Oldest Dd is 5 1/2 and is driving me batty with what can only be an oral fixation. She chews on everything and puts things in her mouth constantly. She puts her clothes in her mouth and sucks on them, she just chewed up the hands on her Barbie. I keep catching her with doll shoes and accessories in her mouth as well as various other things. In short if it can go in her mouth it does.

Is this normal? I'm really starting to get concerned simply because it would seem to me that she should be past this. My 2nd Dd doesn't do this. Now oldest still sucks her thumb to and we've been trying to get her to stop. I just don't know if I need to have her checked out for something and yet at the same time what for. Anyone have any ideas or thoughts????

I don't have time at the moment, but will try to get back here and post more/see if I can come up with some links.

But, initial thoughts, just try to redirect to safe forms to satisfy. If that means buying her a baby teething object, just give her that something she *can* chew on to relieve that tension or whatever.

I realize, ideally, you want the behavior stopped. Which I am sure would be possible in time and with patience. But for starters, if you have something 'safe' in the house now, start with redirecting. Let her know you have noticed she seems to have a need to chew on things, so, here, this is ok to chew on..Barbie shoes are not ;) Then go from there.

I've heard a bit about oral fixations and folks dealing with it. It's just too late for me to recall anything or to track down links. (sorry, just popping in real quick as the boys made a run for hunters' essentials at the store hehe opening day tomorrow)

My oldest son did/does this too. He's almost 9 now, and it has gotten a lot better. I'll still catch him chewing on the neck of his shirt or something else and I'll give him gum to chew on. Gum is a life saver. I think he just needs something to keep his mouth busy. I'll notice it particularly when he's working hard on something or nervous/stressed about something. I think it's just a nervous tic type thing, but it has improved with age.

My second son in line did this from an early age. Like Jen said it improved with age. Ryan mostly did this with long sleeve shirts and a few toys. What helped was illiminating what he was chewing on for us and like Tara said just in its place putting a few choice objects that he could mouth, just a few. He wore no long sleeve shirts, what ever he chewed on disappeared carefully without him knowing like when he slept. Ryan by nature is a nervous child always was and this was his was of coping with change. Maybe she is just coping with the birth or her brother and its kicked up a notch maybe. Ryan was like that too. He loved his new siblings the most but change was always hardest on him if that makes any sense. He was the most loving and still is the most loving child.

I still chew on pens, haha. good luck with your dd, though :-)

also i would wonder if she's having any tooth issues, like 5/12-6, they may be getting ready to lose teeth and get adult teeth in, could that cause teething issues? (I have no idea, just throwing that out there)

also i would wonder if she's having any tooth issues, like 5/12-6, they may be getting ready to lose teeth and get adult teeth in, could that cause teething issues? (I have no idea, just throwing that out there)

When I googled it this was also a suggestion. That some kids will start chewing when their adult teeth are trying to come in. I am leaning more towards just the stress of a new sibling in the house and adjusting to the change. Thanks T for the suggestion. I will see about getting her something that is okay to chew on. I definitely am not wanting to spank her or get on to her harshly for this as I don't feel it's deliberate misbehavior but I think it's needs to be dealt with.

My oldest, he will be 7 in May, does this, too...I joke that he is part goat--like his father, so he comes by it honestly. I don't know how many times a week we say, "Get that out of your mouth!" He even gnawed off some of the teeth from the zipper on the liner of his winter coat. He is also a thumbsucker. I understand your frustration :???:

For some children it can be sensory related, I know for my oldest ds it is, he chews on EVERYTHING and I mean everything! He has even ruined electrical cords. For him we bought some "chewies" I keep them around the house and at school. You can buy some that fit on a pencil top, some that go on lanyards. I have a friend whose little boy chews too and he does not have Autism or special needs but he gets anxious and chews on stuff so she bought him one and has found it helps.
It could be her 6 yr old molars too coming in?! For some children the oral stimulation just helps to center them if there is so much going on around them they don't know what to do, your dd may just find chewing on stuff helps comfort her, esp. if you said she may be dealing with the new baby in the house.

Have you tried gum? I know I don't like gum because it gets stuck everywhere so that is why we use the chewies. Here are some links to the chewies I was talking about, you can just use them at home if you don't want her taking them out with her!

http://www.amazon.com/CHEWY-STIXX-PENCIL-TOPPER-TUBES/dp/B0030ISSXU
http://www.nationalautismresources.com/chewelry.html
http://www.chewelry.ca/chewy.html

Anyway I hope this helps and I am not suggesting at all that you daughter has Autism, I think that kids chew on stuff for various reasons!

Thanks for the links Jayne. I appreciate it. I am going to show these to hubby. I think one of these would be great.