When do they stop putting EVERYTHING in their mouths?

dayxday · 11-05-2009, 09:06 AM

I can't write much because my son is about to eat my journal. Now he's going for the pen. Oh, he's going digital. He likes the power cable to my computer.

Oh when, oh when will he stop trying to chew everything?

JessieBird · 11-05-2009, 09:16 AM

We're at 11 months and still eating everything in sight. I'd say now it is worse because he can pick up the most minute little pieces of who knows what (probably whatever came in on the dog's feet!!! AHHHHK!) and he has decided that if he can't get whatever it is actually into his mouth, then licking it will have to do. He licks the floor, licks the dishwasher door, licks the side of the toilet. Trying to prevent him from licking or eating absolutely EVERYTHING is now my full time job. The hardest part is trying to do it without him really noticing. I know this phase will be over eventually and I don't want to be known as that woman who just takes things away all day long.

So things are more challenging now but also a bit better in that I've chilled out a lot about what is okay to lick/chew/eat. Well, "okay" may be the wrong work but let's just say I'm picking my battles these days. It occurred to me that DS is robustly healthy, big, and very happy so clearly licking the floor and putting in his mouth whatever ball of fluff he found at the back of the closet isn't harming him. Oh gosh, I can't believe we've gotten to this point.

ETA - just want to be clear - licking the side of the toilet does NOT fall into the "okay" category

Mrsboyko · 11-05-2009, 09:19 AM

3 years old
Seriously.
DD is nearly 3 and has just recently decreased the amount of stuff she tries to put in her mouth.

HollyBearsMom · 11-05-2009, 09:23 AM

My son is 8 YO and still puts everything in his mouth. Legos, pencils, pens, his fingers.

Drives me crazy!

dayxday · 11-05-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JessieBird

We're at 11 months and still eating everything in sight. I'd say now it is worse because he can pick up the most minute little pieces of who knows what (probably whatever came in on the dog's feet!!! AHHHHK!) and he has decided that if he can't get whatever it is actually into his mouth, then licking it will have to do. He licks the floor, licks the dishwasher door, licks the side of the toilet. Trying to prevent him from licking or eating absolutely EVERYTHING is now my full time job.

LOL!!

I've fought and lost the battle against shoes. I used to tell him, "No. That's dirty," but now I'm more like, "eh, screw it. If that will keep you away from ___[insert anxiety inducing item here]___ for ten minutes, go for it."

elmh23 · 11-05-2009, 09:42 AM

Depends on the kid. My dd was around 12 months. Ds is now 2.5 and still mouths on a lot of stuff. I have a friend who has a 5-year-old who still mouths a lot but thankfully it's decreased a bit in the last year. My husband is 28 and if he has a pen cap it's in his mouth and he also bites off pieces of straws and will chew on them.

In other words, everyone is different!

kirstenb · 11-05-2009, 10:54 AM

It was well over 18 months for DS before I noticed it decreasing. Now at 2.5, I don't notice him putting much in his mouth anymore.

Abraisme · 11-05-2009, 01:28 PM

Every baby is so different. DS was about 11m when he stopped putting things in his mouth. He was playing with pennies around 12m unassisted. You've just got to work with what you get.

annekh23 · 11-05-2009, 07:12 PM

Obviously from the other answers, it's a huge case of "it depends". For me it's probably one of the first issues you start trying to control behaviour and provide gentle discipline. I think most kids are still inclined to put things straight into their mouths beyond an age where you can start doing this, which again depends on the child, but around 9mths they are starting to learn that things have consequences and will repeat activities that earn them praise.

Jojo F. · 11-05-2009, 09:55 PM

My baby licks the floor and everything else too!!!

But I do think it is a survival/evolutional thing. They put everything in their mouths to learn about it and to get dirt and germs into their bodies building their immune system.

Teddy'sMom · 11-06-2009, 05:34 AM

I do think this is very individual. DS1 was oral for a few months and that was it. I can tell already that we will be going through this for much more time than that with DS2. A friends child is almost 2 and still puts small toys in his mouth when he comes over to play....I was confused by it, but after reading other posters I know see that some kids may not outgrow this

dayxday · 11-06-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annekh23

Obviously from the other answers, it's a huge case of "it depends". For me it's probably one of the first issues you start trying to control behaviour and provide gentle discipline. I think most kids are still inclined to put things straight into their mouths beyond an age where you can start doing this, which again depends on the child, but around 9mths they are starting to learn that things have consequences and will repeat activities that earn them praise.

Right...this is exactly how I feel about it. I've been thinking a lot about gentle discipline recently and think that this everything in the mouth thing is part of it. It's in his nature to stick everything in his mouth and it's one of the ways he's experiencing the world right now. I must let him explore.

In the meantime, I just want to be sure that I'm guiding him in the right way and think that this everything in the mouth thing seems like a good place to start, or at least practice. Really, I'd like to deal with it as training for myself in how to guide him with patience, example, respect, etc.

When he sticks [insert anxiety-inducing item here] in his mouth, I say, "please don't put that in your mouth" and try to take it away, either replacing it with something he can stick in his mouth (like a teething toy or, whoa, something edible like a banana) or distracting him with a book, silly dance...you name it. Sometimes it goes well. Other times, not so much. I mean, poor little guy doesn't know the difference yet between good stuff to stick in your mouth and bad...it must seem like such a double standard to him. But I want to introduce discipline early, and by that I don't mean time out or anything like that. I know that he's way too young for that.

I'd love to hear other views on using this everything in the mouth phase to introduce positive discipline--and ideas, too.

Also, what other opportunities are you using to introduce positive and gentle discipline?

I'm also trying to find a copy of Dr. Sears' book on the subject. Has anyone read that?

Thanks!

**jenneology** · 11-07-2009, 01:57 AM

My 2.5 year old stopped putting everything into his mouth for a while, I don't remember exactly, but I'll say between 18-2 yrs 5 months. Now he's an older brother with a baby who is exploring everything with her mouth, he's re-discovering the appeal of putting everything into his mouth. I've started telling him "B is exploring it with her mouth, but you need to stop because you have teeth. Teeth are used for eating food, since she doesn't have teeth yet, its still okay for her to learn with her mouth."