Son (13) biting t shirt neck when online! Any chewable type necklaces you could recommend?

[LucyLikesDiamonds]

It seems to be a habit he’s formed but I’ve found at least 3 t shirts with little holes in the neckline where he’s obviously pulled up and bitten while playing games!

I have discussed this with him but thought I’d ask here if there’s anything you could recommend?

At 13 I'd really just leave him to it - and buy cheap t shirts.

You’re right, I’ll perhaps make sure he wears a ‘gaming’ t shirt from Primani in future.

www.chewigem.co.uk/shop/?product_cat=chewellry-necklaces

Get an already chewed shirt , cut strips, plait them into a necklace. You could get several from one shirt and they'll be washable.

If it’s any consolation DS1 did this, but now aged 18, he’s grown out of it.
We ended up with two piles of T shirts - at home ones which were very holey and going out T-shirt’s!
I thought DS3 was going to start doing it, too but thankfully he stopped again pretty quickly.

If you look for autism chew necklaces on amazon you'll see some good options.

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS that’s a great idea, thank you

@GinnieHempstock that’s good to know and I’m going to make sure we have a two tier t shirt drawer, gaming & best!

@FeedMeTikka thanks so much for the link, I think I’ll order one of these in the meantime to hopefully get him out of the habit of chewing t shits!

@Oxyiz thank you.

I have 12 and 10 year olds and they both do this! It really distorts the neckline over time and irritates the crap out of me. Glad it’s not just mine that do it!

@SusanBoils it’s so annoying isn’t it! I noticed the distorted necklines first and then tiny holes in one, and then two more!

I think @PomBearWithoutHerOFRS is a fab and cheap idea but I’m also going to look at the chewable necklaces too.

Glad it’s not just mine

Is it worth reducing his time gaming, or maybe observing:listening whilst he’s playing; his need for sensory stimulation could be due to heightened feelings or stress. Does he only do it whilst gaming, it would he do it watching tv/reading/in the car? If it’s only gaming it might be subconsciously causing him issues

Tell him to stop. We all get bad habits from time to time, and we have to learn to manage them ourselves. Tell him that. He needs to learn this lesson, not have bad habits indulged.

@HopeClearwater

Tell him to stop. We all get bad habits from time to time, and we have to learn to manage them ourselves. Tell him that. He needs to learn this lesson, not have bad habits indulged.

Yeah, right.

DS wasn’t even aware he was doing it most of the time.
But me saying “please, stop” would have made all the difference.

Watching with interest.

My ds has started doing this since lockdown but he is only 6 and not even really aware that he's doing it. It really is destroying the neckline of some of his favourite t shirts though.

Telling him to stop is all well and good but he's at it again two minutes later.

When he’s doing his schoolwork work he has to have something in his hands, I did buy him a tangle toy, he used to bite the skin on his thumb, that’s now eased. Possibly similar to anyone who bites nails, pencil/pen tops etc but now it’s t shirt necks!

It’s just another habit he’s got into, he’s generally happy online, no issues.

As well as necklines my 12 year old also chews the sleeves of his dressing gown 🤢

@Susanboils I’m glad ds is only wearing short sleeves currently

My DD is terrible for chewing. We get her autism chew necklaces in the shape of a Lego block from eBay. Some great suggestions from PP. There are lots of these types of necklaces out there which will probably be helpful to your DS.