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Hand Licking

1 reply

Crechendo · 03/01/2021 16:29

My 5 year old little boy has started to lick his hands. I've styared counting how many times and it's at least 25 a day that I seem him do it, so it must be more. This has been going on for at least a week. possibly longer but it's only in the past weel where I've noticed how excessive it is.

He has always been a thumb sucker but this is something different I think.

When I ask him why he either can't tell me, or says it's because his hands are dry. I've looked at this hands and they seem fine.

Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not convinced this is a "normal phase".

A Dr Google (I know I shouldn't) suggests sensory processing disorder. This wouldn't totally surprise me. He hates loud noises such as blenders, hand dryers etc. He also can get annoyed with seams and tags and is reluctant for messy play. I always though he was just a bit over senstive but now I'm wondering whether it is developing into something more.

OP posts:
mindlessthinking · 14/02/2021 19:27

Hi. Our 4.5 year old has started doing this. Just before Christmas she started having panic attacks about "germs". This co-incided with OCD-like symptoms (repeated hand washing maybe 15 times over). In the last few weeks she is now constantly hand licking (and even licking objects like the post... Shopping trolley handles... Just the things you don't want them locking during a Pandemic). We are still trying to figure this out, but thought I'd mention it in case it helps to know that you aren't alone in seeing this behaviour.

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