Get your hands out of your MOUTH!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Anyone else's chlid put their hands/hair/shirt in their mouth when they're nervous? C is fine like 95% of the time but the other 5% is me being like "take your hands/hair/necklace, etc OUT of your mouth". It's driving me batty. This is the child who completely rejected pacifiers/binkies but now has her hands in her mouth all the time.

There have been no changes recently, I think it's just a phase. Projecting myself on to her, I'd bet she has some low level of anxiety but do I need to do something? Ignore it? Take her in? Have her evaluated for something? Is this normal?

[Pollyanna]

Normal Let it go mama, if you make this an issue it will be an issue. One of our boys used to suck on his shirt sleeve at preschool (like if was soaking wet when I picked him up), others did a variety of what you describe. It will go away. If there are times you are concerned about germs just gently say, "ooo, yuck, you don't what to suck on that" and move on. If you discover that she is eating her hair or has more dramatic things going on that may indicate a problem you can talk to her pediatrician but I suspect she's just doing normal child stuff.

[MarissaNicole]

I'd say normal, but it would irk the germaphobe in me! At least its spring/summer, hopefully she'll grow out of it by winter (flu season).

Wife of a PGY-5

[HouseofWool]

Caleb did this for years. For him
It was a manifestation of his anxiety. Now that the anxiety is controlled with mess, the oral fixation is better.

[Ladybug]

Wash and Purell her hands until she outgrows it. People might think you're crazy but it's not worth the illnesses and missed days of school/work. I make my kids wash their hands all.the.time.

[alison]

Yes, M did this from about age 2 to very recently. She'd even bite her toenails. Euuuugggggghh!

[MrsK]

K1 chews and bites. Symptoms of his SPD. He still has his rooting reflex. NOT that I'm suggesting that your daughter has SPD but some of the techniques we use with K1 might help you. He uses a chew necklace and/or chew toy. I just tell him to switch when I notice him chewing clothes or putting hands in his mouth.