DownSyn Forum

RachelG · Posted: August 31 2007, 4:55 AM Post subject: Finger chewing

Ben has always been a bit of a fan of chewing, everything from fingers to books to toys to erasers to.....well, you get the idea I'm sure. He seemed to be growing out of it and the hard bits on his thumb and finger were gradually getting softer. Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed he seems to permanently have his finger in his mouth chewing it. Even as he's walking around at home and in the playground at school. If I say "finger out" he'll take it out but before long it's back in. He puts the finger right at the back where the top and bottom jaw meet and chews.

Does anyone have any idea what may have caused him to start chewing so often? Or how I can persuade him not to? He must be tired of me telling him to take his finger out or moving it away with my hand!

Hoping someone has some inspiration!! Laughing

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Rachel
Proud mummy of Benedict (May 02) DS

adamsmommy · Posted: August 31 2007, 4:33 PM Post subject:

Adam chews on his fingers when he's tired. I just noticed that he does it when he's scared too. Yesterday we were going on "Scooby Doo's Haunted Ride" & Adam was chewing on his fingers before we went on it because he was nervous.

Don't have any suggestions to stop it though. it hasn't really become a big deal for us yet, because he does it so rarely. Sorry.

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Anjie
Proud mom to Laurel(16), Erin (10), & Adam ( 5, ds)

pookeymom · Posted: August 31 2007, 4:41 PM Post subject:

You know Caleb chews on this thumbs ALOT. I was chalking it up to him cutting teeth or something but I think he has all of his baby teeth now. He has chewed his thumbs so much they have a big red callouses on them. He chews them when the PT is working him hard, when he's tired, bored, or just because. I'm not sure how to get him to stop either so I'm looking forward to other comments in this thread.

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Stacy, Mom to Tristin 12, Camille 8, Elijah 6, Caleb and Isaac 4

naomid · Posted: September 01 2007, 12:36 PM Post subject:

That's Callum!!

I get so tired of saying "fingers out", Callum will even put his hands behind his back after I've told him to remove the temptation but a few minutes later they'll be back in again!

Callum does it when he's tired, bored, stressed, not feeling well, etc. He still has his pacifier at night so we sometimes resort to letting him have it during the day just to give his fingers a break. Distraction does sometimes help, especially if it's something that means he has to use his hands.

Callum seems to go through phases of chewing his fingers, then he'll stop for a month or so and we think it's gone for good, then back it comes.

Good luck and let me know if you come up with any good solutions.

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LovelyKennedy · Posted: September 02 2007, 12:07 PM Post subject:

Kennedy does this as well when she is tired and ready for bed....I guess its her way of comforting herself when falling alseep. We don't so much have a problem during the day..sometimes when she seems bored though.

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Beth Mom to Cameron 2/26/2000, Kendall 6/25/2002 and My Lovely Kennedy 9/10/2003(DS)

lespring · Posted: September 03 2007, 4:14 PM Post subject:

Angela is a thumb/finger chewer as well. She does it when she's tired, or very anxious. Interestingly, it had disappeared for several months. (one of those things were one day you say, "hmmmm...I haven't seen her doing that for quite some time!" But when she came home after the crash, it's back with a vengeance!!! UGH! It's driving me crazy. Tonight I'll try to take a picture of her hands, they're a mess.

Oh, and for her it seems to be very much the equivelent of thumb sucking. We have tried to give her other things to chew on but it doesn't help. Also, she makes a certain noise with her mouth when she's doing it, and this noise seems to be an important sensory component for her. For me? The noise drives me up the wall!

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LeeJo · Posted: September 04 2007, 11:30 AM Post subject:

6 year molars?

Your Ben was born the same month as my Alex. Very Happy

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burnsun · Posted: September 04 2007, 11:53 AM Post subject: I vote for the molars

Colin's started coming in at about 5 years and are finally starting to break the surface (two of the four) Everytime they make a push I see more chewing that in previous weeks. I am concerned that it will become a habit! And we won't b e able to break it!

Good luck

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RachelG · Posted: September 05 2007, 4:47 AM Post subject:

Oooohh!!! Molars!!! I had no idea that they got them around this age!!! He does shove his finger right to the back of his mouth where the molars would come up so that could well be the reason.....I'll try to have a look when I'm cleaning his teeth this evening......although the idea of Ben keeping his mouth open long enough for me to peer inside is making me laugh!!! Laughing

Many thanks for the idea!!

Alex and Ben born the same month!!! Great! I'd love to know if Alex is toilet trained, talking and feeding himself - my 3 challenges at the moment!!! Very Happy

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Rachel
Proud mummy of Benedict (May 02) DS

Georgianna · Posted: September 05 2007, 7:49 AM Post subject:

Renee has taken to finger chewing as well these days. She seems to mostly do it when she is tired or not feeling well.

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Georgianna, mom to Ryan (12) and Renee (4/17/00-10/8/10 w/ DS and Cystic Fibrosis)

KatieB · Posted: September 06 2007, 7:50 AM Post subject:

Matty began the chewing-sucking his right thumb, or both pointer fingers in his mouth. Seems he does this when he's tired, or anxious. I didn't think of the molars either, he has a dentist appt in 3 wks, so they can check that out.
Katie

FeathD · Posted: May 14 2008, 7:31 PM Post subject: Hi

Austin is a finger chewer, has been since the day he was born... He has permanent callouses on his fingers, he very rarely does it know. I kinda broke him of the by buying bitter aide.... Its usually used for finger nail chewers but I found it works pretty good on the fingers too. Austin is 6 now and he knows when I don't but the bitter aide on and thats when he chews......... so I just show him the bottle and he immediately stops.. I also started giving him gum and that seems to help also. Good Luck and if anyone else has any other ideas let me know....

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chrfath · Posted: June 05 2008, 1:57 PM Post subject:

Veronica does too. Stress, tired, bored, we checked with the dentist, no tooth problems and no molars.

Our behaviorist suggested it maybe sensory as well. The sound made from the finger rubbing on the teeth. Or just the pressure in the jaw. We need an OT to verify.

No ideas for stopping it here. I ask her to take out her finger and she gives me her look and puts another finger in on the other side. Rolling Eyes

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csabin · Posted: June 06 2008, 6:47 PM Post subject:

Gaby chews on a finger also. She seems to chew when she is being challenged or at school when working on difficult tasks for her. She'll also chew when she's tired or bored.

Our OT suggested that we try a Chewy Tube. We looped it on to a funky new shoe lace and she wears it like a necklace. Gaby uses it a lot, and it has helped the open sore on her finger heal. She still chews on her finger, but the tube works pretty well.

Now, if I can find something to cut down on the teeth grinding!!! We just move from one thing to the next.

Cindy - Gaby's mom (08.02 DS)

twyceborn · Posted: July 15 2008, 1:53 PM Post subject:

I know this is an old thread, but I still deal with this when Justin is tired or concentrating on something like watching tv. He has callouses on both index fingers. Those are the only ones he chews. I bought him a chewy thing from a magazine that has helped. Sometimes I have to remind him to use it. There have been times that he is in his room and comes out with a new blister on his finger. I am probably going to buy a few more so there will be one in each room and one to keep with us in the car.

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Kim and Justin (08/15/95)

RachelG · Posted: July 16 2008, 8:22 AM Post subject:

Thanks for your post Kim. I just bought Ben one of those chewy things. He's not too interestd in it yet but I'll keep trying! He has such cute little hands and I hate seeing the callouses on his fingers!!

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Rachel
Proud mummy of Benedict (May 02) DS

My girl Sam · Posted: July 16 2008, 6:13 PM Post subject:

Samantha chews on her fingers all the time. She has had a nasty fungal infection on both of her thumb nails for a few years now. We finally decided to go with the griseofulvin (anti-fungal med) and she's been on it for a few months now. The nail is starting to grow out normal but will see if it lasts long. Since she still chews on them. Sometimes she even chews on her toes Rolling Eyes

gotta love that DS flexibility.

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harrisonsmum · Posted: August 27 2008, 12:32 PM Post subject:

Hi, I'm new to this forum and it's reassuring to me to know my Harrison is not the only one who has this problem! Harrison is 4 yrs old and has been chewing his hands for a while now, it became quite a serious problem because it was making his hands so sore, I've tried all sorts of creams but have found the only thing which helps his hands not get too sore is salt water. I've been told by Harrison's speech & language therapist that it's a sensory problem, he is 'sensory seeking'. We now use the 'chewy tubes' too which he will chew on sometimes instead and that helps avoid his hands getting too sore. He pretty much chews them all the time unless he is distracted by something else.