Toddler Puts Everything in Her Month

For some children, their mouth may feel undersensatized (much like having novacaine in their mouth constantly), so they seek out sensation by putting non-food items in their mouth a lot. The term for this is called sensory processing disorder (SPD) and a occupational therapist who is experienced with treating SPD can help your daughter regulate her senses so that this will become a non-issue. Something that you can do right now is giving her a battery operated teether or electric tooth brush to put into her mouth each time you see her mouthing a non-food item.

Wishing you and your daughter all the best. If you have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

A.,

Mouthing things can be a sign of sensory integration disorder. If I were you, I'd google it and if she has any other symptoms, I'd have her evaluated. All kids have quirks. Quirks become a problem when a child has enough of them or they are severe enough to interfer with the child's ability to function. If your child does have a sensory issue there is lots that can be done through occupational therapy to help her.

T.

If you're on the Westside, I recommend the Child Success Center for both Occupational Therapy or Educational Therapy. It sounds like a sensory processing disorder - my daughter also has these kinds of issues - and OT will give her some tools to help self-regulate. Good luck!

Some kids need more oral stimulation than others. I know I chewed on things until I was a teenager.
With my son-who never would take a binky, never sucked his thumb or fingers, etc.-I noticed he started this and it got worse as he got older. It is a soothing mechanism.

To get rid of "extra" chewing desire you can have her eat lots of things like carrots and apples, crunchy foods she really has to bite and chew.

Next, find something else for her to do to soothe herself when she is relaxing or stressed. A fuzzy stuffed animal to pet, something to touch, something to tap, a small physical action to let her relax. Don't criticize her when you catch her, simply grab one of her new items and hand it to her to use instead. If you make it a "bad" thing it actually reinforces her need for it. As she does better make sure to praise her for it. It is a bad habit and she needs lots of positive reinforcement to overcome it.
Good Luck.

I have heard of children doing this when their teeth hurt. When my niece was 5 she kept telling my sister, Mommy, my face hurts, and my sister did not know what she meant. By the time she thought of taking her to a dentist, she had four abceses. So her first visit to the dentist was to get four root canals, and four crowns! I would definitely find a good children's dentist and get her teeth checked out. The other possibility that comes to mind is, a mineral deficiency. Some times kids lick or put non-food items in mouth to get substances off them. Ew, the shirt could have toxic dyes. Go beyond the basic pediatrician visit, they probably will discount it. Ask the clerks at your local health food store if they have heard of something like this and could recommend a good child dosed supplement. Often the trace minerals only require a few drops a day in water. Worth a try, and little to no risk.

is this a new habit? My 3 1/2 year old has recently started licking everything. Kind of gross, kind of weird but I am sure it is a phase...give it a month or so to see if the novelty wears off (of coure tell her what is and is not appropriate things to put in ones mouth).

She may just be doing it for the extra attention??