Sticking fingers down back of throat?

[coppertop]

Ds2 has a habit of sticking his fingers right into the back of his throat. The gagging noise he makes sounds awful, as though he's about to choke to death. It doesn't seem to be an attempt to make himself sick (although he's come very close a few times) and he doesn't care in the slightest whether or not anyone else is around while he does it so I don't think it's an attention-seeking thing.

Coppertop, my DD does this too. Therapist thinks it's a 'stim'. DD seeks bodily experiences (rolling eyes back, grinding teeth) and I think this is just another one. I've heard of a lot of kids doing this, though. Think they tend to come out of it. I too found it really distressing and DD did make herself sick a few times. Sorry, not much help.

Sorry to say this, but this is considered a Self Injurious Behaviour. I can't remember DS2's age CT, think he's quite young, so it may well be just an experimental phase which I believe is not uncommon.

Oh blimey. Right, OK. Officially DD's first self-injurious behaviour.

both of mine do this as a joke! actually giggle when they gag god I sound like i have a pair of loonies on my hands. DD does self injure too, so hadnt thought of it like that. maybe its just experimental

Self-injurious? That's all we need. Eeeek! Ds2 is just under 22 months old so I suppose there's still time for it to pass (no pun intended). I'll add it to my list of things to mention to the Paed tomorrow.

My dd did this alot as a baby and she too used to find it hilarious!!!!

I can't think of anything that he could have been copying. No one's had anything put in their mouths except food or a toothbrush (ooer! ).

Sorry to alarm you! Its very likely to be an experimental phase or copying something from somewhere, who knows. But SIBs can be quite subtle and aren't always as clear as headbanging etc. Mine has done the fingers down throat behaviour, long after it would have been an experimental developmental phase, it goes with his gum picking, hair pulling, chin pressing/hitting etc etc