I was wondering if anyone else has 5-year-olds that have regressed to putting things in their mouths ?
I have three grandchildren. One is two years old, the other two are both five years old.
The parents of both of the five-year-olds have told me that the kids are suddenly putting EVERYTHING into their mouths, and when they don't have something they are "mouthing", then they have their fingers in their mouths. Neither of these kids has had oral issues like this since they were tiny tots. I noticed last night the two-year-old seemed to have his fingers in his mouth most of the night, too, but he was very tired and it is a little more age appropriate at two.
This is annoying, of course, and not sanitary, but we are especially concerned about the little girl because she has to have her tonsils out next week, and we don't want her getting sick before or shortly after the surgery.
I would like to tell my kids not to be concerned, this is normal for this age, but honestly, I don't remember any of my kids doing this. Maybe they did, and it was so short-lived that it didn't make a lasting impression in my memory, or maybe I just wasn't bothered by it. All I know is I don't remember if this is common at five or not ?
Do any of you have any advice ? Are your 5-year-olds doing the same thing ?
Well, the five-year-old girl quit putting things in her mouth right after the tonsil surgery. Must have been related somehow.
For the others, I hit on something quite by accident that stopped the fingers going into their mouths.
I was trying to entertain them one day, and drew "Finger Man" on their fingers. (A happy face on the pads of their fingers.) They became so worried about losing their finger men, that they stopped putting their fingers in their mouths so they wouldn't lose the little faces ! LOL !!
That had not been my intention, but what a great discovery !
It was really pretty cute !
Life with little ones is fun, isn't it ? :o)
My 5 year old is doing this, too. Shoot--my 8 year old likes to chew on her hairbrush and the remote control. Maybe it's genetic because I remember my sister (as a teenager) getting yelled at by my mom for chewing up all the pens and pencils in the house.
My 4 1/2 year old started doing this-we figured out, there are 6 year old molars that can come in as early as 4-maybe they're getting their molars?? We started giving him chewing gum to chew, and it helped with the chewing on everything.
Hi B.,
I just did a quick Google search for "kids chewing on things" and got several sources which deal with this issue. You might be interested to do the same.
It's easier with puppies... give them toys and socks to chew on and they won't bite the dining room chair legs! That is, if you are there to stop them :)
Blessings.
Yes, it is normal--at least we think so since our four boys have gone through this. At around five, each of our boys started sucking and chewing on the necks of their tee shirts and biting and sucking on their fingers. Time and reminders to stop were about the only "cures." Eventually, they all quit. Good luck! Kati
My four yr old boy almost always has something in his mouth, but he's been that way since he was a baby. I remember always making sure we had a chew toy for him in the car and in his room in case he felt the need. Right now he's getting a molar because his fingers are in his mouth more than usual. That may be the case with your grandkids. You might need to find a teether for them or a toy that's soft to help them through it. It should be short lived. Good luck!
My three year old did this for awhile a few months after we had our daughter. Because there was so much time between the birth of the new baby and when this habit appeared I did not connect the two. I brought it up to my pediatrician and he told me that it was anxiety driven and most likely because of the change within our family. He also said not to worry because it will disappear as quickly as it came on. I know that this probably doesn't help with the upcoming surgery, but I would look for a reason that they may be anxious, a change in surroundings, new babysitter or school, etc. My son did quit mouthing his hands after a couple of weeks and it has never cropped up again. Good luck!
We got a bunch of shop rags at Home Depot - any cheap, textured towel-type "chews"; as mine would constantly chew her clothing or blankets. Every time I caught her chewing something inappropriate (as mentioned) we'd remind her of her rags. If you need to chew, great; but don't ruin clothing or other things - the rags can be washed and aren't like hands that touch everything else! She's now 7 and will still chew occassionally. My 13 year old used to do his clothing too, but I didn't have an alternative then. Now, he just chews straws or gum.....the woman who suggested genetics could be on to something? Each one of my 4 went through being a biter too???
Hi B.!!
My 5 year old did the same thing right before his 6 year molars came in!! Your grandkids may be working on that too!!
Good Luck!
S.
Good Morning Grams, to one Gr ma to another here I think a lot of kids put their fingers in their mouths. Remember biting fingernails ewwwwwwww or other not so wonderful things ;)
Our 2 oldest bite their nails, and I just remind them to take their fingers out of their mouths. Of course you can always get one of those microscopes at a Hobby store and put some dirt from under their nails on a slide and show them how nasty that can be. BROKE me from being a nail biter in HS!!
Our Mouths are full of germs any way so anything else in there just adds more stuff. I once saw a 24 y/o woman sucking her thumb, now that was g-r-o-s-s
Just keep reminding them Grams to take things out of their mouth. Wash hands frequently etc.
Good Luck, it could be worse, I heard worms are mighty tasty, and frogs are slimmy when ya kiss um too ;)
*laughing* at the memory
K. Happy Nana of 5
She is probably doing it to soothe herself from some sort of stress. Has anything changed? School, parents work place, pregnancy w/mom. Something small to us can seem like a big change to them. I would suggest giving her gum. She should be okay with that since she's five. Also, she isn't eating non-food items, right? Because if she is, it could be a sign of pica. But that's only when people eat non-food stuff. She'll probably grow out of it but I would make her aware of what she's doing when she does it.
finger nail polish remover on the nails will taste really really bad. :)
Could be teething-6 yr molars or insecurity. Are they going to going to kindergarden this next school year. Ask them or get then to draw pictures of what they are feeling when they want to put things in there mouths.
Hi B.,
My MIL said when my husband was about 6, he was chewing on his shirt sleeves. Long story made REAL short, it turned out to be a symptom of ADHD. I've read other responses and they seem to be more likely (i.e. 6 yr. old molars), but thought I'd at least put it out there in case they are exhibiting other behavior along those lines.
Are the 5 year olds about to start kindergarten? Big events like this can cause regression. I had one child who was an oral kid and still is at 12. She didn't do it from 2-5 and then started again and continues when she is stressed or something is on her mind. I've discovered the more you ignore it, the quicker it stops until next time. It is better for their peers to point it out instead of adults.
Good luck,
D.
If you get any good tips let me know! I have 7 year old that is always putting her mouth on somthing or something in her mouth. We are always saying "Audrey - out of your mouth". I feel like I say it 100 times a day. We have to watch her also because she'll put her mouth on railings and stuff. Like waiting in the line at Six-Flags, the railings there. Talk about ickey!! I have thought about spraying everything in the house with bitter apple (have some left from the dog), but I think that is a little extrem! So you are not alone in this - sorry that I don't have a clue on how to end it.
