Toys In The Mouth, Enough Already!

[DaisyMamma]

For some reason this is a big deal for me. It really grosses me out and I'm strict about it. I tell them one time, toys don't go in your mouth, and the next time I take it away and say it doesn't go in your mouth. It doesnt make any difference, I'm doing it all day long. Should I just let it go? It's now getting to be runny nose season and when I see a kid with snot and spit all over a toy it makes me want to throw said toy in the trash! Is there a bitter apple spray for humans? :confused:::
They are 22mo, 31mo., 39mo. Occasionally the 4yo does it.

[lovemykidstoo]

That is something that drives me nuts. I absolutely hate it. I do the same thing with you. Is it food? No? Then do not put it in your mouth. UGH. I have a basket that I put the stuff in and that stuff gets extra cleaning at the end of the day. Makes me crazy!

[blandino]

I'm kind of on the same page as you. After 2, there is just no excuse (in my book). I don't tolerate it, and they lose their toys if they can't play with them correctly. But there are some kids who just don't get it. I talk with them about the kinds of things you can put in your mouth if you want to chew on something (food or a baby teething ring or even (as much as I hate it) their hands). But it is a constant battle with some kids. I wish I had a great solution... Only sympathy

[DaisyMamma]

I really feel that it is allowed at home and that's why they think its ok.
I can almost understand if its play food, but its not just play food. It's trucks, trains, bracelets, etc etc etc.
I also have a DCG7 who does it....yes you read that correctly 7 years old!


I like the basket idea!

[MamaBearCanada]

I take the toy away & they have lost it. If it's become a habit then just taking away the toy that was in their mouth may not be enough to break the habit. They will just put the next toy in their mouth without thinking, lose that, next toy in mouth... So on.

Perhaps you could try each child picking out x amount of toys before lunch. Once they are gone no more toys. Then start again after lunch. For younger kids I can see offering teething toys, but not at an older age. It's unsanitary, makes toys unavailable for the other kids, is more work for you, and won't be tolerated at school.

[cheerfuldom]

Its gross but I find more and more parents actually encouraging this. buying teethers and other chew items for kids over two years old. I am guessing this goes along with the trend to let older kids have diapers, bottles, lovey items, pacifiers and other baby things for a lot longer than actually needed.

I have a 2 year old and two 3 year olds that are constantly doing this. If they dont have a toy, they go at their hands. I have told both the 3 year olds parents that we are stopping this behavior at daycare for sanitary reasons and I would appreciate their support in that. It helps if you hammer that sanitary reason over and over....parents dont want to be home with sick kids all winter and having dirty hands is a BIG deal during flu season. So again, another issue that parents dont really deal with until it is a problem for them (the parents, not the kids)

[DaisyMamma]

Its gross but I find more and more parents actually encouraging this. buying teethers and other chew items for kids over two years old. I am guessing this goes along with the trend to let older kids have diapers, bottles, lovey items, pacifiers and other baby things for a lot longer than actually needed.

I have a 2 year old and two 3 year olds that are constantly doing this. If they dont have a toy, they go at their hands. I have told both the 3 year olds parents that we are stopping this behavior at daycare for sanitary reasons and I would appreciate their support in that. It helps if you hammer that sanitary reason over and over....parents dont want to be home with sick kids all winter and having dirty hands is a BIG deal during flu season. So again, another issue that parents dont really deal with until it is a problem for them (the parents, not the kids)

[littlemissmuffet]

I also HATE this. No matter how many time I say "Not in your mouth" and take the toy away, another one goes in 2 minutes later. I also use the bucket idea and it's usually full by the end of the day - extra cleaning for me, so it's annoying!
Of course, the same kids who mouth toys are the same kids who love chewing on their hands and sippy cups/straws... getting their snot/spit on everything and destroying things.
Of course, every parent blames teething or thinks it's cute!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I, too, take them away. What is odd to me is the fact that two of my 3-year-olds are doing it but none of my 2-year-olds are. :confused: My 3-year-olds know that teeth are only for eating and they are directed to another activity (book reading being one) when it happens.

[Crazy8]

UGH! I am taking away toys all day long. But all my kids are under 2 and all ARE actually teething. Of course they never want anything that is actually for teething - but cars, blocks, little people, baby dolls hands, etc. are all in their mouths all day long!!!

[DaisyMamma]

Well, its good to know I'm not the only one.
I was hoping for some suggestions. I'm going to adopt "the bucket" and see how many toys we are left to even play with by lunch!
I think limiting each child to certain amount of toys wouldn't work. It would cause fights.
I'm also going to talk with the offenders parents to see what they are up to at home. Let them know its a sanitary issue and that they could end up taking a lot of days off of work because of sickness if it continues

[LK5kids]

Two's are still at the developmental stage of figuring out the world by pitting things in their mouth. Thar's why it's so hard to get them to stop. It's like trying to get a crawler to stop crawling. Kids are hard-wired to do this. Two's don't have clear boundaries on what is edible and what is not. All centers deal with this. Putting something in their mouth is a way to see if it tastes good. To young kids there is not much difference between a stacking ring and a bagel. They shouldn't be punished for this. Yes, it's good to teach them what can be put in their mouth, but it takes time. They are still exploring and learning and some kids are more oral than others. Putting mouthed toys in a bucket and washing them is a good way to handle it. As they get older they are much more likely to explore with their eyes and hands.