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5 year old sucking/chewing toys and clothes

14 replies

Lindorballs · 02/10/2018 20:05

Looking for any advice suggestions. My nearly 5 yo DD has a fairly disgusting habit of chewing and sucking on soft cuddly toys and clothes. She does it when she’s tired/absent minded eg when watching tv. I think it’s a comfort thing. She’s just started school so it’s quite an anxious time for her. She had a dummy as a baby which we took away fairly painlessly about 18 months ago (when she was around 3.5). I can’t recall exactly when this habit started but it may have been around the time we stopped the dummy although she only had it for nighttime by then anyway. We’ve been through 4 cycles of sticker chart and reward over the last year or so to try and stop this habit and each time she stops for a while then eventually starts again but this time has been the worst. We literally just did a sticker chart for 3 weeks and she’s started again just a couple of weeks later. Tonight I’ve threatened to take away the small present I got her as a reward. It’s driving me up the wall. Her cuddly toys are all disgusting. I had to put an otherwise clean school cardigan in the wash tonight. We are doing lots and lots of reassurance and trying to go easy on her at the moment because of school stress. But I am desperate to stop her doing this. She doesn’t have autism or any kind of developmental issues. Any tips or suggestions to get her to stop? Also if your child did this what age did they stop and what did you do that worked?

OP posts:
DelurkingAJ · 02/10/2018 20:15

My nearly 6 year old DS does the same. I’m afraid it’s not a fight I’m willing to have...he’ll grow out of it. He never had a dummy, if that’s any comfort?

jollyhollyday · 02/10/2018 20:18

I can't help but my DD 5 is doing this too. Mainly her blanket when she gets home
From school but recently she has started to do it to my clothes if we have a hug.
It's definitely a comfort thing

ShackUp · 02/10/2018 20:24

It's a sensory thing. DS (nearly 6) did it lots until recently. She'll grow out of it.

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WallisFrizz · 02/10/2018 20:31

Has it been constant thing since toddler days or is it recent? If it’s recent, my ds started doing this when his adult teeth were pushing through behind his baby teeth.

Scotinoz · 02/10/2018 20:48

My almost 5 year old does this, and also didn't have a dummy/stuck her thumb. Her hair, my hair, cuffs, teddies, blankets...Its definitely a comfort thing for us. I don't see it as an issue at the moment, so I just nag about chewing hair

clueless101101 · 02/10/2018 20:59

My 5 year old does it to. I have lost count how many times I have Said stop chewing your jumper/blanket/curtains... yes I know.

Lindorballs · 02/10/2018 21:08

Reassuring to hear about those growing out of it. Maybe I just need to chill out about it. I don’t think it’s adult teeth “teething” she’s done it I think since she was about 3.5 (not constant since baby days). Also reassuring to hear about so many other similar age children doing it.

OP posts:
cannaethink · 02/10/2018 22:26

My 8 year old does this too. He seems to have periods when he does it but then stops for a few months which made me think it was maybe teeth related. He’s ruined so many tops, and his jacket is all chewed up too. It’s really disgusting! Worst though was the massive ‘love bite’ looking bruise on his upper arm which he gave himself one night!

JudgeRulesNutterButter · 02/10/2018 22:32

My 5 1/2 yr old does it too, and also never had a dummy or sucked her thumb. All her clothes were disgusting for a while.

My latest methods have been more sympathetic. Because telling her off did not work and it really seemed to be largely automatic and as PPs have said, linked to tiredness. So now I have allocated a blanket she is allowed to suck/chew at bedtime, and told her that unless she concentrated on not doing it while watching television then she would have to go out of the room. These seem to be doing the trick thus far!

lambran · 25/01/2022 20:13

I know this is out but don't suppose any of your children have now stopped this phase have they?? Currently going through the same thing

percypig84 · 25/01/2022 20:37

@lambran my now 10 year old did this at the age of about 5/6, he chewed his way through countless school jumpers. It was definitely a sensory thing for him (he now has an ASD diagnosis). He did eventually grow out of it but we found giving him a Chew Buddy stopped him chewing in appropriate things until then, you can buy all sorts of necklaces, bracelets and pencil toppers online designed to be chewed in this situation.

jollyhollyday · 25/01/2022 21:35

Yes my daughter no longer sucks her blanket or my clothes

cannaethink · 25/01/2022 21:46

My DS was 8 when I originally commented on this thread, he’s 11 now. He still goes through phases of chewing! He’s got a chewigem necklace. It’s skull shaped. He just uses it at home if he’s going through one of these phases. He wouldn’t use it at school so chews his hoodie strings which isn’t ideal! Seems to coincide with being a bit anxious about something. He’s quite a sensitive guy but otherwise a standard 11 year old.

lambran · 26/01/2022 08:24

Thanks the school have recommended a lego shaped jewellery that you can chew to help him but I'm very unsure about it . Surely it seems that its encouraging it more

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