Everything Goes Into Their Mouths!!!

[Christina72684]

My 2 1/2 year old daughter and her friends at my DC (ages 2-3yrs old) are all in this phase where they put anything and everything into their mouths! My daughter's favorite items to put in her mouth are beads, pea gravel, and little round magnets. I have a preschool in a separate building that she comes into when I'm working and even though things are picked up she still manages to find things and they immediately go in her mouth. I'm afraid someone's going to choke but I can't remove all the rocks and every little toys everywhere.

Any suggestions?!?!

[Heidi]

At 2 1/2, she should be verbal enough to for you say "If you put toys in your mouth when we are at the preschool, then you will have to sit at the desk and wait for me" (or in a stroller or other confined place). Since she is your own child, you can do whatever you need to keep her safe.

You're right; she could get something dangerous easily. A magnet or push pin could be life threatening. I would really consider not taking her into the preschool or office at all if you can avoid it until she's moved through this oral stage, or else confine her so she doesn't have any access to these items.

[Heidi]

another idea...

You could play a "what can we eat?" game at circle time.

Make a basket full of items and pictures (some serious, some silly), of things that are edible and non-edible. Then, show them one by one, and say "can we eat THIS?" Let the children answer, and you also say "NOOOOO...we don't eat trees" or "YES! We CAN eat carrots" or something along those lines.

Keep going as long as the game is fun.

Then, when a child puts anything non-edible in their mouth, say "Can you eat THIS?" in the same voice. NO.....we don't eat marbles!"

I bet within a day, they start reminding each other the same way.

[Familycare71]

At 2 1/2, she should be verbal enough to for you say "If you put toys in your mouth when we are at the preschool, then you will have to sit at the desk and wait for me" (or in a stroller or other confined place). Since she is your own child, you can do whatever you need to keep her safe.

You're right; she could get something dangerous easily. A magnet or push pin could be life threatening. I would really consider not taking her into the preschool or office at all if you can avoid it until she's moved through this oral stage, or else confine her so she doesn't have any access to these items.

Yes!! Magnets are so dangerous!! If she swallows two they can connect in her intestines and become life threatening! We had spent a ton on those magnet toys (the small ones) and had to throw them out because of the danger

I love the idea of doing the game at circle time but until she gets it you need to treat her (and others) as small infants as far as proofing ...

[Heidi]

Yes!! Magnets are so dangerous!! If she swallows two they can connect in her intestines and become life threatening! We had spent a ton on those magnet toys (the small ones) and had to throw them out because of the danger

I love the idea of doing the game at circle time but until she gets it you need to treat her (and others) as small infants as far as proofing ...

[Meeko]

Isn't it amazing that a toddler will put all kinds of gross things in their mouth and then the same day tell you that the lunch you have prepared for them is yucky??::::

My daughter #2 has always suffered from digestive problems. Diaper stools were like rock hard rabbit droppings. Daughter #1...who was a finicky eater....one day noticed a few stray "nuggets" falling from her crawling sister's diaper....and promptly popped them in her mouth.. And yet she would refuse dinner. Is my cooking THAT bad?!!! ::::::

[Heidi]

Isn't it amazing that a toddler will put all kinds of gross things in their mouth and then the same day tell you that the lunch you have prepared for them is yucky??::::

My daughter #2 has always suffered from digestive problems. Diaper stools were like rock hard rabbit droppings. Daughter #1...who was a finicky eater....one day noticed a few stray "nuggets" falling from her crawling sister's diaper....and promptly popped them in her mouth.. And yet she would refuse dinner. Is my cooking THAT bad?!!! ::::::

::::::::ewwwwww

My BF ate a snail once as a toddler, and my sister (accidently) at a dime when she was 10 or so. She didn't have any pockets. But you win the gross prize, or shall I say, you dd does.

[Meeko]

::::::::ewwwwww

My BF ate a snail once as a toddler, and my sister (accidently) at a dime when she was 10 or so. She didn't have any pockets. But you win the gross prize, or shall I say, you dd does.

They're 16 and 18 now and we still tease them!!!

[WImom]

another idea...

You could play a "what can we eat?" game at circle time.

Make a basket full of items and pictures (some serious, some silly), of things that are edible and non-edible. Then, show them one by one, and say "can we eat THIS?" Let the children answer, and you also say "NOOOOO...we don't eat trees" or "YES! We CAN eat carrots" or something along those lines.

Keep going as long as the game is fun.

Then, when a child puts anything non-edible in their mouth, say "Can you eat THIS?" in the same voice. NO.....we don't eat marbles!"

I bet within a day, they start reminding each other the same way.

Great Suggestion!