My Daughter Chews on EVERYTHING!!!!

H., i just got my parenting magzine [march 2008 edition] and they talk about this subject. they say that it doesn't mean something's wrong. they say that it is a self comforting habit. like pacifiers. they do say to let your child's dentist know so that they can watch for tooth wear. they recommend to help your child break the habit by gently reminding them to not do it, distract them from chewing by changing what they are doing at the moment [probably zoning out while they are] and by giving them something else to chew on like pretzels, carrots, basically anything hard and crunchy to satisfy their urge. also my daughter did this and could ruin a new shirt or coat in an hour. her dr. said that sometimes it can indicate a attention deficate [sp?] disorder and they do it when bored or anxious. so changing what she was doing at the moment worked best. she still chews on her pen caps, and did do some damage to her teeth. but now she is in her late teens and is able to stop herself when she recognizes the behavior. hope this is of some help or at least you know you aren't alone!

H., it may not be so much as she is chewing on things as much as she may still be teething, or she may have an area in her mouth that itches like an allergy. my daughter still chewed on her clothes all the time at the age of 2-4 years until we found out by her dentist that she had marks above the areas where glands were in her mouth from where she was rubbing her clothes on them to scratch them. we took her to the doctor and she was placed on zyrtec during the spring and summer months and now she is 18 years and no longer chewing on clothes. good luck, M.

My son is 14 years old and still chews on pens and pen caps. I think it's from anxiety, which both of us have and take meds. He used to chew on his shirts and would end up with holes in all of his clothes. At least he doesn't do that anymore. I think the Prozac has helped him immensely with the anxiety. Not sure if that's what your daughter has, but just thought I'd throw that out there. Anxiety is hereditary, by the way. My son was so anxious as a 9-year-old that he couldn't go to school some days, or he would get there and I'd have to pick him up because he was so hysterical. I know some people don't agree with giving kids medication, but it's the only thing that helped him. I wish they had given ME medication as a child. My life would have been much better. If this is your daughter's only problem, it may just be a phase and she'll grow out of it, but just be on the look out for any other anxiety symptoms. Hope this helps :)

My sister has gone through the same problem with her daughter. She asked the doctor what to do and he gave her these plastic toys shaped like a P and a Q. They are actually kind of rubbery but won't break and are kind of like dog chew toys. I think that has helped her daughter a lot.
M.

I have seen this in the past, children just go through an oral phase sometimes, usually it wears off slightly sooner, but I wouldnt be worried. If i were you I would work on positivley rewarding him when yuo catch him not chewing, a sticker chart works wonders. After so many stickers then he can receive a prize. Also another form of this is a marble jar. Same concept less waste. Then hopefully he will become so concentrated on not chewing that he will brake himself of the habit. Good luck!

I had to laugh when I read this. My daughter is the same way. Neither one of my sons were ever like she is. She would chew my furniture, toys, the baby gate, even shoes. She has stopped doing it some, but she still has a pacifier. She is just a very oral kid. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm just glad to know my daughter isn't the only little puppy!!:)

Could this be a teeth hurting thing with her? Have u thought of that being part of it too?