Chewing clothes

[Killergerbil]

Since I had a baby 12 weeks ago, my 2 and a half year old chews his sleeves, or the collars of jumpers/ polos. This is driving me insane, and ruining his clothes. Any suggestions on how to make him stop?!

No, don't DS1 did this when DS2 was born, just a reaction I think to the new baby and the change of everything. A friend of mine gave me this tangle thing for him to fiddle with instead (it for autisctic children, DS2 not) but he found it brilliant to fiddle with when the mood took him, will try and find a link.......

It is stress related behaviour - buy him something to chew but don't try and stop him.

tried offering him muslins or his sophie giraffe to chew - he just hands them back! :-(

Killergerbil. I have a 21 week old as well and my DS1 (2.8) has recently started doing this. Has anyone got any other suggestions how to deal with this? What would you suggest as an alternative thing to chew on?

I'm afraid they do chew - mine was still at it at secondary school.
There have been previous threads about this and it seems common.
It is stress related tho so careful handling and hiding your own concerns/frustration called for ( on top of everything else -) ).

DD was a chewer, she has outgrown it (9yo).

You can get stuff called 'Chewellry' that children with oral fixation chomp on instead of clothes

like this stuff from The states. Dont panic that its an autistic website, they sell loads of sensory stuff

My mum put a bit of soap on the corners of collars tastes yuk - stopped me pretty quick apparently. Maybe not a modern acceptable solution lol.

Thanks guys!