How to Stop Chewing

This is probably bad advice, but why don't you give him 1/2 piece of gum instead? And teach him that's it's to chew on, then spit out to get another piece. If he had older siblings, he might be chewing gum with them, anyway. (we protect the oldest, and the younger ones get to learn from their older siblings, not just from us)

Sucking on things, chewing on things, are pretty normal behavior. It doesn't end when the bottle goes away. If he knaws on toys that are soft and pliable (kind of like teething toys), there really shouldn't be a problem. I would just try to keep him safe, and keep him from chewing on things you want to protect from him and protect him from. I suspect the behavior will disappear over time -- but I'm saying this knowing that whenever I have a pen in my hand, I chew on the end of it !

There are probably some things you can spray on them that would make them taste HORRIBLE -- some are even organic, like cayenne pepper or something -- it works keeping animals from plants ( I put cayenne pepper on bulbs when I plant them, so skunks and deer don't dig them up), so if there's something that works in the garden, that isn't toxic or too strong, it would make the electric cords taste hideous and he might not want them in his mouth ! Just be extremely careful with what you use if you resort to that kind of routine.

But in all honesty, I think it'll pass . . . :-)

Some ideas are to give him gum, carrot sticks, celery,etc. These are healthy yet will stop him from chewing on non food items.

My daughter is generally an orally-fixated child & always has been. She never got past the phase where she put everything in her mouth. It got especially worse when she was 4. She chewed holes in her shirt sleeves & collars, chewed sticky tack at school, etc. I was constantly asking her what was in her mouth & it was never food. I started putting baby carrots in her lunch everyday & having them handy for her to eat whenever she wanted. I told her to let me (or her teachers) know when she felt like chewing & we would give her the carrots. It helped tremendously. I also think it was linked to her losing her baby teeth (she lost her first one before her 5th birthday & lost a bunch of her teeth in a short period of time thereafter). Now that her tooth loss has slowed down & she knows that carrots are the answer when she feels like chewing, I rarely see her chewing on miscellaneous items. Good luck with your son! Hopefully, this, too, shall pass! ~B.

R.,
I'm anxious to se what others say. My son (almost 6) chews on his shirts and it drives me nuts! He seems to do it most when he's "zoning out." I keep reminding him. "Don't chew on your shirt!" or "Shirt!" He cracks up so I don't even think he realizes he's doing it. You're not alone!

It sounds along the same lines as biting nails or fingers or whatever else people have a habit of doing! Try giving him a straw or something else safe and non-food related and see if he will chew that instead. Then maybe wean him down from that after awhile? Some people are life-long nail biters, so if this is same idea maybe it will help. It's probably either comforting or tension relieving, or both. Or maybe it is purely an unconscious habit! Work with him and find what works! :) I know that is easier said than done but it's worth a shot. He's still little so encouragement of any kind from Mommy is always great! :) (not that it won't be when he's older, but a little boy does love his mommy the most! :))