5 Yo Putting Stuff in Mouth - a Phase?

It could just be a phase since she has just started doing it. Maybe a nervous habit, something close to nail biting. If this is something she hasn't done previously then there is a reason she is doing it now think of things that have changed recently or talk to her teacher (if she has one). But also look at Sensory Processing Disorder. Since she just started it, this may not be it. I haven't looked into if signs can onset later because my son never stopped putting things in his mouth. He is 11 and stillalways has something in his mouth, thank goodness he can chew gum at school this year, sothe kids won't no0tice so much.

Please don't make her feel bad about it (calling her a baby doesn't help her stop it is just demeaning to her). It is just a phase. My son did this too. He also gave up his pacifier (all on his own, I did NOT take it away) when he was 6 months old. Just quit and ignored them. He did go through phases here and there when he would put things in his mouth when he was a little older (like your step daughter sounds like she is doing... including chewing shirt collars). It is a way he found (and likely your step-daughter as well) to self soothe when he was stressed. Maybe not the kind of stress that you and I think of as stress, but daily living stuff. Sitting in a kindergarten classroom trying to behave and not talk when she is supposed to be quiet. To stay seated just because "she is supposed to". To wait her turn, even though she feels completely impatient... it helps her manage her impulses. So let her do it. It isn't hurting her. But saying something demeaning to her b/c of it CAN do something to her emotionally. Please don't do that.

Since you are a step parent, I am going to assume that your SD has a little "baggage" on top of "normal" childhood stress with starting school, etc.
Maybe instead of commenting about her mouth and what she puts in it, offer her something else to do to distract her mentally from whatever might be bothering her? Don't even mention the mouth. Just say "hey, why don't we ______" and offer her something to do.

You might also mention it to the teacher (without your SD over hearing) and see if she'll let her have one of those squishy balls to squeeze. My son ALWAYS has something in his hands he fiddles with when he is doing school work (twisting a paperclip, stretching a rubber band, chewing on a string, knotting a string, scraps of paper he twists or squeezes into balls)---and he is 13!!

Cant tell you what to do, it is probably just a phase...

BUT put her hair up in ponytails or buns so she doesn't get into the habit of chewing on or twirling her hair! I only say this because as a kid my mom started those habits, and I kid you not, to this day if she is focused on something, like working on her computer (she is an accountant)... there she is gnawing away on her hair- completely oblivious to the fact until you say something- ugh!

-M.

I have the same problem with my five year old. Every time I turn around to look at her her hands are in her mouth. The other day she was sucking on her skirt of all things.
Please let me know if you find a solution.

I am dealing with exactly the same thing!! my daughter just turned 5 and ate the elastic thread from her socks; it got stuck in her poop on the way out her bum! She never used to put things in her mouth, why now when she's 5? However once I explain why it's not good, she gets it. I think she's still impulsive but why the impulse to eat weird things? Though now I remember at that age, I used to suck my hair and also eat paper and cardboard from my books. Weird!!

There is nothing unsanitary, destructive or dangerous about the things you've said she puts in her mouth. I suggest that if you'll ignore this, she'll outgrow this phase. I'm guessing that since she wasn't allowed to put things in her mouth at the usual age that she's doing so now as a way of experiencing her world. It's OK. Just as toddlers outgrow it. so will she.

I agree with Victoria W. This may also be a way to soothe herself. When you focus on it and don't allow her to do this without giving her another way to soothe herself she will continue to try to do it. I urge you to think about her life and see if there are some stresses that are adding to this need to soothe herself. She's a step daughter. Does she go back and forth between homes. That, in its self, is difficult for a child. Find ways to be empathic with her. This will help her deal better with the stress and as a result chew less often.

This could also be a sensory disorder. You could ask her pediatrician about it. Look up sensory processing disorder on the Internet and see if she has other signs of the disorder.

My grandson has a SPD and is allowed to chew gum in school. He started chewing gum when he was around 5 and it did seem to help some. There are also chew toys made for the older child that she can chew.

From what I've seen, it is a phase, but one that takes awhile to pass. We went through it at my house. Here are a few things we tried that more or less worked.

I got my daughter a worry bead bracelet to run through her fingers to try to manage nervous/bored/habitual chewing. (Her fingers were constantly in her mouth, and she had chewed her fingernails down to the quick.) It helped some. Her teacher authorized discreet gum chewing in class, which was very effective. And we cut her hair short enough so that none of it reached her mouth (with buy-in from her - I did not force the haircut).

While she was getting the short haircut, the stylist mentioned to her that fingernails have more germs than a toilet seat. That was more useful than anything I had managed to say up to that point, because of the "ewww" factor, and because it was said by someone other than her mother. :-)

It also helps for the child to be aware of what she's doing. I noticed that my daughter did it at times of stress (math class!) or when her mind was elsewhere, such as when she was listening to books or watching TV. So I started telling her when she was doing it. Not "stop chewing, " but "Hey, did you know you're chewing?" I taught her to give her hands a job (worry beads, holding a stuffy) instead, and this did help some.

Good luck!