5 year old won't stop chewing his t-shirts

[Jumpers268]

I know it's probably not the right place to post this but I'm at my wit's end.

My 5, almost 6, year old son, will not stop chewing his t-shirts. So much so that he gets through maybe 5 a day as they're soaking wet and all of them have holes in by the collar where he's chewed them so much. This has only been the past month or so and I can take him out for a walk and play with him but it only distracts him for so long. Quite often I don't even think he realises he's doing it.

He does have sensory issues but mainly with food textures so he can't have mashed anything or heavy or anything as he'll gag so much he'll throw up.

When I Google it indicates autism but he's the most social little butterfly (pre Covid). He was referred by nursery when he was 2 for possibly having autism as he didn't speak and was obsessed with numbers (I mean spending an hour staring at a tape measure) but he was signed off.

Any advice would be appreciated? I really want to help him stop as I can't keep buying new clothes and worry it's anxiety that's causing this. Please no horrid comments. I'm clearly desperate.

I can remember through primary school there were always loads of kids with holes chewed in their jumpers (normally the sleeves). There would be at least 3 kids in the classroom chomping away. Teachers would ocassionally get mad about it but I think all the other children saw it as normal.

Ah picca, my son with sensory processing disorder did this. He did indeed just stop one day. He had chewy bracelets but it was clothes he craved. Can you give him a old baby muslin to chew? I know the urge is stop him, but sometimes they need time to find their own way out. You can try to set up rules like only chew this, then you can try yo only let him have it at certain times.

I dodnt do anything btw, he just found his own way out

These are the things that he needs to help remind him to stop; a wet t-shirt is unpleasant.“

You’d really leave a small child physically uncomfortable for potentially hours while their shirt dried? Possibly cold as well? Over something they can’t help? Should I have left my child in pooed in pants as well so they remembered to use the toilet?

Actually the wetter the shirt was the more they chewed. Sometimes putting a dry shirt on would snap them out of it.

@Theotherrudolph

These are the things that he needs to help remind him to stop; a wet t-shirt is unpleasant.“

You’d really leave a small child physically uncomfortable for potentially hours while their shirt dried? Possibly cold as well? Over something they can’t help? Should I have left my child in pooed in pants as well so they remembered to use the toilet?

Actually the wetter the shirt was the more they chewed. Sometimes putting a dry shirt on would snap them out of it.

I agree. And actually my son who has sensory processing disorder wouldn’t actually care or even notice about wearing something wet. So this seems a bit cruel.

@Jumpers268 there are special needs children and special needs children boards (SN children and SN chat).

I can't link to them as I'm on the app but have a look under all topics - there's a whole section called special needs

@grannyinapram - that's a really horrible way of dealing with sensory seeking behaviour. It's cruel and outdated advice

My boy did this for about 18 months, it was a comfort thing for him, if he didn't have a top on he would chew blankets or his duvet while in bed. Grew out of it now pretty much, he is almost 7

DS was the same, constant wet tshirt around the neck and holes chewed in the neckline and long sleeves. We got him a chewy necklace for school, he actually asked for one because another boy in his class used one. Now aged 11 he no longer chews on clothes but can still mindlessly put things in his mouth, which we pull him up on.
I'd look into a chewy necklace, you can get cool looking lego or army tag types, they worked for us

@Clymene thank you so much I'll have a look. I'm not very clued on the abbreviations haha.

Also, he actually prefers chewing the t shirt when it's soaking wet! It's definitely not something he has any real control over, as quite often I don't even think he realises he's doing it. And it's literally just the collar part that he chews so if the chew necklaces don't work I have high hopes the neckerchief type thing will! 🤞.

Feeling a lot less stressed about it this morning! Thanks again 😊.

DS was the same, constant wet tshirt around the neck and holes chewed in the neckline and long sleeves. We got him a chewy necklace for school, he actually asked for one because another boy in his class used one. Now aged 11 he no longer chews on clothes but can still mindlessly put things in his mouth, which we pull him up on.
I'd look into a chewy necklace, you can get cool looking lego or army tag types, they worked for us

I’m feeling quite excited on your behalf this morning for when your delivery arrives!

My DS has transient tics that are definitely more pronounced when he is anxious about something or has recently been ill/run down. Soggy T-shirt collars was one I had now forgotten!

Also some sensory issues (always wears sunglasses from aged 4) and food issues (started to reduce aged 10) and a couple of other things above mentioned.

Let us know how your Ds likes his delivery 📦

My son isn't autistic and chewed his clothes like this for ages around age 4-5, I probably had a thread under another username! He stopped doing it mostly but has moved onto biting his nails or chewing his fingers (while watching t.v. mainly). glad to be free of the destroyed clothes but not sure he'll ever stop chewing on things. His fingers are fine, if they started getting bloody I'll seek help but hopefully it won't come to that.

I'm so glad you posted op! Knowing you aren't the only parent of a clothes chewer is a relief I'm sure.

My son is NT and has always had issues with chewing things. He's literally chewed through wires before, he is like a guinea pig! He is 12 now and although the problem has lessened, it does sometimes crop up. He chews zippers, sleeves, headphone cables, all that kind of thing.

Being made to use his pocket money towards replacement items had definitely helped.

@Inpeace he's very excited for them arriving haha. Already been through 2 t shirts this morning so really comforting to know this is something you'd forgotten about! And also the food issues reducing from 10.

I'm so glad I posted too. Really thought my child was the only one that did it and was starting to lose my mind. Changed his t-shirt a minute ago whilst still singing along to the radio. It's a good day 😊.

The Zippers drives me nuts. Every jumper he owns with a zip no longer zips up now as he'd chewed it so much!

I've got two chewers. One ate the side off a pine bunkbed and the cables for several PlayStation controllers. The younger one eats t- shirts and coats. I've tried chewllery and other sensory toys however nothing seems to hit the spot. I buy him tops from carboot sales and Primark. Some tops don't even make the first wash as he's bitten enormous holes in them. Both have ASD and sensory processing disorder.

My ds is 6 and autistic. He has a 'chewy' for school and one at home. He loves them. When he is anxious, having to wait, upset or excited he chews loads on them. No more wet sleeves thank goodness, he looked dreadful with soaking sleeves all the time! My friend's son has a shark tooth chewy necklace. Also fidget toys are good for fiddling with.

My son also loves his weighted blanket (be careful to get right weight, no more than 10% of their body weight I think)

I have looked after a child who was chewing jumpers t'shirts etc frequently. In this case, it was wrapped up with anxiety. Child would come out of school with soaking wet patches. Went on for years and I have only just realised this isn't happening now, or maybe not in my company. Child is now 9. Behaviour started aged 4. The child I looked after is neurotypical.

I have not rtft but I had an autistic child who chewed everything, including his shirts, and completely cured this with Sour Apple spray.

I still have the autistic child now! But no chewing. Sour Apple on everything especially collars for about three months. Totally sorted.

Another possibly reassuring story: DS used to chew his sleeves, was an extremely fussy eater, had lots of sensory issues and tics, couldn't cope with loud noises, had some fairly intense interests, amazing memory, almost certainly dyspraxic (I never pursued a diagnosis; he might well have been diagnosable with mild ASD too).

He's now in his early 20s, did excellently at school, went to a very good university, lives with his long term girlfriend, has very broad tastes in food (improved from early secondary school onwards) and has a job he loves in an area related to one of his childhood obsessions. Things do improve!

My DS goes through periods of chewing his clothes. He’s 10 now. Just before Christmas he chewed through the sleeves of all his school jumpers. I bought him a chewy bangle (looks like a car tyre) but with school closed he’s not needed it. He doesn’t seem to chew his casual clothes, although he has in the past. I know the soggy, holey tops well!
He’s chewed his arm a few times too, giving himself massive ‘lovebite’ type bruises.
He’s NT.

My son used to do this loads! He's nearly 8 now and not done it for ages, I almost miss worrying about it! He's NT but just liked doing it, he's a sensitive kid (worth looking up the highly sensitive child) and also got some enamel problems with his teeth, unrelated to the chewing and they do have teeth trouble as they lose them. I'm sure it'll pass. I did buy some chewy things you can put on a pencil and it helped. Don't worry x

My 5 year old daughter went through a phase of chewing her sleeves because her teeth were aching with her adult teeth coming in and waiting on the baby teeth to get wobbly and fall out. She occasionally does it now but I now see that it coincides with a new wobbly tooth a few weeks later.