6yo putting everything in mouth - help!

[ScienceRocks]

I'm sure this has been done to death, but I can't find much on a search so I thought I'd ask (probably again).

Dd1 is 6yo and still puts loads of things in her mouth. She has been a committed thumb sucker since she was a baby, and also bites her nails. She has also been through phases of chewing her clothes, which I have managed to nip in the bud each time (by telling her that it means she can't choose her clothes the next day).

One of her good friends at school has just managed to stop sucking her thumb, which has spurred her on to try and stop. Unfortunately she has just replaced it with something else - sucking her hair

She knows and understands that this isn't good for whatever she is putting in her mouth, and her mouth itself, but just can't seem to stop. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Perhaps this is an 'old school' suggestion, but do they still do that nail stuff that tastes horrible, to discourage nail-biting?

Have you tried a reward system, e.g. if you don't see her sucking her thumb for a couple of days, she gets something?

DS used to chew everything, particularly zips/collars/sleeves of his clothes for ages - I can't remember when he stopped, but it was well into primary school, possibly as late as 9 or 10. I think for him it was part of a pattern of sensory issues (sensitivity to loud noise, fussiness about food textures, refusal to wear certain clothes because of labels, seams, textures etc) related to his dyspraxia, and I think it is very common.

I reminded him to stop sometimes when he was doing it, but thought that making a big fuss would be counterproductive, so just let him grow out of it. I think some people give their children specific objects to chew/fiddle with which can get the urge out of their system without them making a mess of clothes, hair etc.

Some companies even make special 'chewing objects' - www.chewigem.co.uk/

Thank you both for replying, I was starting to think I was the only one who had a child who does this!

I have tried the nail biting stuff. She doesn't like it, but carries on regardless because she has worked out that it wears off. So, other than applying it morning and night, it isn't a goer.

Hello. No advice but you're not alone. My DD is also 6 and also bites/chews everything .

Exexpat, my dd doesn't have sensory issues, other than this. She happily tries new foods, isn't rigid about food etc. I have tried rewarding good behaviour, but - as she told me last night - "that approach doesn't work for me, mum".

So, hair is being very firmly tied back and she is not allowed to choose her clothes or hair style the next day if she sucks or chews the respective thing. This more punitive measure doesn't sit easily with me, but works for her. Thumb sucking is allowed to go to sleep, but not at other times.

I think either distraction (but you can't be there all the time), ignoring it & and waiting for them to grow out of it, or offering an acceptable chew-object are the main options.

You could try some kind of reward scheme, but again you can only reward behaviour you see when you are there, so it could just mean she learns not to chew when you are around but carries on while at school. I think most of the time they are genuinely not aware they are doing it.

x-post on the reward thing.

Is is really worth making a big fuss over and punishing her for it? I didn't think it was for DS, but perhaps I'm more laid back than some parents.

Thanks robins. I listen to reading at her school and feel like she is the only one who does this, so it is nice to hear I am not alone. I try to not let it get to me, but yesterday her hair was disgusting - sopping wet and tangled from being chewed. I have had to throw away clothes that get destroyed by being sucked out of shape. She isn't allowed nail polish ever, because I worry about what it will do to her insides (she has been known to chew her toenails ).

So we had a long chat about it. I was firm. So far, so good fingers crossed.

Thanks robins. I listen to reading at her school and feel like she is the only one who does this, so it is nice to hear I am not alone. I try to not let it get to me, but yesterday her hair was disgusting - sopping wet and tangled from being chewed. I have had to throw away clothes that get destroyed by being sucked out of shape. She isn't allowed nail polish ever, because I worry about what it will do to her insides (she has been known to chew her toenails ).

So we had a long chat about it. I was firm. So far, so good fingers crossed.

I hear you exexpat, but see my last post