dd (5) will not stop putting things in her mouth ......aaaaaaaaaargh

[janx]

She is a bright button - but man she will put everything in her mouth - her sleeves, hair, toys, old food on the floor, the bath plug - you name it is has gone in. I know it is a habit - but it drives me bonkers - have told spoken to her about things being dirty and making her sick etc, have tried bribery, rewards - but to no avail. She doesn't realize she is doing it - now ds 2.5 is copying her...anyone in he same boat?

i went to argos with my dd and gave her a pencil and some of the slips to draw on whilst i filled out the order i needed. when i looked down she was chewing and after much persuasion spat out chewing gum she had found under the counter! urggh
she's grown out of i now (i think!)

Given that the things she puts in her mouth clearly aren't making her ill, I'd let her get on with it! Stress that there are some things that really are dangerous (grass that dogs have weed on for example) and then leave her to grow out of it.

My dd who is also 5 puts everything in her mouth, chews anything she can. Her toothbrushes only last half as long as DS. We know she grinds her teeth in her sleep aswell. I also find it incredible annoying but as long as it isn't dangerous/inappropriate I let her get on with it.

Thanks everyone - think I will just chill out...just didn't want ds to start doing it too

My goodness my dd 3.2 does that, thought she would grow out of it by now, all her friends have. Yesterday she was in the garden eating a foamy ball, and inside eating play doh, does she not find them yucky or disgusting, obviously not.

dd is like this at age 6. it's been REALLY bad recently - coming home with holes in her sleeves. however, she has just got her first wobbly tooth, so i think partly it's just her, and partly teething