@mraf9973 Welcome to Mayo Connect. That I a great question. As the parent of 2 (now adult) children with chronic otitis media, and a person who has probablynhadmitm100 times myself, I will relate mm our experiences. Our family ENT, who treated 3 generations of us, recommended only wiping the nose of kids under age 5. He also said all noses should be blown gently, without closing off one side at a time, to remove only loose mucus. Thick mucus was to be removed,only by using a bulb syringe (infants and toddlers) or with a saline irrigation to cause it to flow out.
He taught me that trying to force thick mucus out could cause ear or sinus infections.