Chewing

[Torvy]

Ok, so our 5y/o absentmindedly chews things all the time. So far this week it's been a wooden sword (splinters in his mouth), Lego (luckily he didn't swallow it), the end of a plugged in phone charger cable (don't even get me started). He knows he shouldn't do it- he knows. He is perfectly capable of understanding why he shouldn't put things in his mouth. He doesn't do it when he is playing, or running. He doesn't chew his clothes very much at all (unless he is supremely anxious) which inwould prefer to him finding a sodding phone wire and gnawing on it.

We have tried all the usual stuff, chewellery, crunchy foods, ice, vibrating toothbrush, cold stuff, hot stuff, chew toys, sensory things like that. We obviously watch him as much as possible but sometimes we need to look at other things, then 2 minutes later you are looking at the mangled end of a laptop charger and thanking whatever deity is in charge of the electric circuits in the house that he hasn't had a shock from it.

The problem is that we can't get him to keep chewellery around his neck (it gets repurposed as a catapult, lasso, tow rope etc) and chew buddies that aren't attached to anything just get lost. He does have them, but they just don't... Stay. He has free access to crackers, chewellery, and if he could tell us he wanted something specific we would get it for him. But he can't explain it.

We have sensory therapy and all the stuff she says we do but I have to admit it isn't getting better. He took an AA battery out of a his pocket the other week and ended up in a and e with us trying to explain no, it wasn't a button battery, yes it was an AA battery, no, he just... Chewed it. And kept on chewing it untill it popped and he made a surprised sound. We were all watching TV and he had apparently picked it up from the ground outside and we didn't even realise. He was right next to us as we all watched a film, just quietly chomping away. There was a perfectly good blanket and chewellery literally next to him, he just didn't think.

I find it frustrating because I don't know what to do. He isn't the type of kid where he needs absolutely everything baby proofing, but I'm absolutely terrified one day he will chew through something or swallow something really dangerous. It doesn't seem to be any one thing, just literally whatever is at hand. I guess if I had to pin it down it happens more often when he is tired, but it isn't always, not by a long shot.

So what do I do? Is there anything we haven't thought of yet, some magical item or aide that solves it? Any exercises we can decide each day, or a mantra to repeat? Do we need to have some co sequences like oh if you chew something not food or chewellery then... I dunno, we take a sweet away? Have s time in? Or will this just go away over time? How many years (approximately) do I have before I can relax a bit knowing he isn't munching on live wires? I'm genuinely at a loss and would welcome any advice or input.

@Torvy
That must be so frustrating for you.
Consequences won't work but you know that.
My son was more of a licker than a chewer. He particularly liked the metal clothes racks in shops - who knows why.

He did grow out of it, but I dont think it was as big an issue as it seems for me.
So no real advice I'm afraid, just sympathies

Not ideal but what about chewing gum? My 12 year old has always been a chewer and much as we didn't want to go down the gum route, he no longer eats gravel and fuzzy felt! Like you no amount of chewlery (he chewed through the necklace cords), crackers (shoved them in in one go and we had to stop him choking) helped and I can confirm he does finally chew less than the dog!

My DD did exactly the same - phone chargers, batteries, headphone cables. Like you I’ve no idea how she hasn’t had an electric shock. She’s 14 now and seems to have stopped chewing electrics and chews her clothes instead, which is at least safe.

I wish I had some handy strategy to suggest, but nothing worked other than keeping a close eye.

Also the parent of a chewer here! She chewed and ate several (unlit!) candles in church this morning 😂

I was a learning disability nurse prior to children and saw parents resort to all sorts. A couple of things I've seen be helpful:

-Does he find chewys and chewellery useful when he hasn't lost it or used it for other purposes? Don't know if he'd agree to this but I've cable tied the chew to clothes before. So get a cable tie and put it through the hole on the chew and also a button hole on a polo shirt or similar, works best with long thin chews. I've also seen parents cable tie chews to children's wrists but would not recommend this for safety. Make sure to tighten the cable tie all the way so he doesn't stick his finger in then tighten it and cut the circulation off. Then just cut the cable tie before putting in the wash.

-USED SPARINGLY/ONLY WHEN NECESSARY that stuff that tastes horrible to stop children biting their nails. I hate these more punitive approaches but if there is something that's really dangerous that he tends to chew it could be an option.

Dog toys! Recommended for sensory seekers/ dedicated chewers by sensory experts. Obviously not cheap ones or bone shape!
They are designed to be safe, non toxic and pass through the body without causing damage. So many choices and textures including material ones rope toys etc. obviously supervise as you do other items. Can be washed or anti bac wipes etc.

https://www.direct4pet.co.uk/products/kong-wubba-octopus-assorted-colours?variant=45569723891941&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping%20feed&utm_content=free%20google%20shopping%20clicks&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20375221118&gbraid=0AAAAADnkXhlnkD4SaE9xYWJIloMin6XMo&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu4eT9NrijQMVoZxQBh14vBy_EAQYGCABEgJoIfD_BwE

Thanks for all these suggestions and reassurances!

@Ted27 metal racks are a new one to me, but glad I'm not the only one!

@Patchyman1 the scale of chewers made me chuckle- on your advice we've tried some bubble gum this week, but have failed two out of the three times to spit it out when he has finished, so maybe he is a bit young for it right now. One to keep in mind!

@Jellycatspyjamas ok, so 9 years... At this point I'm marking it in my calendar !

@Beetham I'm definitely going to try that nail varnish stuff just on the end of the electric cables I think, just the ones he has put in his mouth a few times- I know it's not perfect but to me that's a safety thing, not punishment - I think when it's so absentminded, it's about introducing a lower risk deterrent, and that seems like a happy medium for electricals. i hadn't thought of cable ties though, that seems like a good idea, especially because you could snip off the ends so that they don't become inadvertently chewed upon as well

@24Dogcuddler you did make me chuckle with the anti bac wipes, just because it's such a normal thing to consider but at the moment that seems so far removed from things I have brain space to think about! Makes me worried about the state of my life 😂

I'm glad it isn't just my kid, but also that he will hopefully grow out of it- it's so hard to know what's coming and what to be worried about when there is so much stuff to consider.

@Torvy absolutely agree. A child meeting their sensory needs by nibbling on their fingernails, only to be met with an awful taste on their hands is often quite sad I think. But I'd 100% rather my child have an unpleasant suprise from the polish than a terrible surprise from electrocuting themselves! As you say it's all about risk and mitigating harm.

Yes, chop the 'tail' of the cable tie off. Also forgot to say- buy some good quality wire cutters! Makes it alot easier to cut the cable tie than faffing around with kitchen scissors when you've got a million other jobs to do!