compulsive lip chewing/sucking

[Imp99]

My 17month old son has been sucking/chewing on his bottom lip for the past couple of months. First I tried to stop him doing it, then I tried to not make a big deal of it hoping it would go away but he has carried on. It has not been making his lip sore before but yesterday morning he had two sore patches where his teeth were rubbing on his bottom lip. He is a happy boy and doesn't seem particularly anxious, It may a comfort thing as he does it most at night. Has anyone else had this problem? I wouldn't have been too worried had he not been making his lip so sore but I don't want him to hurt himself. I wondered about giving him a dummy to suck at night. He has never had one before but I thought it might give him something to chew on? Someone else suggested stop and grow for nails on his bottom lip but I don't know if that would be safe? Any advice would be great. Thanks

My DS (nearly 6) started sucking his bottom lip when he was around 1 and stopped last winter but only because his lips were chapped and sore. We used to ask/remind him not to do it and he would stop but he went cold turkey when he realised it hurt!! I used to slather his lips in vaseline so there's loads of photos of him looking like he's wearing lip gloss

Thanks for your response, thankfully the sore patches from a couple of weeks ago have gone though he is still sucking. Guess we'll just have to wait it out.