any tips to stop child chewing?

[exmrs]

Son is 6 and possible Aspergers he constantly is chewing clothes, coats even sat on the settee he is chewing the corner of cushions or a throw.
He seems to like pulling a thread from whatever he is chewing with his teeth.
He doesn't even know he is doing it half the time but I cannot afford to replace any more coats and I cant find a way to stop him doing it

We use these (you can get them from various special needs websites, in diffetrent kinds etc)

www.allthingsautism.co.uk/sensory-motor-skills/chews/ark-textured-grabber-xt.htm

Have the same problem except it is knees on trousers or tights have thought of rubbing chilli powder on them. No I wouldn't really will look on recommended sites

My son (8) chews a lot. Will get him one of these. At the moment we just tell him off or say 'stop chewing your clothes' but you can tell it is not really in his control.

Have just ordered one with him. Discussed it a bit and he is actually excited about it arriving I think.

Does anyone know if I can ask the school for him to have the chew toy in school if they claim he has no special needs?
He has been told off for chewing pencils in class and obviously I ll show them his coats etc and they must have noticed him chewing clothes but school treat me as over anxious mum wanting a label when he doesn't want one

Yeah, I'm a bit worried about that. Mine doesn't have a diagnosis though the school know I'm concerned and are really good.

Think I will present it as a practical issue. Telling him off isn't working. Stuff is getting wrecked. Let's try this approach and see if it works.

Also, my son has actually said that chewing helps him concentrate so I'll tell them that.

Hi,
My Son does this a lot as well and it's sensory seeking. For older kids there is a clear chewy tube that fits over the top of a pencil and is discreet. I can't do links bit I bought some from thinkingtoys.. Another suggestion is to let the child chew gum. What works for my child when he is excessively chewing is the wilbarger brushing. This really helps as he is getting body awareness imput and it regulates him more. An occupational therapist would help with this.

Hth

I would have thought any good school would recognise that he needs a better alternative to chewing his clothes & would be happy to use something more practical. He obviously needs to chew. We use chewy tubes, similar to the things linked to here. I love the ones that can be attached to the child - they disappear very quickly otherwise. Make sure you get one strong enough to last - often they come in different strengths.

Thanks so much everyone, this is sooooo helpful to me.

Bee is a terrible chewer. We have found stopping the chewing is almost pointless - so we make sure she has appropriate chews instead. One of the things I have heard for school is putting a length of silicone tubing on the end of a pen or pencil, so that she chews that instead of the pen/pencil itself.

Sadly i dont think you can stop it (i speak as a 31 year old who still chews), all you can do is teach him to chew something that is ok to chew. My dd2 has chewey tubes which seem to be helping, i still catch her with other things in her mouth but not as often as before.

We use Chewy Tubes, in our ds its def a sensory thing. OT has recommended deep pressure, massage (including face which he hates), trying to introduce an electric toothbrush (hollow laugh) & lots of opportunities for 'heavy' work such as pushing a big gym ball around,jumping on a trampoline etc.

I have chewy tubes for DS3, but am interested in something more 'grown up' and less obvious for DS2 (9yo, school say 'totally NT now, except for his social skills issues'). Yes, and that's why when he was due to start YR, you refused to have him until the LA forced you to, as there weren't any places at SN school...his SN's haven't vanished you bunch of twunts, he just sits in the bushes being ignored by the staff every break and lunch for the sake of it. Or plays with the Y1 DC when he is in Y4. Until they start upsetting him. Because he doesn't even cope with interacting with 6yo's when he's 9...

Am off to check out those links while I'm in bed!

Nnnnngggggggg!!!!

I've just realised why 15yo DD still sucks her thumb for 18 hours a day!!!

Sensory seeking!

Duuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh.

She only stopped doing it at school when she was getting ripped the piss out of. less said about how useless the school are for not dealing with it, the better...

But duuuuhhhh how thick am I?! I realised her head banging as a toddler was sensory seeking, and everything else she does or did do, but the thumb sucking I was just seeing as a bad habit she hadn't dealt with.

Reading one of the descriptions on one of the sensory sites linked to above it said "this can be used to decrease time spent in other sensory seeking activities, like thumb sucking" (or words to that effect), and I swear you could SEE the cartoon lightbulb above my head.

Urrrrrrrrr.

I may now have a way to address the thumb sucking. Chewy jewellery.

Does anyone have any ideas how to encourage the child to chew the chewy stuff you want them to chew?

Ds chews nearly all the time - mostly his hands and his clothes - he has recently taken to shoving the neck of his tshirt in his mouth, so half his face is covered, with the added drooling, he is drenched all the time. It also means he has an awful red, raw bit on his chin where the material rubs.

I have tried chewy tubes, chewy necklace thing on a lanyard, pieces of fabric, dribble bibs (he pulls them off), taggie blankets....he just isn't interested in chewing them, and goes back to having soaking wet sleeves and half his tshirt shoved in his mouth!

Any ideas!!

haze how old is he?

He is 2.9.

I found out that it's not about sensory seeking in some children. My 4 year old DS was the worst chewer for two years, he destroyed everything - we were at our wits end. Then I happened to mention it on a visit to the doctor and it turns out that excessive chewing (particularly material) can indicate a zinc deficiency. DS has been on a daily zinc supplement ever since and the chewing has completely stopped.

haze sounds like he just that bit too young to be reasoned with. Sorry. It will come. And is it related to teething? Just an idea, doesn't really help.m

Zinc deficiency, wow, would never have thought!

Interesting about the zinc! Dd1 is a chewer too (sleeves), and I think she may have a zinc deficiency.

Ds chews almost constantly, I don't think it is teething, he has quite a lot of sensory stuff going on, so I think it is probably that. I just wish it wasn't the tshirt he is wearing that he chews on, he bunches the whole front into his mouth, it looks awful and the fronts of his tops look pretty manky!

Chewy triangle arrived today and is being chewed relentlessly. It squeaks. I LOVE that as you can imagine.

Am going to try zinc supplements too.

So happy it has been well received - they really can make a HUGE difference! There is more and more available now, so something "socially acceptable" as children age is not impossible to find.

Happy chewing

Pencil toppers arrive soon, hopefully.

Thank you so much for help, everyone.

DS2's chewing is awful. He has got through several wooden dining chairs, his wooden bed frame. His bedroom wall is missing a few chunks of paint. He is now chewing clothes, cushions, bedding, doors-driving me mad. Anyhow, he has these (dog tags)
www.chewigem.co.uk
The tags themselves are very good and hardwearing, although he seems to prefer the necklace it comes on and we have got through quite a few of these. DS2 wears his tags at school, and home and out and about. Cant recommend them enough. He still prefers the odd door and chair to the tags though.