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Original poster

chewing school jumper

23 replies

lorra62 · 01/04/2011 14:41

My 12 year old son is always chewing his school jumpers at the cuffs and it is costing me a fortune, He is on his 3rd jumper already this term, I stopped buying the proper school ones and just sew the badges on cheap ones now.
Is this normal behaviour, he looks like a tramp when he goes out in the morning and I cant imagine what the teachers must think..... :o

OP posts:
ChrissyHynde · 01/04/2011 14:43

My DD did this in Year 4 and 5 (I think!) I used to get really annoyed about it and threatened all sorts turned out she was bored !!

thisisyesterday · 01/04/2011 14:46

i would just not replace the jumpers. or make him pay for them

at 12 i think he is more than old enough not to chew his jumper. do the other kids not tease him about it??

SandStorm · 01/04/2011 14:47

Get a needle and thread and get him to sew his own badges on. He'll either stop chewing or become a whizz with a needle. Either way - you win :)

99redballoons · 01/04/2011 15:00

My 7yo in Y3 does this. I have stopped mending them and said he's just going to have to stay scruffy! He also bites his nails. I agree it's bordom or anxiety. Love standstorm's comment and think you should do that too!

Original poster
lorra62 · 01/04/2011 15:02

thisisyesterday. I only replace them because I feel embaressed about how scruffy he looks with holes in his sleaves where he has chewed them to bits. He doesnt seem to care.....
sandstorm, I will definitly give the sewing a try,

OP posts:
thefirstMrsDeVere · 01/04/2011 15:04

DS1 & 2 both did/do this. I fully expect DSs 3&4 to do it too.

DS2 chews his duvet covers as well.

pinkhebe · 01/04/2011 15:04

my son did/does this (he's 11) Blush

dexifehatz · 01/04/2011 23:13

My DS5 does this...I was thinking of putting something on the cuffs that tastes horrible[like people put on their nails to stop biting them] any suggestions?

BluddyMoFo · 01/04/2011 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stleger · 01/04/2011 23:27

Ds was a cuff chewer. Dd2, who is 14, has customised holes cut in hers so she can pull the sleeves down and put her thumbs out through the holes. I darned ds's. DD1 has decided never to wear her pullover ever again...

mrz · 02/04/2011 09:47

Chewing clothes is often a sign of tension/stress is something upsetting him?

slartybartfast · 02/04/2011 09:52

my ds was like stleger's,
special thumb hole Shock

it dont this is anythign to worry about.at all

BoattoBolivia · 02/04/2011 09:55

It is very normal and the teachers won't think anything of it, trust me. At least your ds HAS a school jumper! I like the idea of making him sew on the badge though.

smartyparts · 02/04/2011 09:55

My ds did this until his sweatshirts were falling apart.

I couldn't get him to stop until I made him pay for a new one and he hasn't done it since.

My nephew did it until my sister pointed out to him that his poos were green from the wool - that stopped him too!

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 02/04/2011 22:01

smarty arf at green poos

DS1 (Yr 3) is another cuff chewer. I have cut off the straggly bits with scissors but haven't bothered repairing them.

receiverofopiniongiver · 03/04/2011 21:19

My dd has customised the thumb holes, and it's got a frayed bottom where she's pulled it apart, and has paint splattered on it. I've asked whether I'm meant to be buying her a new one or not, and she said oh no don't buy me a new one, I'll just customise that one.

Now we have one in the wardrobe for special occassions (speech day, concerts etc) and one for every day wear.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 03/04/2011 21:21

2 cuff chewers here too, very very common at both schools.

I've given up now, they just wear the tatty ones until they need replacing because they're grown or become unwearable for some other reason.

Seems most other parents have the same view as me given how many frayed cuffs I see coming out of school

fruitshootsandheaves · 03/04/2011 21:25

you need this I spray this onto DS2's collars and cuffs when his uniform is washed and dried and leave it to dry a bit longer
Works a treat..Grin

wouldlikeagirl · 04/04/2011 15:57

DS (7) tie looks dreadful, we seem to have moved on from jumpers and collars! He used to suck his thumb until his first tooth fell out and it would appear this has replaced that habit. He is engaged and challenged at school so I think it is more of a comfort thing, I am hoping he will grow out of it.....he will probably smoke when he is older! Other 2 DS's show no signs of any chewing, thank goodness.

Beachcomber · 04/04/2011 16:13

Sometimes children chew their clothes or hair because they are deficient in zinc.

We know DD has zinc deficiency because she was tested for a whole load of things are part of a wider health problem. She takes zinc supplements - if she doesn't take her zinc she chews her clothes and constantly has her hair in her mouth. Doctor said it was a classic sign.

So could be worth a try for the clothes chewers?

seeker · 04/04/2011 16:19

You donlt have to buy a new jumper because he's chewed the cuffs! Why on earth would you?

Exasperated · 07/04/2011 21:40

Don't buy a new jumper, let him get cold and then he'll stop it.

Asinine · 07/04/2011 21:45

My dd2 5 started doing this just this week. She is my dc4 and i'd never heard of it before. I told her if she carried on I'd have no money left for toys, treats, or more jumpers. I will try the green ( in our case red) poo story next.

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