i let my DD play with it (clean of course) first so she is used to it and then also i give her something similar to squeeze like the top of a eye dropper and then i use the one on her nose. i do it as she is upright on my hip. she would freak out if i layed her backwards. and the runnier the easier it is to get out. she sorta giggles as it comes out like it must tickle or something. she gets annoyed after about 3 goes. also, it makes her cold duration so much shorter. i love em. (its pretty gross though)