues searched for any articles or research that had mentioned the Mother’s Kiss. They then removed all articles and information that included only animals. Researchers then analyzed how successful the technique had been at removing the foreign object. They also checked for any factors that might help predict the chance of success.

In the end, the researchers were left with eight published articles that met their criteria. Through these articles, the Mother’s Kiss was found to have a success rate of 59.9%. Additionally, researchers found that the only adverse effect was that the object stayed lodged.

What’s more, doctors reported that they have used this technique in emergency rooms. They say that children do not find the technique scary or uncomfortable and that the most difficult task is getting some parents to agree to do it. And experts say that this technique is much safer than using suction, forceps, hooks or sedation for foreign object removal.

“Evidence from case reports and case series suggests that the mother’s kiss technique is a useful and safe first-line option for the removal of foreign bodies from the nasal cavities of children,” Dr. Cook concluded.

Parents should know, however, that health care professionals suggest that the technique be done in the presence of a doctor. It is important that the technique be done correctly so that the object does not become lodged further into the nose or make its way into the lungs. Additionally, if the Mother’s Kiss does not work, a more invasive approach may be needed.

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