2.7 year old still chewing/mouthing things

[vladthedisorganised]

Is this in any way normal?
DD is (PFB alert) very verbal and generally considered quite 'grown up' for her age. The only thing that she doesn't seem to have left behind is chewing objects. Despite the fact she has all her teeth through, she constantly chews and mouths objects: sometimes stuffing toys in her mouth, usually picking up some hard or spongy object and chewing it to distraction, a bit like a one year old.

I've tried most of the approaches in the book - ignoring (didn't work, and I snapped when she tried to chew my muddy wellies), taking the "if you chew X it will make you very ill" line - true in the case of the muddy wellies; and taking the 'only babies chew things and you're a big girl' line, but none seem to have an effect. She sucks her thumb when tired but seems to be growing out of this, though the chewing is getting worse and doesn't seem to be linked to tiredness.

I was surprised to find that she's also doing this at nursery (peer pressure usually takes over for any habit): she's the only one who does and they're taking the "only babies chew things" line too. Only a threat of "if you can't stop chewing the toys you'll have to go back with the babies" stopped her.

Currently the things that are in danger of being chomped are:

• shoes and slippers
• all toys except soft toys
• bath sponges (ewwww)
• handles of cutlery

It's like having a puppy in the house and I've no idea what to do about it. Doesn't seem to be getting any better and it doesn't seem to be a comfort thing, but since ignoring it didn't improve matters I'm not sure she's doing it to get a reaction either. Is this in any way normal and something she'll grow out of, or should I be doing something - in which case, what?

Seems like she might be sensory seeking - wanting that oral stimulation for some reason?? Chewing hard objects would give her quite a strong feeling in her jaw I imagine and some children seek deep pressure. Maybe take her to see an Occupational Therapist to see if this is the case and what you can do about it.
Does she actually eat the stuff? There is something call pica where some people want to eat things that aren't edible.

Hi. I agree with BBQshapes that it sounds like sensory seeking. My dd1 3.10 years does this although she chews objects less now, still chews her hand a lot and eats things she shouldn't eg playdoh, sand. Again the eating thing has significantly reduced although playdoh is still "yum yum"!

We see an OT as part of dd1's other issues and she suggested providing an alternative object for chewing purposes. We got a chewy tube from Fledglings website and have it attached to dd's clothing. This has helped abit. Other suggestions I've had are teething rings, chewlry.

My 6 yr old still chews things. Anything. Bottle tops, toys, her fingers, hair clips/bobbles, cuffs of sleeves, basically anything she has in her hands. It drives me nuts. At 2-3 I considered it reasonably normal, but now it's beyond a joke. She doesn't have special needs or any of the issues that you'd associate with this kind of thing, and half the time she doesn't know she's doing it. She knows she shouldn't, I'll see her chewing and say "what's I'm your mouth, is it food?" And if its not she'll look guilty and spit it out.

My dd is 3.10 and she does this too, funnily she didn't do it at all as a baby. I'll second the chewy tubes, gives her the sensation she desires without the sore fingers or licking walls in our case.

My DC 4.5 still does this and reception teacher is constantly on to me about Health and Safety as a result. Also trying to "badge" him with a condition which I am fed up with.... :-(

2.11 y.o. DS1 bites his hands, as well as furniture and gates/fences/bridges when out. It's worse in response to excitement or, particularly, stress.

I know of children who do this due to dairy sensitivity causing ear problems - the pain is referred to the jaw and they chew to get relief. Giving up dairy stopped them doing it. Hasn't worked for DS, though we're doing a dairy-free trial to check.

Google told me the hand biting was 'stereotypic movement disorder' but I can't work out what that means other than 'engages in odd repetitive behaviour in response to stress'.

Thanks for all your replies.

Thinking about it, I wonder if it might be hereditary.. if I concentrate on anything I tend to tap my teeth with a pen (and when younger used to chomp on the ends of them), so it may be that DD has a slightly more extreme version of the same thing. . She doesn't miss a trick so I really have to watch it when doing something like my tax return in front of her (tap, tap, tap, tap, taptaptaptaptap) It's just the shoe thing that baffles me. (Quite liked the look of the chewellery though)

It doesn't seem to be a stress or excitement response, but the ear thing might be worth a check. Fortunately she doesn't actually eat any of it, just obsessed with putting them in her mouth.

A quick Google and I'm astounded by the labels put on kids doing normal kid things. Chewing on hair is not the most savoury habit, but most of the girls in my primary school would have been clogging up an OT's waiting list if some of these things are to be believed, and my entire sixth form would have had some sort of 'disorder' for poking our thumbs through holes in our sweater cuffs. Odd.

That's it though - we all have sensory needs and preferences (e.g. spicy food/mild food, strong perfume/light perfume, bite nails, tap foot etc) but it's when it is inappropriate or gets in the way of other things/life, that's when it's a problem. That's for each person/parent to decide.