Any suggestions on how to best handle with oral fixations?

Hello!

My almost 4 year old daughter is constantly putting things in her mouth to suck/chew on. She sucks on her hair, clothing, toys and anything else she can find. She had a dummy as a baby but gave it up on her second birthday with no problems at all. Someone recently suggested that I should get her a specially designed rubber type necklace for kids that have an oral fixation to put in their mouth in place of other things but I am wondering if this will create an attachment or encourage her habit?

Posted by Renee, 29/7/13

Post your reply

Want more real mum questions sent to you?

First name

Last name

Email Address You’ll need to check this email to complete your signup.

Password

Confirm Password

Why not join all our other communities for more chances to trial products, win prizes, be rewarded and have fun!

56 replies
Post a reply

- - mom160421 said
  - 11 Dec 2020
    4:38 pm
The necklace sounds like a good idea for a short term solution.
- - mom118423 said
  - 26 May 2015
    9:00 pm
Perhaps go and see a speech pathologist for some professional advice?
- - dearest mom said
  - 08 Jul 2014
    10:03 am
There’s nothing you can do its a virus and my kids also had this doctors won’t give anything hope all works out.
- - fruitwood said
  - 05 Jun 2014
    9:37 pm
Try a reward chart, encourage her with stickers for not putting things in her mouth and then when she has 10 stickers, she’ll receive a prize.
- - christial said
  - 31 May 2014
    10:26 pm
Just remind her to stop every time you see her doing it. Habits are hard to break, give her some time.
- - Happymum-2 said
  - 31 May 2014
    12:37 pm
I would just take things off her and when you see her doing it ask her to stop, make her aware of it too
- - twinmum2 said
  - 30 May 2014
    2:45 pm
I think a necklace might encourage this behaviour for longer. Once she starts school she can’t be sucking on a necklace.
- - mummy liana said
  - 27 Mar 2014
    10:51 pm
there are some good comments here
- - emily_zilm said
  - 27 Mar 2014
    10:14 am
How did you end up going?
- - elisha_mumo2 said
  - 05 Mar 2014
    11:33 am
If you send me an email Hun I will post you a kids size silicone necklace it worked for my daughter to stop sucking her finger 🙂 I was making BPA lead free silicone necklaces to sell at the markets and have some beads left if you’d like one 😉 elisha03_25@hotmail.com 🙂
- - ljsalomon said
  - 24 Jan 2014
    2:27 pm
How is she going now?
- - tobysmummy said
  - 08 Jan 2014
    5:15 pm
Maybe try her very own silicone teething necklace…?
- - coppin85 said
  - 30 Dec 2013
    8:03 pm
how is it going now?
- - kathryn said
  - 29 Dec 2013
    10:48 am
I would try to discourage the beahviour – our local health nurse is really good for coming up with suggestions for these sorts of issues.
- - ljsalomon said
  - 28 Dec 2013
    9:26 pm
Hope you find a way of breaking the habit and that it is a phase she will grow out of.
- - mggarner said
  - 21 Nov 2013
    1:18 pm
pin a teething ring or chew toy to their top and they can have one where ever they go
- - kjgarner said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    11:13 pm
Yes a necklace is a great idea
- - snoopy said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    9:01 pm
I think the necklace sounds like a good idea.
- - meltingmoment said
  - 31 Oct 2013
    6:36 am
My eldest daughter went through this phase – particularly with the play doh at kinder ( they say that is how she got hand foot and mouth. Hopefully she will grow out of it like mine did.
- - emilycost said
  - 03 Sep 2013
    7:48 pm
my son bites his finger (has since as long as i can remember he doesnt realise his doing it, its only one finger and has a perfect scar of his teeth) and OT suggested giving him a chew toy (they gave him a rubber thing), so maybe give your daughter something that shes allowed to chew on that she can carry with her