Cutting/biting holes in clothes

[katied1582]

My Son is nearly 7 & has been making holes in nearly all of his clothes especially his school uniform. He first cut a hole in his nursery t shirt when he was 4 then done it a couple of times since but this year it’s every other week! Last week it happened 3 times. I’ve tried taking his electronics away, stopping pocket money, grounding etc but nothing stops him. I’m getting worried now as it’s like he can’t help himself! I’m not thinking is there something troubling him that he isn’t telling me. I’ve asked if there is & he can tell me anything but he says there’s not. Any advice would be much appreciated

I have no helpful advice but one of mine used to do this with nail scissors to sheets/duvet cover/pillowcases. Is he doing it whilst at school and is it with scissors - your title mentions biting?

He’s done it with scissors but most recently biting. He also gets pencils & pokes holes in them too

We had it for a long time with my now 8 yo, biting and sucking, destroyed so many clothes! Eventually the solution was that every time we saw him do it/had done it, he immediately had to change out of the dirty clothes. He got so fed up of having to change his tops constantly..,

I have no idea of that will work for others, but it did for us!

We started because things got so smelly.

Any sensory issues that might explain the biting? One of mine (not the scissor-happy one!) used to chew holes in the sleeve of his school jumper. It was really annoying (and expensive) but it was a way of self soothing I think. At home Could you give him something he CAN cut up - old clothes or fabric? If the chewing is during school could the teacher keep an eye out and redirect him - fidget toy maybe? You can get chew toys that go on the end of pencils which might help?

It’s becoming really expensive! I’m hoping it’s a phase he’ll grow out of & may just be bored. I’ll speak with his teachers & see if they can watch him more. He’s really intelligent & knows right from wrong so he understands he’s going to get told off for it but keeps doing it

Thank you

It was self soothing for mine x

Mine chewed god knows how many holes in sleeves. Turns out it was ADHD-related sensory seeking behaviour. Whether it is for you or not, I recommend the chew toys they sell for SN kids. If he needs to chew, let him chew, but not clothes!

During the first lockdown my ds (10 at the time) started biting holes in clothes. He ruined the helm of almost every top he owns. He has had various vocal and physical tics in the past and I could tell it's anxiety related with being at home and all the changes in routine.

For ds the biting holes was the first tell tale sign of an anxiety breakdown (emotional and withdrawn, panic attacks, OCD type thoughts, lack of appetite, insomnia). It was heartbreaking to see him so troubled in this way. His anxiety is much better now as a result of intervention and is thankfully 90% back to his normal self. He is also on the list for ASD assessment.