Hello mamas,
I have a question about my 4 year old. She developed a nasty habit of putting everything in her mouth and sucking on it. It does not look nice, her hands are always wet and sometimes it is even dangerous. I have seen her mouthing her fingers, various toys, her dirty shoe, a party balloon, her necklace, you name it... Telling her to stop does not work, the moment I turn away she starts sucking on something else. Would you have an idea of how we can break this habit?
Jen.
Perhaps talk to your doctor...... It sounds like there is something MORE than a habit going on. If she is sucking on dirty shoes and odd items like that she may be lacking some vitamins and minerals her body needs.
I too would ask my pediatrician, but not because of any nutritional deficiancy. I would ask because this could be sensory related, and you will want to know if it is. A referal to an occupational therapist may be helpful, and you will get some good ideas on why she is doing this, and how to help her expore her world without doing things that are dangerous.
M.
Maybe a pediatric dentist or orthodontist can install a little device that I have seen used to prevent thumb sucking. It's shaped sort of like a retainer but it's not removable by the child. It blocks off the soft palate area so that things besides food and water don't fit in the mouth so well; it also prevents the ability to "latch on" and create suction. You remove it when the habit has been broken.
It sounds like her body needs more sensory input in this area. Try increasing her access to this need, but in a safe way. She could sip applesauce or thick liquids through a straw and thin liquids through a coffee stirrer. You could make a chewy necklace. Do some research online about how to make one. Increase her access to textured foods, such as crunchy carrots, or chewy foods. You could make healthy popsicles for her to suck on. Buy blow pens from a craft store. Blow tissue paper balls with straws to have a "Sheep Round-Up."
Funny you mention this but I have noticed this trend resurfacing in the past few months with my daughter (she is 4 today). She is always sucking on her hands and fingers, toys, hair bows/ties, I even caught her putting her mouth on a shopping cart (YUCK!). I am curious to see what others have to say as I never thought of it as a psychological or nutritional problem. I chalked it up to kids go through weird phases and this is just another one of them. I have noticed that she likes to make weird noises or try to whistle with her fingers etc, or pretend things are gum or candy or braces, a retainer, medicine you name it. She views it as part of play most times or I think a weird curiosity (this is so soft/squishy/prickly I wonder what would happen if I licked or chewed it?). I am interested to see if she grows out of it.
