My Daughter Puts Everything in Her Mouth!

I don't have any solid advice. My oldest daughter went through this not long ago - she was 4 and I was pregnant with my 3rd child. She did ruin one shirt from chewing/sucking on it. Nothing really worked, we just reminded her to stop whenever we saw her doing it, but she more or less outgrew it. Hang in there!

If you find out, let me know! My 3 y.o. daughter just started chewing again. Her hair, shirt collar, shirt sleeve, you name it. I've tried threatening her and it's back in her mouth in a matter of seconds.

Hi R.,
I don't have a clue of what to tell you, just that you're not alone...my daughter does the same thing and it is very frustrating to say the least! She only chews on her cloths now and nothing else, but she ruins them. Can't wait to see the responses you get! God Bless! and Good luck! N.

Try replacing her chewing of inappropriate items (clothing, etc) with something that would be appropriate (suckers, popcicles, teething type ring or other toy). At least she would be replacing the inappropriate chewing with chewing on something appropriate. Hopefully, she will start asking for the appropriate items. My son is 9 and does the chewing thing also. It's a habit and if you confine it to things that should be chewed on, it will either disappear because your giving them permission or they will use only the appropriate things for their chewing.

This is a challenging situation for everyone involved! Try replacing what she's chewing on with something that is okay. It could be that she has some "sensory issues" and she needs to chew on something hard or chewy to fulfill a need she has orally. (For example, if I eat a lot of soft foods in a row, I notice that I crave something hard, crunchy, or chewy to eat. Even if I am not hungry, I will continue to pillage until I find the food that meets my physical need. Some people are a salty or a sweet person and they need that to fulfill a need.) Maybe she is like this. Or do you notice that it's her way of getting your attention? Maybe it's because your 12 month old is taking time away that she is wanting and this gets your attention. Try watching when she is doing the chewing ( time of day, what's going on during that time, etc.) and see if you can include her in something then, or make some special time for her alone. Good luck!

could she be teething? i remember wanting to bite on things when i was a child, the gums felt, i don't know how to describe it....itchy? maybe give her gum, or a teething ring?

My daughter puts everything in her mouth too. Try giving her something that she's allowed to chew on, blanket, washcloth, or even a carrot. I think it's just a phase and she'll grow out of it. As far as germs go, the germs she comes in contact with actually stimulate her immune system. A child raised in a sterile environment can potentially have problems later in life overcoming sickness. Think of it like a natural vaccination process. :) Just try to make it positive. Children love pleasing their parents and want their approval.

I'm in the same boat too! My 3 year started chewing his nails, and now that they are down to nubs, he chews EVERYTHING else . . . just like your daughter. My one year old doesn't put anything in his mouth. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?
Help!

I know that this sounds weird, but give her something that is okay to chew. The reminders could be stressing her out, which will only lead to more chewing. Furthermore, she may be getting molars. You might also want to make sure that she is not hungry. It could be that she is hungry, but not telling you. If she is hungry, remind her that asking for a snack works much better than chewing. The less attention you give it the better. My oldest went through a phase like this when she was getting molars.

If it seems to be something that she can't stop, you may have her evaluated to see if she has Sensory Integration Disfunction. It's where people process sensory info differently and it can come in various forms (auditory, oral, tactile, vestibular, etc). Some kids with sensory issues seek out the sensory stimuli that they crave. Kids with sensory issues can normally find great help by working with an occupational therapist. It may be something to check into.

Does there seem to be any special time when she is chewing. Is it when she is sleepy or angry? Is it mindless, like when she is watching TV and kind of zoning out. Sometimes oral fixations are a soothing mechanism. Does she have a lovey that she prefers. Or maybe you could get her a special toy to chew or something so that she goes for that thing, or you can trade what she is chewing on for what you want her to chew on. I realize you don't want her to chew on anything, but better one thing than everything.