Author | |
Donna Marie Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2530
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
If a child chews his clothing...does it mean that they need something in their diet? My almost 4yo ds is ruining one shirt after another....ick
God Love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc
__________________ God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Mary G Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5790
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 7:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Donna -- my 7yos is doing this too! He's the first of the batch to do it, but 4 yos thinks it must be something big boys do cuz he's starting to imitate
I have no idea of a cure -- other than scolding, and what fun is that?
__________________ MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5595
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 8:02pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My pediatrician said it's not that uncommon. OTOH, the two of mine who did/do it are also the two who have enough tics in the right pattern to indicate Tourette Syndrome.
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Rebecca Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 30 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1898
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My children have done this from time to time when their molars are coming in (four year, eight year, etc.).
|
Back to Top |
|
|
PDyer Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005 Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1043
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've read that zinc supplementation can help with chewing.
My son used to chew holes in his shirts. We didn't do the supplementation (I hadn't heard of it at the time), but we made sure he had something to which we could direct his chewing. Therapy aid stores for occupational therapists have lots of options. My son had a couple of these at one point:
Chewy Tubes
__________________ Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Mary G Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5790
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Rebecca wrote:
My children have done this from time to time when their molars are coming in (four year, eight year, etc.).
|
|
|
I think this is the case -- Thomas says it makes his teeth feel better to chew on things, especially clothes ... I'll have to get the dentist to check it out (once we find one, that is -- oh, the joys of relocation!)
__________________ MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5128
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My 9 yr old drove me nuts with this a few years ago. I did read that it was related to the spectrum of Feingold related problems (bedwetting, wild behavior, impulsiveness, etc). We started on Feingold around that time, but I can't say for sure if it was the diet or maturity that caused it to stop.
Just remember, this too shall pass! Oh, if chewing shirts were the biggest of our worries! Just try to put a shirt or two of to the side for when you leave the house!
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Courtney Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline Posts: 796
|
Posted: Jan 04 2007 at 10:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My 6yo ds is doing this, too! He also just recently started putting his hands in his mouth a lot (chewing on his fingers, etc.) It's strange to me b/c he was never a thumb sucker. He does have some articulation errors (like "r") and a friend of mine who is a speech path (I am too, technically but been out of it for 9 years) suggested that he may be going through a period fo oral motor growth/development.
__________________ Courtney in Texas
Wife to Mike since 3/94
Mom to Candace 10/97,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
|
Back to Top |
|
|
jdostalik Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 15 2005 Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2935
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 5:19am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My almost 7 year old did this when I weaned him close to age 4 and has recently begun chewing his shirt sleeves again...that is interesting about oral motor growth/development as his reading has really begun to click though he still has some articulation problems...Hmmm...
__________________ God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Servant2theKing Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1505
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 5:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
You might try letting them wear a terrycloth bib during phases of chewing (around the house at least), to save their clothing. Just a thought!
__________________ All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Dawn Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005 Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3191
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 5:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My 5 yo did this last year - relentlessly. I assumed it had to do with his PDD - never thought of it being nutritional or dental. Interesting ...
__________________ Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5595
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 6:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't think it's dental here because I see it increase when I see other tics increase--around the holidays is a biggie. I think it's stress (and maybe a bit of diet). Also, I'm not sure my children are chewing as much as they are sucking. And the shirt doesn't end up any where near their molars, so I don't think it's offering relief there .
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Mary G Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5790
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 8:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I think this is just another one of those signs from God that parenting is NOT for wimps!
__________________ MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
fsuadamson Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 16 2005 Location: Georgia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 190
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 8:35am | IP Logged
|
|
|
teachingmyown wrote:
My 9 yr old drove me nuts with this a few years ago. I did read that it was related to the spectrum of Feingold related problems (bedwetting, wild behavior, impulsiveness, etc). We started on Feingold around that time, but I can't say for sure if it was the diet or maturity that caused it to stop.
|
|
|
Oh Molly,
My almost 7 year old boy is chewing/sucking the sleeves and collars on all his tee shirts but he also exhibits wild behavior and on occassion bed wetting. I know he is very sensitive to artificial food colorings. He is also learning to read and we have had to work through a couple oral motor problems with some letter / blending sounds this past year. So it is probably a combination.
To be honest I have no idea what you are talking about when you mention *Feingold* diet. Could you possibly send me some more information on this, a website?
__________________ Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
|
Back to Top |
|
|
jdostalik Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 15 2005 Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2935
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 10:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hey Leslie,
I'm not Molly, but I have a friend who swears by the Feingold diet--she and her entire family have been strict adherents to it for almost 2.5 years and they have seen a world of difference in two of their dd's particularly...
Here's their
site.
__________________ God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Angel Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2293
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 6:45pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Elizabeth wrote:
I don't think it's dental here because I see it increase when I see other tics increase--around the holidays is a biggie. I think it's stress (and maybe a bit of diet). Also, I'm not sure my children are chewing as much as they are sucking. And the shirt doesn't end up any where near their molars, so I don't think it's offering relief there . |
|
|
My son with TS didn't chew on his shirts, but he did suck on his fingers/hand for about a year when he was 8/9. (I mean, he would put his entire *fist* in his mouth.) It used to drive me crazy. I think with him it was a sensory thing, and it definitely increased/increases with stress.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
|
Back to Top |
|
|
SaraP Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 15 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 531
|
Posted: Jan 05 2007 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My 5yo is a chewer - clothes, toys, furniture, the edge of the kitchen counter, the pew in front of us in church . I bought a few chew tubes and pieces of 'chewelry' (wearable chew toys) from an occupational therapy supply place and give him one of those when I see him start to chew.
__________________ Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Willa Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005 Location: California
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3881
|
Posted: Jan 06 2007 at 11:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My four year old has just started doing this. A couple of his brothers went through stages of this behavior at different times in their lives, so to me the stress and developmental pattern ideas ring true.
I weaned him recently, and it is holidays -- more screen time and sugar. I think the over-stimulation through the eyes makes him compensate by seeking sensation through the other senses, and probably the weaning threw his sensory organization out of balance too. Anyway, I plan to modify diet, decrease the visual input, look for Montessori/OT type sensory tactile and proprioceptive activities for him to engage in and ..... batten down the hatches since it will probably be rough around here for the next week.
__________________ AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
|
Back to Top |
|
|