My almost 2 year old (will be 2 in a week) still chews on everything!! I noticed about 3 months ago that this was not normal as most of his peers had already outgrown this. I didn't worry figuring he'd still outgrow it...just later. But now it's affecting his schooling. He got "demoted" from his new classroom because they work with small objects and they are scared he'll choke! It's terrible because I know and they say he's mentally ready for the next class...but this chewing thing keeps him out. Furthermore, he was having small discipline problems and I know it was because he was bored. (I had similar problems when I was his age.) He's even sneaky about it...hiding it in his mouth and running when you try to retrieve it. Currently, my husband and I started constantly telling him to take things out of his mouth when we see him, even if it's something harmless like a stuffed animal's ear. We never really cared about it before unless it was something he'd choke on. Any other ideas/suggestions/experience/consolation? He also has an under-bite. I doubt it's related...
There is a product called chewlery. It is basically bracelets and necklaces that kids can chew on to meet that need/desire. Maybe if he has something he is allowed to chew on he'll quit putting other things in his mouth. You can google chewlery to find on-line stores that sell it.
Hi E.,
Just a thought...have you take him to a dentist to see if he has a cavity that he's trying to soothe? WHile it's normal for everyone to teeth (adults chew ice, pen tips, fingers, etc.) , on a consistent basis may be somewhat abnormal. Otherwise, what did your doctor say about his habit?
Good luck and keep us posted on his progress!
A.
Does he take vitamins? Could he be missing iron or something?
he could be getting his molars. check to see if his gums are swollen and red and if they are, try orajel, or give him a frozen teething ring or frozen wash cloth to chew on.
or he could be doing it as a sign of some kind of stress, something new in his environment maybe? a change in routine?
as far as being "sneaky" and getting into trouble...well, he's 2 =) that's what they do best!
E.,
It sounds like chewing is a stress reliever for him. I would look to find things he can chew on so he won't chew the dangerous/unhealthy.
My daughter looked into necklaces made for the purpose. You could give him beef or turkey jerky that he can chew as long as he wants. I wouldn't punish him, just offer him something more acceptable. Apples and other crunchy fruits and veggies might also help. Try and reduce the stressors and see if that helps. Usually reminding about it makes things worse. This to me is the same as thumb sucking. Remind him once that people don't want his saliva on their things and he doesn't want germs in his mouth so he has to restrict what he chews to the good things. Look at what might be stressing him. You may thrive on it, but there is already enough stress in life for a 2 yr old.
I would definitely not use the nail polish. That seems cruel and unusual punishment for a normal stress response.
Don't worry about "normal"! It is obviously normal for your child. Children don't all develop in lock-step increments. He may need to be with the younger class for a while longer. It won't make a bit of difference in the long run. You are doing fine to keep harmful things out of his mouth, but children that age are still cutting molars. Choose thing that he can chew on and let him go to it.
It just occurred to me that older children and adults chew to relieve anxiety, witness the amount of pen and pencil chewing you see at school and in the office. Maybe he senses your worries about his moving up to the next class. He may also be getting pressure from the school to mature faster than he is ready or able to do.It might be worth making an unannounced visit to observe how they are dealing with him.
I had a friend who had a similar issue with her son. I would say since you haven't made it an issue before, it has become a bad habit and comforting to him. Now, if it were me, I would make it a matter of discipline. You know he's too old for this, you also know it is affecting his life (and therefore his development). I assume you have also ruled out any mental/developmental disorder as well as teething. Knowing this, it is something important enough for you to intervene with. Therefore, you and your husband have to crack down and intervene. Explain this one time to him. He can no longer chew on things. It's a bad habit and dangerous. Once you have explained this once - then begin disciplining each and every time he does this. Get daycare workers on board with you as well. You can slap his hand each time while saying a firm no or give a time out. But, spanking the hand will work faster. I would personally do this cold turkey for everything for awhile so that he won't get confused. At this age, he may not understand why one thing is ok and another is not. Or you could allow him a certain toy to chew on only, and only that one toy (or blanket). Either way, be very consistent and insistent. When he begins to put it toward his mouth, say a firm no. When, he obeys, praise him! When he doesn't, discipline him. When he cries, just calmly say. Good boy, it's ok; and then redirect him (distract him).
my son who is now 8 still chews on things and the reason he does is because he has sensory intergration disorder where his body needs certain kinds of stimulus like chewing on something or wanted crunchy things like chips or sour things like pickles.we have had him in ot and pt most of his life and they have said that it will get somewhat better but that his brain will always seek that stimulus that he needs. good luck to you and i hope that you are able to help him get what he needs
The largest nerve of the body is the trigeminal nerve. It encompasses the whole head and face. Often times when the brain does not connect properly in the first years of development it will continue to need sensory stimulus to a given area that it did not properly connect with. Some children pick their lip, nose, fiddle with their ear, pick at their eyebrows, place their finger in their mouth, or incessantly pick a sore on their face to provide this stimulus. If this behavior has been ongoing then it may take more than telling them to stop. You may need to help them stop by stimulating their mouth for them. If this sounds odd, think of how it feels when someone else gives you a hug versus if you tried hugging yourself. The effect is of greater intensity and impact when done by someone else. The same for the child when you do it for them. I wish I had known some of this 10 years ago when my son was crawling around on the floor with a sock in his mouth all the time. I had to have a thorough evaluation of ALL his symptoms a few years ago by a certified Neurodevelopmentalist to address the wide array of problems I was having with him that kept him from being "normal" in his behavior and abilities. He has never been the same since the intervention, but he is my work in progress. I still have to use a vibrating toothbrush on the fleshy parts of his mou
The yucky tasting nail polish. It comes off on everything. He will need help eating, or have to use utensils because it doesn't come off in one wash. It is really gross.
