3 year old gagging over smells and seeing "yucky" things

[lovemyryguy]

Normal?  And normal or not, how do I help him?  My son is 3, but has always had a sensitive gag reflex.  When we started solids he often gagged on purees.  He doesn't gag on food anymore though.  (fingers crossed).  Even if he doesn't like something he'll just spit it out, without gagging, but I am always very quick to get it out of his mouth, so maybe we're just getting it out quickly enough to avoid gagging.  However, he gags at smells ALL THE TIME.  Dog poop, his brother's diapers (even if they just have pee), generally yucky smells. And now, its become he's gaging on things he sees that I guess he perceives as gross.  Yesterday it was his brother pulling bits of chewed food out of his mouth, and today it was seeing chocolate on his brother's leg.  He even said between gags "mama, Will has chocolate on his leg" and I had to wipe it up immediately.  

He does NOT like to be messy, doesn't like messes on his hands or clothes.  But he doesn't seem to have too much of a problem with other sensory things.  He never complains about clothes (except button down shirts, but I don't blame him) and when he was learning to walk, he wouldn't walk or crawl in grass, but now he's fine with it.  He doesn't like loud noises, but doesn't freak about them either, he just covers his ears and says "its too loud!"  He certainly doesn't like "chaos" - won't play at the playground where there's lots of other kids, but I was chalking that up to his personality - I'm the same way.  I prefer one on one time to a crowd, etc.  

Anyway, I want him to be able to control things he finds disgusting.  I want him to stop gagging, and I want him to be a kid and enjoy everything!  Is this something he will grow out of?  Is this something we need to work on?  Anyone with a similar situation?  I hate seeing him gag.  

[BubblingBrooks]

Are you reacting to the gagging? If so, try ignoring it completely for awhile.

[lovemyryguy]

Originally Posted by BubblingBrooks 

Are you reacting to the gagging? If so, try ignoring it completely for awhile.

Not particularly.  I try to remain as calm as possible and remove him from the situation (if its a smell) or tell him whatever he thinks is yucky really isn't.  I see what you are saying, but I think its truly involuntary.