chewing clothing, toys, etc

[htmom]

Hi! I have a question. My son is 5 (6 at the end of the month) and just started kindergarten this year. He has PDD and his sensory issues that he also has are driving me up the wall. He wants to chew all the time, in 9 days of school he has ruined three shirts (chewing through them too much to sew) and just chewed a bit through the others he has worn. He always has something in his mouth and it seems to be getting worse. We are having a meeting with his teacher on Thursday next week to prepare some things for our IEP meeting at the end of the month, is the chewing something I should just wait to ask him about then?
Is there something I should be doing about the chewing, it seems like ds is "zoning out" when he is chewing..

 

[DannysMom]

Hi! I have a question. My son is 5 (6 at the end of the month) and just started kindergarten this year. He has PDD and his sensory issues that he also has are driving me up the wall. He wants to chew all the time, in 9 days of school he has ruined three shirts (chewing through them too much to sew) and just chewed a bit through the others he has worn. He always has something in his mouth and it seems to be getting worse. We are having a meeting with his teacher on Thursday next week to prepare some things for our IEP meeting at the end of the month, is the chewing something I should just wait to ask him about then?
Is there something I should be doing about the chewing, it seems like ds is "zoning out" when he is chewing..

If he has sensory issues, it could be that he is using chewing to control any anxiety or "need to fidget" he may be having in school. As coping mechanisms go, this isn't a bad one, not sure I'd actively discourage it, could get replaced with something worse iykwim.

I'd be talking to the school OT. Does he get OT at school? If not, perhaps he should. Don't know how your school is, or if that would be a huge battle. Could be just getting him an appropriate thing to chew could solve your biggest issue (ruining clothes.) Try googling "chewy tube" that's the one name I recall, I'm sure there are other "more appropriate chew things" out there -- just can't think of them off hand.

 

[KirstenB]

Our 2 yr old chipmunks her food...she'll eat a cracker, then leave it in her mouth for 40 minutes or more...and yes she zones out too while she's doing it. Her speech therapist gave us a chewy tube, and I'm going to try to give it to her when she's chipmunking. Does your son have a chewy tube, or other therapy toy?

 

[htmom]

He had an OT when he was going to the IU for Early Intervention. Right now we are just trying to get an IEP in place with the school (what a headache, the school actually said to me "you have a teaching certificate, have you thought of homeschooling?" ) The girl from Base Service Unit (kind of a liason person) was really pissed off when they said that. I am not sure yet what will happen with the school though.

We haven't used anything for his chewing yet, I will look up the Chewy Tube and check it out. Thank you so much all.

 

[pcparamedics01]

If he has sensory issues, it could be that he is using chewing to control any anxiety or "need to fidget" he may be having in school. As coping mechanisms go, this isn't a bad one, not sure I'd actively discourage it, could get replaced with something worse iykwim.

I'd be talking to the school OT. Does he get OT at school? If not, perhaps he should. Don't know how your school is, or if that would be a huge battle. Could be just getting him an appropriate thing to chew could solve your biggest issue (ruining clothes.) Try googling "chewy tube" that's the one name I recall, I'm sure there are other "more appropriate chew things" out there -- just can't think of them off hand.

I agree with the OP it is a coping mechanism. Go out and get a stress ball. Put it in his hands to see if he will squeeze instead of chew. The OT can also give him things lie deep pressure, wiggle seat and weighted vest to help. As I said in another thread she can write a social story as to why we cannot chew is shirt. Hope this helps!

 

[belle&beast]

He had an OT when he was going to the IU for Early Intervention. Right now we are just trying to get an IEP in place with the school (what a headache, the school actually said to me "you have a teaching certificate, have you thought of homeschooling?" ) The girl from Base Service Unit (kind of a liason person) was really pissed off when they said that. I am not sure yet what will happen with the school though.

We haven't used anything for his chewing yet, I will look up the Chewy Tube and check it out. Thank you so much all.

Wow, that was really uncalled for from a professional! I understand your anger.

Another suggestion is "chewlry". These are things kids can wear- like a bracelet. If he is chewing the sleeves of his shirt, it is a nice reminder to use something appopriate to put in his mouth because it is right where he goes to chew. I thin they have necklaces, too, which are great for kids that chew necklines. Google it because I always aks my OTs to order it for me when I need it, so I am not sure where to find it.

 

[SandrainNC]

I kind of know how you feel. My son licks stuff instead of chews. And if he doesn't have something to lick, he licks his hands. It is gross. He has a chewy Q (lost his P somewhere) but lots of time he prefers something else like a small toy or something. Which is better than his hands!

I will have to look into that jewelry ya'll are talking about!

Sandra

 

[pcparamedics01]

I kind of know how you feel. My son licks stuff instead of chews. And if he doesn't have something to lick, he licks his hands. It is gross. He has a chewy Q (lost his P somewhere) but lots of time he prefers something else like a small toy or something. Which is better than his hands!

I will have to look into that jewelry ya'll are talking about!

Sandra

My son does not chew however, the chewlry is a great idea!

 

[belle&beast]

I kind of know how you feel. My son licks stuff instead of chews. And if he doesn't have something to lick, he licks his hands. It is gross. He has a chewy Q (lost his P somewhere) but lots of time he prefers something else like a small toy or something. Which is better than his hands!

I will have to look into that jewelry ya'll are talking about!

Sandra

I use the P's and Q's and chewy tubes, but I really like the chewlry because it is always on the child and they cannot set it down and misplace it for another friend to find. If you are referring to your son with DS, I have found that many of the kids with DS that I work with, like to taste everything, and as you said not really chew on it. I am working on this with a little guy this year at school. We remind him every time he finds a new toy that it is not for licking. So far, I haven't had good luck yet, eventually it goes in the mouth. I just think he is developmentally still exploring orally, but we are trying to work on it.

 

[htmom]

Thank you all so much. You are the best. (((HUGS)))

 

[WildGrits]

My DD never chewed on her clothes till she had a teacher in 3rd grade who had an issue with DD being in her class. It was a tough year for her. She use to tap her foot but half way through the year she was almost chewing her sleeves off.

We used the Chewlry. Both braclet and necklace. We had very goog results with it. Of couse once we changed schools, we had no need for it. But it worked well for the time she needed it. You would have to work very hard to chew through it.

 

[SandrainNC]

I am going to order some chewelry!

If you are referring to your son with DS, I have found that many of the kids with DS that I work with, like to taste everything, and as you said not really chew on it.

Yes, that is him! My DH recently got a wii game system and my son loves playing it, but DH keeps catching him licking the remote. He gets so mad.

I have been lotioning his hands in case they are just dry and he is trying to moisturize them. If nothing else, hopefully the lotion will taste gross. We tried the thumb sucking liquid stuff, and he just licks it off.

I so hope it is a phase. I would take him grinding his teeth again over this. And that was pretty annoying.

Sandra

 

[carrie s]

My DS started chewing his shirts when he started kindergarden.Now he is in grade 3 and he still chews.

I dont have any advice I could give,I still havent figured out how to make my son stop, but I know what you are going through.

 

[dunbarfamily]

Interesting thread. Sorry to jump into this forum, but after seeing the title, I had to reply. My son chews, and I don't know anyone else his age that chews. He's never been diagnosed with anything, though I have my suspicions.

Anyways, its good to know its not just a problem for us. I will look into the chewlery.

Excuse my dumbness...is chewing something we should try to stop? Or just let it go?

 

[pcparamedics01]

Interesting thread. Sorry to jump into this forum, but after seeing the title, I had to reply. My son chews, and I don't know anyone else his age that chews. He's never been diagnosed with anything, though I have my suspicions.

Anyways, its good to know its not just a problem for us. I will look into the chewlery.

Excuse my dumbness...is chewing something we should try to stop? Or just let it go?

Absolutely! How old is he?

 

[mousescrapper]

My DS doesn't chew as much as he used to, but when he's tense/anxious or stressed, having trouble sleeping or when we go to the movies, or a long car ride, he tends to "chew" he would chew his shirt front as well, and ruined many a shirt, because it would dry before washed and would never quite lay the same again.

To several who have said, I think my child chews too, what should we do? Our DS has besides other things Sensory Processing Disorder or Sensory Intergration Dsyfuntion, mainly has a hard time dealing with internal and external stimuli all around him, can't compensate. I'm no expert nor do I claim this may be what your child has but Google can be your friend. Google SPD and see what you find.

As far as the chewing, don't ignore it. There are so many tools out there to help ease the oral stimulation your child may be craving. Our DS did not really like the soft colored chew tubes that look like a "T", we used an item called "ChewEase". Google that or you can find it at abilitations dot com

I know the picture of the young girl using it may have you think (or not, I'm trying not to offend anyone or any child) he/she doesn't need that! It's a hollow piece of plastic tubing (think fish tank tubing) attached to a ring in turn attached to a streching cord in turn attached to a clip. Our DS would clip it on a belt loop of his pants or shorts and then tuck the tube in his pocket when not in use. He felt comfotable using it and wouldn't lose it. I'd wash if off with mild soap at the end of the day. Ours lasted with a good amount of chewing for about 6+ mo. Then DH bought fish tank tubing at the pet store, sterlized a cut piece and put holes in each side of one end to re-attach to the cord/clip. Now since DS doesn't need it that often anymore. We just have an approx 5 inch cutting of tubing that we keep with his other sensory items and he gets it out when needed or we take it with us and give it too him, when we see him about to start chewing.

Hope I din't confuse anyone and hope this story of success helps. BTW DS was 5 1/2 (1st grade) when first using the chewy as we call it and is now 8 and in 3rd grade, has not needed it at school thus far.

 

[bzzymom]

My son who is now 10 used to chew on his shirts. He wouldn't get holes in them, but they would get very wet. I used to chew on toys as well. I haven't seen it lately. He was diagnosed this summer with anxiety disorder and OCD. I didn't realize it at the time that it was a sign of anxiety.