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Original poster

DS7 sucking his t-shirts!

34 replies

SuckyMcSucker · 15/01/2025 18:45

Just wondering if other people have experience of this and how to stop it?

DS7 will sit and suck his t-shirt, mostly whilst playing on his tablet. He’s hardly done it at school because he said he’s busy doing other things. But today he came home with his t-shirt soaking! 😩. I could tell as he walked towards me. I told him it was disgusting, I couldn’t help it.

I’ve asked him about it over the last few weeks and he says the following:

  1. He doesn’t know he’s doing it, so therefore can’t stop it.
  2. He doesn’t do it when he’s busy doing other things.
  3. He does it when he’s hungry, and I don’t feed him when he’s hungry. I explained that sometimes he has to wait until tea is cooked (ie don’t eat that, you’ll spoil your appetite).
  4. He often sits at home without a top on, either because he’s already made one wet, or to stop himself doing it.

Whilst these are things I can work with, there will always be times that he’s bored, waiting for meals etc.

I asked MIL for advice and she said it’s attention-seeking, he’s jealous of baby brother (1 yr old), and I need to get properly angry with him. Given that DH thinks I favour DS7 over baby, I’m not sure this is true, but willing to consider it. I’m not sure about getting angry.

Is it just a phase, or what should I be doing? TIA

Edited to say sorry, didn’t mean to leave voting enabled!

OP posts:
AppropriateAdult · 15/01/2025 19:01

Don't mention it at all, and he'll likely grow out of it.

Oh, and stop asking your MIL for parenting advice.

prettydesertflower · 15/01/2025 18:55

My son did this to the point he chewed holes in his T-shirts. For some reason he preferred white cotton ones. I asked him about it once then largely ignored it and he grew out of it by the time he got to secondary school at age 12.

Devilsmommy · 15/01/2025 18:55

Pretty sure most kids do this at some point. Your mom was just being plain nasty. Don't make him feel bad about something he isn't even aware he's doing, that's just as mean as what your mom said

Lowcarbonated · 15/01/2025 18:51

My DC have gone through a phase of doing this and grown out of it. It's just a phase. I remember doing when I was a kid. Just sensory seeking.

Aswewalkinfieldsofgold · 15/01/2025 18:51

My 4/5 year old was doing this earlier in the year. It was really annoying because he actually kept chewing holes in his clothes and I had to throw out so many tops! He also chewed the top of his coat so much that the lining came out and the zip came off!

Honestly, we started off by bringing it to Jo's attention, asking not to do it etc. However, it was just a habit and he was doing it unconsciously. I decided to just stop mentioning it, give no reinforcement and not make a big deal of it. A few months later, he stopped.

RampantIvy · 15/01/2025 18:50

DD used to suck her cardigan sleeve.
She stopped by secondary school.

Ponoka7 · 15/01/2025 18:50

When did it start? Children can regress when another baby is on the way.

Sittinginthesunisback · 15/01/2025 18:48

It's common and it's just a sensory thing. Loads of children do it, and all stop eventually. It's definitely not something to get angry about and your MIL sounds cruel tbh.

Arthurnewyorkcity · 15/01/2025 18:48

My son has this.. he's diagnosed autistic. Could be a sensory need. Could also just be a habit. Is it causing him any harm? Is he doing it at school? Get him a chewy. Seems harsh to make him sit top less.