Help - 4 year old won't stop chewing

[zofranks]

Hi - I am wondering if anyone can help us with this as we are at the end of our tether. Our 4yo dd is chewing everything, nails, hair, clothes, anything in her hand goes in her mouth, it's like she is teething again, I put a tshirt on her and if we don't watch her like a hawk she has put the neck into her mouth and started chewing it. We keep telling her to stop but are we making it worse? What should we do? Do we say nothing and hope it goes away? She is a normal, intelligent, confident 4 yo, in social situations she doesn't stand back but gets right into it, she goes to nursery 2 days & 2 1/2 days to a pre-school. She is due to start school in September. I think it might be when she is unsure but then this morning she was watching tv at home and still did it so I guess its more habit/sub concious? Any help or advice would be warmly welcomed please!

thank you

[VioletBam]

One of mine did this. She's still a bit "sensory seeking" but it's under control now. I suggest you get her www.amazon.co.uk/PHEEBSTERS-SENSORY-PENDANT-CIRCLE--SENSORY/dp/B00X7CFYJA/ref=sr_1_3?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1468401742&sr=1-3-spons&keywords=chewy%20necklace&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

A chewy necklace. She can wear it and chew it with no recriminations. Obviously you don't want her to chew at school...does she do it in nusery?

[zofranks]

Hi - yes she chews her hair if it isn't kept tied back, and yes she chews her nails as well when she is there.

will look into that pendant though ty

[VioletBam]

Just keep gently reminding her...the hair thing is a concern as it can ball up inside people if it's regularly chewed. I used to just push DDs fingers away gently when she did it...all the blinking time! She did grow out of it though.