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.

Just wanted to update you all; the Lego chew necklaces arrived yesterday morning and we've had no wet t-shirts since! Not one! He has been hardcore chewing the necklace so glad I bought a few but he said it's amazing as he doesn't feel bad when he's chewing it as he's allowed to.

Can't thank you all enough! ❤️

That's great! There's always a solution until the next thing 😂

Oh that’s great op

Both my sons did this, one is NT one is not so I don’t think it’s a sign of anything like that necessarily. In the end I used the clear nail polish that you get to make you stop biting your fingernails and put it on the inside of their t-shirts so each time they put it in their mouth it would taste gross and they’d stop. I think it was just an absent minded thing to do so it was a little reminder not to do it, in the end they fell out of the habit.

Oops just saw your update, I’m pleased you’ve found a solution

My son would do that he would bite holes in all his tops, pick out the stitching, pull out labels. Drove me crazy. I used to sew them up constantly he must have looked like a little tramp to other people (he has autism)

I'm so pleased for you and your son

So glad the Lego necklaces work! If you find he chews through them (I know a little person who can chew through one in a few minutes), then look into something more durable. I can wholeheartedly recommend chewigem - they are so tough (many months of chewing and no visible damage)!

@Watsername thank you! It's been going well so far. And not a single wet t shirt. This morning he went and got it from the draining board himself when he woke up. So impressed!

I’ve just popped back to the thread as DS age 5 seemed keen to get a chew necklace thing when I mentioned it. He is NT as far as I know. Do you think it’s a good idea to get him one or would it reinforce the habit? I’m thinking back and think the T-shirt chewing has started just since the pandemic (boredom?) but he’s always been fidgety and maybe he would have started chewing even with no pandemic. Also wondering if there’s any point if it won’t be allowed in school. Thanks!

@PolarnOPirate I'm surprised by how much he's taken to it if I'm honest. And I was also worried I'm reinforcing it but honestly I was at my wit's end with the wet and holey t shirts. He does love it and I can't imagine he'll be doing it forever!

Also, I messaged his teacher yesterday morning to ask if he'd be able to have it in school as I had the same concerns, and she replied to say it's absolutely fine! I can't say it's the same for your son's school but it's definitely worth asking!

Thanks @Jumpers268 , I reckon I’ll give it a shot. It will be good for him to have permission to chew something rather than being nagged to stop all the time!

To be fair I have a mouth guard from the dentist to stop me hurting my teeth when I jaw clench - and it feels sooooo good to chew on it really hard!! So he probably just takes after me 😄

Fantastic update OP!

So glad you have found a solution for him.

@PolarnOPirate

To be fair I have a mouth guard from the dentist to stop me hurting my teeth when I jaw clench - and it feels sooooo good to chew on it really hard!! So he probably just takes after me 😄

Yeah watching him chewing it on today I did think "that does look comforting" haha. It is awesome to not have to say please stop chewing and then his little sad face.

Oh I'm so pleased @Jumpers268

My 9 year old literally doesn't sit in one place or sit still when I'm doing homeschooling with him at moment, he says he just can't! Anytime elses child do this, what can I do to help him? Is it something to do with stimulation, over or under??

You could try giving him a movement break every so often - eg do 20 star jumps, run round the garden 10 times, do 5 push ups. Not only when wiggly, but before starting a task. Also try putting something heavy in his lap or around his shoulders. A weighted blanket would be ideal, but you could try a Beany toy or a heavy coat round his shoulders.