Pinching as a self-soothing technique? - Page 2

[foxtrot]

I thought I was the only one who had this problem! I've talked to my pediatrician about it and I have come up with nothing to help my daughter soothe. She needs to pinch skin to soothe herself to sleep. She is 2 years 7 months and still it goes on. She pinches my neck skin. It hurts. I've not been consistent only because she is an AWFUL sleeper. She still doesn't sleep through the night and is awake several times a night. The only way I get any sleep is to let her pinch me until she goes back to sleep. She can't seem to get to sleep any other way. I know I need to bite the bullet, but like the OP I feel like I'm punishing her for soothing herself the only way she knows how. I have found no subsitutes though not for not trying. We've given her everything we can think of, but she only wants skin.

So, no advice but VERY sincere sympathy. It's not as easy to be consistent with this as people think. When you are exhausted and haven't slept a full night in 2 and half years it's easier to let them pinch you just so you can sleep. PLEASE post something if you ever figure out how to stop this because I'd love to know how you do it.

[jnet24]

I am going to go way against the grain here and say that I believe my son really needs this to soothe himself and if it is the only thing the works I am willing to deal with it. It helps to gently remove his hands from sensitive areas. He is allowed to pinch the skin on my hand and forearm, but not the upper arm (OWW). I also ask him to rub my arm instead of pinch if it is really bugging me. He has done this since he was 6 months old. I am not at the point where it bothers me enough to consistently stop him from doing it. Until you are at the point, I don't think you can really make it stop. I have tried blankets, stuffed animals, rubber, necklaces, and even allowed him to pick out these things and nothing has helped. I figure when the time is right he will be able to self soothe another way and until then I set boundaries. But he is a high needs child with possible SPD and other delays so I go with whatever works.