Mother's Kiss May Dislodge Objects Stuck in Children's Noses

The "mother's kiss" technique may safely and effectively help dislodge a foreign body from a child's nose, according to a systematic review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Researchers reviewed the results of eight case series or case reports in which the mother's kiss was used in hospitals, specialists' offices, or at home (in at-home case reports, parents were doctors). To perform the mother's kiss, parents place a finger over the nonoccluded nostril and put their mouth completely over the child's mouth. They blow in the child's mouth until they feel resistance — and then give a short puff of air to propel the object out of the nose.

The technique was effective about 60% of the time. Smooth and irregularly shaped objects were equally likely to be expelled. No adverse events were observed. In two studies, use of the technique was associated with lower rates of general anesthesia.