Here's another one for you, Robynne! How about I just put you on retainer? :toothy10:

Catherine chews on her hand. Usually the left but occasionally the right. She is very strongly left-handed and has expressed a preference since she was about 6 months old. She has never, ever put anything in her mouth other than food or drink. No pacifier, no toys, no thumb or fingers until recently. A couple of months ago we noticed her chewing on her fingers in times of stress for her. She's either becoming stressed all the time (which is possible, I guess) or the finger chewing has progressed from a self-soothing behavior (and therefore tolerable) to a bad habit (not tolerable). By chewing on her fingers, I mean she sticks her whole four fingers into her mouth up to the third nuckle, not just the tips. She is not trying to gag herself. Any thoughts?

I'm anxiously awaiting your brushing video!

Hi Lesley!

I do not believe your precious little Catherine is stressed all the time. I do believe she is classic SI. You hit it on the nose when you mentioned Catherine's behaviors could possibly be "self-soothing." I believe Catherine is seeking out oral input by chewing on her fingers. This is her form of a pacifier. As adults, we also need oral input. I can chew gum for hours (yes, I know that's gross!). That gives me sensory input, which in turn, is soothing. Most people have sensory "quirks" and do not even know it. Some people have to tap their pen on the desk, bounce their knee, tap their foot, etc.

As OT's, we give our patients soft plastic tubing to chew on so they can get their oral input (and not chew on body parts!) I have distributed this to patients so they can have it in the classroom to assist with concentration. We also give out chew tubes on a rope necklace. Patients can wear these and get their oral input when hey need it. As your OT about plastic tubing. If you are interested in ordering the necklaces, Google SI Challenge Resources in Dallas, TX.

Hope this helps!

Robynne

Why would she just now start doing this? I mean, she'll be 2 in a couple of weeks ... shouldn't she be well past the stage to put things in her mouth, especially considering she never ever did it in infancy? And I tried and tried to get her to take a pacifier! Even after her ST said not mouthing things was a big red flag during her initial evaluation at 17 1/2mo.

Thanks so much!!!!

Hi Lesley:

I'm sure sweet baby Catherine wanted NOTHING near her mouth with all of her reflux/tummy ailments and sensory issues until now. I see all kinds of reflux and SI kiddos. Some are sensory seekers and cannot get enough oral input and others vomit across the room when I start opening up the jar of food :sign11: They are all very different and progress at different rates. Perhaps Catherine's reflux symptoms have improved to the point where she can now tolerate oral input or perhaps she has new teeth coming in? You really do not want her to be sucking on a pacifier now, but chewing on things such as rubber tubing is an excellent alternative. Little ones tend to mouth more the first 1 1/2 years. I wouldn't call it a huge red flag.:-)

Robynne

No, it was the lack of mouthing things as an infant that was alarming to her ST. :toothy10: