6yo rubbing his face on me

[Justaskingabitofadvice]

Hi I wondered if anyone else's child has been through a phase of rubbing their face on you? He (6) does it a lot, in cuddles, or just randomly, so it's generally head-height for him, stomach-height for me. I've asked him why he does it and he said he likes the fact my jumper is soft. It is soft today, but he's soft done it on less soft clothes too.

In general he is having to be reminded a lot about my personal space this summer, he's constantly trying to touch any part of me, grab my hand, pull on clothes. We've spent more time together in the holidays as I've had annual leave, but he's had days without me as well, with his dad or at holiday club. It's only me that he can't seem to leave alone.

It's mainly the face rubbing, I don't like it so I'm asking him to stop a lot. I'm wondering if it's some kind of compulsion, or just a normal (annoying?) stage along with the personal space thing. What do you think?

My 6yr old does the same, it's very annoying.

He's very sensory seeking/sensitive/tactile. I think he likes the feeling of rubbing his face on me and even more annoying is breathing against my top so I can feel it underneath, I just keep telling him to stop and he's stopped doing it as much, I think he'll grow out of it.

Thanks, good in a way to hear I'm not the only one! I'm thinking of trying to keep an eye out for if it's more often in some situations (like if he's stressed, tired, missed me etc.). Any triggers you've noticed for your 6yo?

No triggers really, it's more when he's feeling affectionate. He loves 'mumminess', he tries to sniff me as well which again is very annoying, he knows I don't like it so will try to do it on the sly!
I give him lots of tight hugs and that seems to help. In a couple of years he may not want cuddles as much so I'm trying to think of it as a phase which I'll look back on and think it's sweet.....maybe!