I have a sweet, beautiful 7 year old boy who almost always has something in his mouth! it is really about to drive me crazy. it could be his shirt, a toy, his fingers, whatever...
when he was younger I thought that it was just a phase (I rarely have to clip his fingernails for the biting) and that he would grow out of it. this school year he has gotten pneumonia and streap throat and all I see now are germs! He doesn't seem nervous just board and sometimes he doesn't even realize he's doing it. I guess from about the age of 2 I have told him only food and drinks go in your mouth. but do yall have any ideas? I have thought about putting stuff on his fingers but I don't know what and its not really just his hands...
thanks mammas
D.
I will be in the dr's friday so I will ask.
Thanks so much
My niece has a similar issue. She chews and eats things, like her pencils. I believe she was diagnosed with a sensory disorder. Now when ever she has an erge to chew she asks for gum. I would ask the doctor, Good luck
I would allow him to chew gum. This could be some kind of sensory processing dysfunction and needs the feedback of chewing on something in order to process information through his senses. Or if you don't want to deal with gum find something that is appropriate to chew on.
This is actually something that's not uncommon - it's an oral fixation. It's actually not a bad thing in and of itself, as it's likely a self calming tool. There are some tools that you can buy to make this more acceptable:
http://arktherapeutic.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=C...
If that link is broken just go to www.arktherapeutic.com and search for pen tips. The chewy part of the device can be put on the end of a pen or pencil.
The tool can also be made to vibrate, which also can increase the calming and also is helpful for many kids for focus. You might also want to see a therapist, as this can be a sign of a problem (i.e., the chewing isn't the problem - it can be a symptom of an underlying problem). The advantage of this device is that you can keep it clean to minimize the germs. Also, you may need to let his teacher know that it's okay for him to chew on this. The devices are not cheap, but well worth it IMHO.
Given the size of your family (I grew up in a large family too), the home situation may be overwhelming and this is how he comforts himself to deal with the turmoil - just my opinion having been there (I'm not a therapist).
Good luck!
He could have a sensory need.
It could also be calming to him to Bite down on something.
My daughter is 2 and has a Chewy...her Occupational Therapist recommended it for her Sensory development.
It is just a rubber tubing...you can also buy Chewy for him to chew on they are not that much money.
I was 8 when I stopped sucking my finger. My parents bribed me with $20 and that was it, I made myself quit! I know that it wasn't chewing, but I soothed me to do it. I can remember for a long time after feeling the need to do it, but I knew not to. I think at that age money starts to be a really interesting thing and it was worth it!
I have a now 16 year old that chewed the hands off all the action figures he had and all the hard plastic dolls my daughter had. Eventually he stopped chewing things. He didn't have very good motor control and he had a problem with being a picky eater... he's still a picky eater. I don't know if these things were related in any way, but you may want to keep a log or journal and watch him closely to see if you notice any kind of pattern which may clue you in as to how to help him. BTW mine is still a nail biter.
Many Blessings!!
I would call his pedi and not call too much attention to it. That will certainly only make it worse and make him more nervous about it.
funny. my 7 yr old girl is the same way. she has always been very oral. everything in her mouth then look at it. i always keep hand sanit. and gum around at all times. several people have told me that it si a sign of creativity. that oral type kids need to experiance every part of something. it has deceased i will say as she has gotten old but she still has no finger nails. and no, the nail polish bribe does not work. i try to explain as much to her as i can now that she is older, like the sick people that touch the shopping carts and hand rails etc... again it has decreased but i really just have to stay on her and when we are shopping, church, etc... i give her gum. i hate to use the nasty hand creams that they have out to put on their hands, since they tend to get enough 'nasty' stuff on their own. gum has really helped (sugar free). good luck!
