Seeking Help with My 2 Year Eating My Gum

Hi P.!

I'm really confused with this. I have 2 boys in the house, and YES they wanted things they couldn't have when they were 2, but did they get it?......NO! not if they WEREN'T supposed to have it! The gum issue was no different. Most kids want gum, but at 2 it's hard for them NOT to swallow it. My "gum rule" was that they could have it only when they sat at the table and colored. I didn't want gum everywhere, especially in the carpet (like the fruit snacks ended up), so they had to sit at the table, and that was their only opportunity to have it. I only bought bubblegum Trident or Extra, and they could chew it after a meal (as to help clean their teeth). If they swallowed it, then the next time they wanted it, I would say "I don't know, honey, last time you made it go to your tummy, and that's breaking the rule, if I give it to you, you cannot swallow it". After a few more tries, then the problem was solved, but only in my sight, and only at the table. My youngest is 5, and still has "gum rules" and "cough drop rules" and "hard candy rules", mostly for choking reasons.

As far as going into your purse, I ask "why is your purse low enough for him to get into it??". Especially when you're having this problem. That's mommy's!!! He needs to learn NOW what is NOT his needs to be asked for. Otherwise, he'll begin taking ALOT of things that aren't his. Just give him the words to use "honey, this is not yours, you need to say 'Mommy, can I have some gum please'..." If YOU are the one that is negligent (by leaving things accessible), then he should only be told that it wasn't his and he forgot to ask. Don't make it about the gum, make it about him taking things that are not HIS.

I think you need to "re-vamp" your home for a 2yr old busy-butt! This is just the beginning :o)

:O) N.

2 moms found this helpful

I had the same problem with my kids. I kept mine in the car and they would find it. My 3 year old would almost always swallow it, or it would fall out of her mouth. My 4 year old would spit it out. After finding wads all over the backs of the seats I decided to stop buying it. If I don't have it, they can't get to it. Now they can have it occasionally (from Grandma). But everytime they get it I give them the 'gum lecture'. You can't swallow it, if you want to spit it out let mommy know and I'll take it from you. It has to stay in your mouth. If I state the rules first and make sure we have an understanding it usually works, although I still don't buy it so its not around for them to get into. Also, try getting a really strong flavor, so that he won't like it.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

This is cracking me up Cause I have a 3yearold little girl who always raids my purse for gum.

I started putting my gum in the car console. They are buckled in in the car and don't have easy access to the "goods". All my secret stash is in there now:) No cupboard or hiding place is safe. I feel your pain. :)

1 mom found this helpful

That is YOUR gum and he is stealing it. Have him "pay" you for it. 2 year olds don't have money, but they do have favorite toys. I do this with my 2 year old son who gets into his snack box without permission. Just keep the transaction calm without yelling.
Tell him "uh oh, mommy didn't say you could eat my gum. You took it by yourself. That was mommies and now she doesn't have her gum so you will be paying mommy for the gum you took. Which toy will you be paying with, favorite A or favorite B.
Once you have the toy in your posession store it in a place he can't get to. The top of the closet, the freezer, the trunk of the car, wherever. You can now use that toy as a reward for good behavior later on. Since the gum issue is the current hot topic at your house, I would return the toy if he goes a whole week without taking your gum.
Since it is hard for 2 year olds to "tell time" use something that only happens once a week for your weekly marker (TV show, church, etc.)
We use toys for household commerce all the time around here. William pays with toys if he sneaks food between meals while the "kitchen is closed". I also keep all toys that I personally pick up. I have a large box in my closet that is mommies toy box. William then earns his toys back by being a sweet boy or helping Mom do her chores.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi P.,
I think you need to be thinking beyond your gum. The big picture here is that your son is taking things that are not his (and eating them!) and not obeying your rules. Gum may seem like no big deal, but really this is stealing and deliberate disobedience. Is stealing ok? Ever? Does he need to obey your rules? All of them? Think about what this could look like later! Do you want a 6 year old that thinks he can take whatever he likes and doesn’t need to follow the rules? What about a 16 year old?
Now is the time to set the ground work for the rest of his life. It is time to make the consequence out weigh the ‘reward’ of the gum. Clearly time-outs aren’t ‘painful’ enough. What means the most to him right now? Toys? TV? Treats? Take them away! Keep upping the consequence until he is sitting in the middle of the family room floor with his hands folded in his lap all day if that’s what it takes. He needs to know that you will do whatever it takes to teach him right from wrong, even if it is inconvenient for you. Remember, the gum is not the issue.

1 mom found this helpful

I would suggest you stop buying gum. Problem then solved.

Don't buy anymore gum. It may punish you but would definitely fix the problem.

Hi P.,
You already know the answer. Your "words" are not working. Si either stop buying the gum or put it where he can't and won't find it. I don't think swallowing gum is a good idea for a 2 year old, and you are kidding yourself. Take charge - You Are The MOM! And you can do it! I know you can!
Hope this helps,
Patti

Maybe try keeping it in the glove box of your car.

Stop buying gum until you work it out.

My 2 year old is a gum lover too. We put a simple lock on the pantry door that is too high for him to reach (a hook and eye). I keep my purse in the laundry room, which has a baby gate on it (to keep him out of the litter box). We say that it's like living with a racoon!

Hello P.!

As you've read in many of the other responses, a little gum being swallowed isn't that big of a deal as long as he doesn't choke on it - (always a possibility). However, your 2 year old getting into your stuff IS a big deal. Children need to learn boundaries, and until they can learn to respect boundaries, some things need to be kept out of their reach. Your two year old SHOULD NOT have access to your purse. No one in your family should have access to your purse, without your permission. There could be all sorts of things in there that are more dangerous than gum. And if not in your purse, than in someone else's - Grandmas, aunties, friends' purses. For goodness sakes, women carry guns, knives, prescription drugs, over the counter medicine, recreational drugs, makeup, perfume, the list goes on and on. I babysat my boss's 2 year old daughter once, and while I was in the bathroom for literally two minutes, she rummaged in my purse and ate several Pepto Bismol tablets. I came out to see her mouth bright pink. I had to call poison control AND my boss and explain what happened... Luckily I knew that I only had a couple of tablets so it wasn't an emergency. But this sort of thing happens all the time. Please don't take chances with your baby. Teach him to stay away from your purse, and put your purse UP so he can't get into it. Now that he knows your purse is a source of delicious treats, you've got your work cut out for you. Keep your purse and everyone else's away from you baby! And in front of your baby, maybe keep your gum in your pocket, in a kitchen drawer, glove compartment, other places so he doesn't see you taking it out of your purse anymore. Good luck!

well, i was thinking while i read you're problem that there are things that children should not have access too. that is why we buy locks for our medicine and cleaning product cabinets and safes for guns and child proof this and that and it is really not reasonable for a parent to say that they cannot seem to prevent a 2 year old from accessing something that could be harmful to them. if you have 2 other kids you should by now have a grasp on how to prevent the child/children from getting at these things. a little gum wont hurt him but a lot could and wouldnt you feel terrible if he got sick or choked on the gum you neglected to keep out of his reach? i think you should either not buy the gum or put it out of his reach. nevermind that it is inconvenient to get you're preciouse gum from a high place or locked cabinet or from the freezer or you're car. you're child's well being is the important thing.

Swallowing gum is not good for your child. Putting him in time out or telling him not to swallow it is not the solution = he is two and is doing what two year-olds do. I suggest not having it anywhere in the house until he is old enough to understand not to swallow it.

What do you do with your household chemicals, scissors, knives, box openers, safety pins, sewing needles, etc? Surely you keep those hazardous things out of his reach, so put your gum there. If not, then I'd stop buying it until he can share.

Hi P.,

It seems that you have an on going game of hide and seek.
Try getting gum that is rather spicy, or minty.
If that doesn't work put it in your freezer just don't make a big deal of it. Try not chewing it around him for a while.
The larger issue is he needs to understand that some things are for kids and others are for adults. Don't make the issue the gum .
Remember you are the adult in control. Keep your things high until he understands this. It takes a lot of explaining keep the explanation short. You'll have to do it over and over. No faltering.

Stop buying for a month or so until he gets the idea that it's no longer around. Tell him there is none and let him look all he wants. Once he realizes you're telling the truth, he will stop looking and that issue will go away.

If you choose to stop buying it again, hide it in a high traffic area (kitchen, bathroom, etc.). Since no one is going out of their way to get some, he may not care or figure it out.

Right now it's a big game and he's having a lot of fun playing 'hide and seek' and has no incentive to stop looing even if you tell him.

Hi P.
Well kids do learn what they live, have you thought about just kicking the gum habit yourself and ridding the house of all gum? I think if there was no gum to find, then after a couple of weeks, your 2 yr old would forget about even wanting it.. it might be worth a try. good luck

For gum chewing M.,
Maybe you shoud stop chewing gum until your little boy is a little older and can learn to leave it alone

It's not too big of a deal if he is swallowing it unless he is swallowing a lot of it at one time. However you do also need to take in account the sugar or sacrin (if sugar free) he is ingesting into a very little and young body. It does need to be monitored and he needs to be kept from it as much as possible. He is too young to understand chewing something without swallowing it, especially when it tastes sooooo good! I grew up with a kid, three years old, who would chew Bubbleishous (sp?) gum for about five minutes then swallow it. His parents kept it on top of the refrigerator and used it as a treat or reward. My kids, three and one and a half have never taken an interest or wanted a piece of my gum. I keep mine though in the car. That may be a good place for you to keep yours. Or start getting in the habit of putting your purse on top of something he can not get to…or don’t buy it for a while and see if he looses interest.

Another comment on one of the other responses…a two year old is not out to “steal” things or learning at this age that it is okay to steal. He is simply interested in the hunt and the reward. Not saying either that he should not get in trouble and have a consequence when he does not listen and obey the rules of the house. But the focus at this age should be more on his health and safety and the reason for his actions, no the action it self.

Our children teach us so much, maybe you should try to stop chewing it too. Not only is it bad for them it is bad for you too. Give it a shot, they learn b y experience.

I think you need to either not buy it or find a place to put it where he absolutely can't get it. I don't think it's good to swallow so much. Once and a while it's ok but too much can't be good. I have two older ones that I allow to chew sugarless gum occasionally and my 2 1/2 year old wants it too. I did try teaching him and giving him only a little to try and for a while I thought he got it but then he kept swallowing it so I just stand my ground now and say no- even if he sees his older siblings chewing it.

What about teaching him to ask for it, and then teach him how to chew it and when he is done chewing to spit it out in the trash. Then if he swallows it the next time he asks for gum tell him no because he swallowed it, and that next time he can try again to chew and spit into the trash.

My daughter was two when I taught her this, and she too used to find my gum. It was a great solution for both of us as she learned pretty quickly not to swallow the gum and to ask (because if she didn't ask and she wasn't allowed to chew any more).

Sometimes I had to take something of hers without permission and she'd get upset and then I'd compare it to the gum (this would be right after her filching some of it). This also helped get the point across.

I had to not make it a game (something you've unfortunately done) and remain calm.

My dentist says it is not that dangerous for digestion like the old tales say but I would try and teach him that when he is done to throw it in the trash.
Also make sure you only buy sugarless.
Or you could hide it in your car.
L