Anyone Ever Had A Kid...

[Willow]

There have been a few times where I've really felt concerned about a child's physical or mental health and the parents weren't on the same page as me at all.

I've asked parents at that point if it would be alright for ME to call them up and ask them a couple of questions, their doc's name and contact info is right on their admissions form so easy peasy.

I've always been told "YEAH! of course!" because they've grossly undersold/misrepresented the problem and assume it really is no big deal.

When I call they cannot disclose any information on the child to me but I do tell doc (or the docs nurse) who I'm calling about and that I have permission from the parents to ask some questions. From there I run through "kiddo has been doing _____ and _____ and ______ in my care, you (or doc) has told my kiddos parents that's completely normal and I need to confirm because I am extremely concerned and am ready to terminate care based on the fact that I believe this child needs help and isn't getting it. I am actually on the fence about contacting CPS due to what I perceive to be medical neglect." Doc or doc's nurse is usually horrified to learn the actual truth and severity of a given situation and from there they consult with the parents who typically hem and haw but eventually admit to the facts.

Pediatrician is more diligent.

Kiddo gets help.

Everyone's life gets much MUCH easier.



If it's keeping me up at night you bet I'll the situation to task for a kiddo in my care like that.



brookeroo - guaranteed if you ask to call kiddos doc mom will either refuse because she's lying and never once actually brought this up before, or you will get the go ahead - call - and horrify the pediatrician with your tales of him not just chewing on but consuming diaper filling and licking tractor tires.

If they're not she needs to find a new pediatrician.

I'd demand it, or term.


I could not stand idly by and watch a kiddo flounder like that. You know it's wrong, don't be afraid to demand action or take it into your own hands!

[SilverSabre25]

That kid has a problem!

A serious, severe problem!

That is NOT normal by ANY stretch of the imagination!

I can't believe that a ped would have downplayed it as being because "he's not a thumb-****er"--what a load of bull! Either mom didn't actually say anything or she majorly downplayed the problem.

Something needs done for him, asap.

[brookeroo]

I was talking to my aunt who is a realtor today about it. She brought up that maybe it was lead poisoning. ... who knows. Even my husband has said in the very few encounters he's had with this child that he can tell this kid is a little off.

She's going to bring me a chew toy for him next week. I'm supposed to redirect him with it whenever he's chewing on something he's not supposed to. Which is awesome because when he gets bored with it and throws it down and he's in another room chewing something he's not supposed to be I'm going to love walking around looking for his chew toy in the war zone of toys he's left it in and probably will also love prying it from the other kids hands to give to him. I'm sure he won't want it as well...

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am an Aspie and I used to chew on my blanket. It was a RAG within a matter of a couple of years. It was either chewing or constant rubbing (my stuffed walrus was completely bald and had to have patches sewn on it :: ).

Definitely buy him something to chew on. Chew tubes are cheap. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ords=chew+tube

You might look at this so that he cannot lose it. http://www.amazon.com/Abilitations-C...ords=chew+tube

[brookeroo]

I am an Aspie and I used to chew on my blanket. It was a RAG within a matter of a couple of years. It was either chewing or constant rubbing (my stuffed walrus was completely bald and had to have patches sewn on it :: ).

Definitely buy him something to chew on. Chew tubes are cheap. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ords=chew+tube

You might look at this so that he cannot lose it. http://www.amazon.com/Abilitations-C...ords=chew+tube

Thank you for the link... I may actually get one or two of these.

I'm reading some of the descriptions on these things and it reminded me of something else. I forgot there was also a time that he was chewing on his own arm. He actually had bite marks all up and down his arms for awhile however he seems to have stopped doing that.

Yeah... the more I think about it the more I am convinced this is way more than a habit.

Are these toys super hard? I'm thinking the clear rubber tubes would work the best for him. The other ones look a little too much like the other toys I have so I think these would peek his interest the most.

I just can't imagine what kind of shape his teeth are going to be in.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Thank you for the link... I may actually get one or two of these.

I'm reading some of the descriptions on these things and it reminded me of something else. I forgot there was also a time that he was chewing on his own arm. He actually had bite marks all up and down his arms for awhile however he seems to have stopped doing that.

Yeah... the more I think about it the more I am convinced this is way more than a habit.

Are these toys super hard? I'm thinking the clear rubber tubes would work the best for him. The other ones look a little too much like the other toys I have so I think these would peek his interest the most.

I just can't imagine what kind of shape his teeth are going to be in.

No, they are not hard plastic. They are rubbery.

[brookeroo]

So... I got the chewy toys. He likes them however it has been a full time job trying to keep him chewing on soley those alone. He will chew on them spuratically however he loses interest and tosses it down for another. I'm not kidding you when I say this alone has been a full time job watching him all day to just redirect this "habit"...and yet still not a lot of progress with the redirection. Although he likes the new toys...I don't feel like it's working much at all.

Caught him chewing on his toes the other day.

The same kind of spaghetti that he forced himself to gag up a few weeks ago... he devoured Monday.

Yesterday we went out side. He came around the corner and had a flat rock about the size of a golf ball in his mouth from our rock bed.

Today his dad drops him off and says... well I went in to get him this morning when he woke up and he had given himself a hickey. He has a huge purple welt on his arm including bite marks.

But of course... everything is "normal"....

[SunshineMama]

I have one that is 19 months now. I've had him since he was 15 months. He had all of his teeth with the exception of his molars. They told me when they interviewed that he has a chewing issue. That is an understatement of the century! He is chewing up everything in my house. He knows he's not supposed to because as soon as he sees you look at him he'll pull it out of his mouth. If you tell him "no" and take it away he will immediately pick something up as soon as you turn around and put it in his mouth.

Their theory is don't have any toys out that you feel are valuable...however 1. it's not all toys that he's chewing up. She knows this. She even told me he's chewed his crib up all the way around the top rail at home and 2. all my toys are valuable to a degree since I've spent my hard earned money on them. I can't not let them play with toys and none of the other kids are chewing the toys up like this. If it was one once and awhile... ok no big deal ...but this kid is chewing up everything every single day all day long.

On top of him sticking all this stuff in his mouth she's brought him with what appears to be upper respiratory and flu like symptoms, a barky cough, runny nose and very fussy, wouldn't eat although he's not running a fever. He thew up twice last night around 4pm (again no fever). I was assuming it was from all the drainage he's had. She was supposed to call the doctor before she brought him back since she didn't go in till late this morning and let me know what they said. She sent me a message last night explaining that she had a call in and wouldn't hear back from them until the morning. She would let me know. Never called me but had dad drop him off this morning with no clue about anything... (amazing how that happens).

It's not just hard toys, he was chewing on a stuffed animal the other day. Heck he even eats his diaper ... which I pushed her to talk to the doctor about. She almost told me to duct tape it on him during his nap so he wouldn't poop in it.. and pull it off to eat it. She told me the doctor said it was all normal. I'm like... clearly you didn't give him the full reality of this issue.

Now he's here getting everyone else sick. I'm starting to feel something settling in my own chest (crossing my fingers) and they think he is just starting to get his molars... Frustrating...

It sounds like he needs more oral sensory stimulation. Try chewy and crunchy snacks- pretzels, fruit snacks, carrot sticks, celery, etc. I had a girl like that who always had something in her mouth and it decreased by 50% the same week I gave her chewy and crunchy snacks. Any time you catch him chewing, take the item away and replace it with something he can chew- maybe a chewy toy just for him. Oral snesory issues get better faster when the children are allowed to get it out of their system. I have also heard of bite necklaces but I am not sure how I feel about them- you would have to get an okay from the parents first and then watch him very carefully.

[brookeroo]

It sounds like he needs more oral sensory stimulation. Try chewy and crunchy snacks- pretzels, fruit snacks, carrot sticks, celery, etc. I had a girl like that who always had something in her mouth and it decreased by 50% the same week I gave her chewy and crunchy snacks. Any time you catch him chewing, take the item away and replace it with something he can chew- maybe a chewy toy just for him. Oral snesory issues get better faster when the children are allowed to get it out of their system. I have also heard of bite necklaces but I am not sure how I feel about them- you would have to get an okay from the parents first and then watch him very carefully.

Done the food. Funny thing is he wants nothing what do ever to do with food. Doesn't seem to matter what I give him he picks at it and throws most of it on the floor. Different textured cereals carrots celery pretzels .... you name it... I've tried it....

He is extremely picky when it comes to foods. But I think it has more to do wih control. I also think that they feed him sacks all the time when he is home (including for dinner based on a conversation I had with her once) and constantly give him milk and juice to carry around whenever he is awake too much at home

At the same time when I do find foods he likes it ends at the table. As soon as he's off into the playroom what he eats at the table makes no difference. Im not sure everyone is understanding he literally has this fixation all hours of the day. It's not something that comes and goes in spurts at certain times of the day.

Been thinking about talking to them about trying the necklaces but they mentioned before they didn't like the idea and would rather have a bracelet on him. I haven't found any that I think he won't chew right through.

At the same time I think I could duct tape it in his mouth and he'd still find a way to chew on everything else instead.

[Angelsj]

My dd chewed through a cast on her arm! Talk with his parents, and find some things he can have in his mouth. There are chewy toys that are not bracelets or necklace. Have them purchase several.
You may have to keep him in a separate space until he starts to understand he must only chew the things provided for that purpose. He will eventually get it.