Creative Ideas to Replace Bad Habit

Well, if he has a need to chew, try a "chewy tube", it's what therapists use for kiddos that have a knack to chew. You can steralize it and lasts forever! Maybe try teaching him how to chew gum, that may help. Or, just explain as best you can that he is getting sick because of germs from everything he chews on.

Sounds like your son is strongly orally hyposensitive (sensory integration issues are pretty common – I have this myself and have learned to live with it). There's a very comprehensive set of checklists at this site to help identify kids who are hypersensitive, hyposensitive, or a combination, plus loads of information about how parents deal with children's sensory needs: http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-proces....

Look further on the site and you'll see that special products are made specifically for kids with different sensory needs. Look at the "chewy" toys made with good plastics for kids who just need to have something between their teeth.

Gum? Experts say you have to replace one habit with another. So find something else he can chew on, maybe, like gum or jerky, suggested below.

Still trying to stop chewing the inside of my mouth, and trying to find something to replace it with myself, so I know how hard it is.

Hi H., no advice, but wanted to say BOTH my boys were shirt chewers in kindergarten and some of 1st grade. Both grew out of it by 2nd grade, it's just a soothing technique or a focusing aid. I suspect they were teased at school about it and that was the end of it!

:)

Make sure that he is getting plenty of chewy and crunchy stuff to eat like meat, carrots and celery, so so that he can get that oral input that he is seeking by chewing on things that are not edible. Some times what us adults perceive as a bad habit may actually be a biological function that needs to be addressed.

Also, I tell my son that if he doesn't chew on his shirt during the day while he is at school, I will give him bubble gum to chew on while he is doing his homework after school. This is usually enough motivation for him to try to resist his urge to chew. Not always but most of the time.

I'm a pediatric Physical Therapist and I agree he might have some sensory processing issues. It doesn't necessarily mean he has a sensory processing disorder. Most of us have some kind of minor sensory preferences, but when it starts to interfere with his daily life (like making him sick), it might be time to do something about it. There's a great series of books you might be interested in. The first in the series is called, "The Out of Sync Child." It's very easy to read and is written for everybody, not just therapists and teachers. You might find that your son has other sensory issues once you know what to look for, or you might find yourself re-assured that he doesn't have other sensitivities. I agree with finding him something more appropriate to chew on. There are lots of therapist tools/toys that are made for that purpose. You can search online or maybe get a referral for a visit to a pediatric Occupational Therapist who can help recommend something. The school district should have an Occupational Therapist and you may be able to talk to that person as well. I'm not sure what's available in the Pascagoula area, but I know there are some good children's therapy clinics in Hattiesburg and definitely in New Orleans. Good luck!

Maybe you can get him to chew on carrot or celery sticks. I would just be careful about replacing his chewing habit with food unless it's healthy and non fattening. Jerky comes to mind, but it can be pretty high in sodium. That said, I teethed both of my kids on jerky will no ill effects. I'm just saying you don't want to replace an oral fixation with the need to have food all the time.
The other thing that popped into my head was the possibility of getting him a mouth guard. I have TMJ and my dentist had me get one. You can buy them at Rite Aid. They even make the kind that you warm up in water and put in to mold to the shape of your mouth. Having something like that that he can bite on might work. It's worth a try. They're only a few dollars. Harmless and non toxic. No calories. If he already has something in his mouth, he might not be so tempted to put something else in it.
Just an idea.

Best wishes.

can you get him just one thing he's allowed to chew on? I know it's probably too young to start him on chewing gum, but if he was older that's what I would suggest.

I agree with getting chewies, and with using gum when appropriate. Sensory issues are no joke and, especially for kids, *need* real input (literally, lol).

I can say that my 12yo's have calmed down dramatically. He can still be found gnawing on something now and again, but not nearly as frequently as when he was younger.

A baseball glove? Does he like beef jerky?

I have the same issue with my 8 year old and I get one to him everytime I see him to it. I told him he's going to make himself sick. He will stop at that moment and go back to it. He does not do it on perpous. I talked to my dr. She said it's a boy thing. My husband reminded me we had that issue with our oldest but it didn't seem to manifest itself in the same way cause he carried his monkey everywhere with him where he chewed on his tail. And let me tell you the tail stank. He also said he did stuff like that when he was little. It''s a comfort thing. So maybe try to find something that he is allowed to do it with.

Good luck and God bless!