At what age do you let a child chew gum?

[Minnie824]

DD is 4.5 and every once in awhile asks about gum. Were not really sure she's ready to try it yet. Do kids normally chew gum around this age?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I started my daughter about that age--but just did little pieces. I still don't let her do it regularly as I don't like it. But she has worked her way up to doing a bigger piece. She is 5.5 now.

 

[Samandmom]

Santa brought my DS gum in his stocking when he was 4yrs and a few months. We tried him out, we told him that is was just for chewing and not to swallow. He ended up swallowing and told him that he needed to wait a little longer to try again. That following Easter the Easter Bunny brought him gum and we tried again and he did fine. Now I have to worry about him taking it out of his mouth. He did that recently and got it all over his hair and clothes. I punished him from gum for a few weeks.

 

[mickeyboat]

My kids started around 3 or 4. I actually loved it because they thought it was a big treat, and it was Trident sugarless gum!

The have never had a problem with it. They don't swallow it or leave it laying around the house.

Denae

 

[aprild]

DS3 chews gum. and no he doesn't swallow it. He chews it just like you and i would. He LOVES gum!

 

[Ava83]

I did not do this, but at 2.5 someone gave my DD gum at church. I freaked out...(had my finger on the second 1 in 911) She has not had it since.

I was thinking about 4ish she does ask for it.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter started chewing gum without swallowing around 3 or so...

 

[kristen821]

dd3 chews gum with no problem. She doesn't chew it long, but either do I. She'll put it in the garbage when she is done.

 

[Kae]

My daughter started chewing gum without swallowing around 3 or so...

Same here. after my week thanks for the laugh.

Kae

 

[jel0511]

my kids are 7 and 4 and neither of them has EVER had gum. I hope they never will.

 

[CEDmom]

My DD is 6 1/2 and hasn't yet had gum. I don't like it at all - gives me a headache - so I never have any. She's asked about it a few times but I keep telling her she's too young and she's ok with that.

 

[skiwee1]

Mine don't chew gum. I guess because I never chew it so they have never asked. They are 6, 17, and 22. Personally if they ever did ask I would not have let them til at least 8 y/o. Under 5 is definitely too young IMO.

 

[kbkids]

My kids love gum - but I only let them chew sugarless. Both of them started at about age 3. DD only swallowed it once, and it scared her so much that she didn't want it for awhile after then. DS would always take it and say, "I just bite it, right?"

 

[C.Ann]

My kids never chewed gum - or even drank soda - until they were teenagers.. I never had it in the house and they never showed any interest in it..

 

[rt2dz]

Well, The "official" policy/suggestion by AAP (American Academy of Pedatrics) has a list of foods that should not be given to children 3 and under--popcorn, raw carrots, hard candy, raisins, grapes unless halved, hotdogs, GUM, and a few others. Lots of kids choke and die or wind up in the hospital over these foods all the time. So, we tried gum at 4--DS swallowed. Waited a while and tried again at 4 1/2, did OK. It is still a MAJOR treat though, not a habit I really want my kids to pick up.

 

[justhat]

My daughter has never had gum, but my SIL's kids are 2.5 and 4.5 and they've both been chewing gum for at least 6 months and they don't swallow it. She a gum queen so her kids saw her always chewing and took it out of her purse and tried it.

 

[cathydisneynut]

my kids are 7 and 4 and neither of them has EVER had gum. I hope they never will.

Oldest DD is 15, never had it, younger DD (12) thinks its great fun to smuggle it into the house because she knows I hate the stuff....

 

[Lewski709]

DD is 4.5 and every once in awhile asks about gum. Were not really sure she's ready to try it yet. Do kids normally chew gum around this age?

My son will be 3 next weekend. He had his first piece of gum about a month ago, little did I know he had it. When I saw it, I just told him not to take it out and not to swallow it. Honest to goodness, 2 hrs later...he still had it. I was shocked. Not long after it fell out of his mouth while playing and I threw it out. I haven't given him any, but I was surprised.