Parents of littles, if you don’t own an otoscope yet, I highly suggest you order one now.
Trust me, you’ll want it before it’s 11 p.m. on a Friday night and you suddenly need to check your 2-year-old’s nose to:
A) Figure out which nostril the popcorn kernel is hiding in.
B) Make sure she didn’t sneak more than one up there (despite her confident denial).
The verdict: just one kernel. Thankfully, it came right out after I spotted it — covered the other nostril, had her blow hard, and problem solved. 🙌 Crisis averted! Man, this toddler makes me sweat!
Here’s the thing: kids are curious. They’ll put beans in their ears, paper in their mouths, or who-knows-what up their noses. Having an otoscope on hand gives you peace of mind and saves you unnecessary late-night trips to the ER.
A few practical tips if you get one:
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Always keep fresh batteries in your otoscope so it’s ready when you need it.
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Learn what “normal” looks like in your child’s ear, so it’s easier to spot when something seems “off.”
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If you’re checking a nose or ear, have another adult gently hold the child still (toddlers can wiggle like crazy).
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Don’t dig or poke, the otoscope is for looking, not fishing things out. If you see something deep inside or you’re unsure, call your pediatrician.
We’ve used ours to check ears for infection, look at a bee sting near the eye, peek at splinters, and of course, popcorn incidents. After TEN years, it’s still working perfectly. Invest in quality equipment that will serve you well.
If you don’t have one yet, I really recommend adding it to your home health toolkit. 💛
Oh man! We haven't had that situation come up with our munchkin, but I may very well order one in the event of any future incidents! {although she is 4 now and has not really been one to put things in her nose lol}