OT Help Needed

[tjlovespooh]

Ok, it's driving me CRAZY and I don't know what I can do to stop it ....
DS(3) is CONSTANTLY putting his fingers in his mouth!!! I can't stand it! He doesn't suck on them - just sticks them in his mouth He used to have a pacifier (only at bedtime/naps) but that's been gone for awhile now. Plus, the pacifier was only for sleeping and he doesn't put any fingers in his mouth to sleep - just throughout the day while he's awake
I'm afraid he's going end up like a boy I went to junior high with - he used to sit in class with one finger in his mouth all day long

Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Any suggestions on how to make him stop?

 

[fredflintstone]

My kids didn't do this,so I really can't offer any great advice that is proven to work or anything. Sorry! But, ya know, the more of an issue you make it the more if an issue he is going to make it. Most likely it is just a phase he is going through. Give him some time, don't make a big deal out of it and he may stop on his own. Don't bring attention to it! If you are out and about, just put hand sanitizer on his hands after he touches things..and explain the germ process to him and how he can get sick by touching dirty things in stores and putting his fingers in his mouth. He may get it then, if not the germ x will taste nasty and he won't want to put it in his mouth anyway. I wouldn't stress too much about it!!! He is just a kid..they do all sorts of weird things...weird gross things!

 

[saraheeyore]

my daughter does the same. i think its a nervous thing maybe just a habit and just something they do without knowing it. not found a way to stop her yet but not wanting to really stress at her about it either. she seems to lick her lips a lot too and ends up with a rash but she does it for a bit then stops guess we just wait for them to stop

 

[McKelly]

My son used to do this when he was in Kindergarden. So I put that no bite polish on his fingernails. After about a week, it started to wear off and he asked to put more of it on, because it reminded him to not stick his "germy" fingers in his mouth. After 2-3 weeks, he just stopped putting his fingers in his mouth altogether We didn't have to use the stuff anymore.