Mouthing Toys

[craftymissbeth]

I have an 18 month old dcg who sticks everything in her mouth. Everything. Not just small toys but big things as well... she literally picked up a child size chair and ****ed on the top of it.

What I currently do is as soon as I see it happen I say "out of your mouth". As soon as I say it she removes it from her mouth and not a second later it's right back in. At this point I take the toy. It's to the point where I am disinfecting every single toy we have every day.

How do I break this habit?

[Neekie]

I have a two year old who does this, too. I tried everything I could think of and nothing worked. She just seems to have an insatiable need to **** on something all the time. I guess I am kind of that way myself. I am constantly catching myself ****ing on pens or something. So I finally gave her paci back to her. As long as her paci is in her mouth she doesn't put other things in her mouth. At least it helps with sanitation and germs. In a couple of months we will put the paci back in her cubby and try again.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I use a "personal teether" for this. I clip the smallest teething toy I can find to their shirt with a binky tether and explain that that is the ONLY thing I want to see in their mouth at dc. If they are at least 2.5yo, or even sometimes a mature younger 2, they get it. Might sit around for quite some time ****ing/chewing like mad on it, but at least there isn't saliva on everything else.

This works for biters, too.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

Aw, dang. Just read that yours is only 18mo. I never tried it on a dck that young, but might be worth a shot!

[craftymissbeth]

Aw, dang. Just read that yours is only 18mo. I never tried it on a dck that young, but might be worth a shot!

I'm going to try it. She's fairly mature for an 18 month old but no matter what it has to be better than how things are going now!

[Cat Herder]

You could try going old school.

Clorox disinfectant spray is meant to be left to dry on surfaces. It tastes awful.....

Seems to me the mouthing things at older ages in daycare came with the recent trend to use "natural" cleaning products.

No, I can't quote a study, it is just a hunch.

[craftymissbeth]

You could try going old school.

Clorox disinfectant spray is meant to be left to dry on surfaces. It tastes awful.....

Seems to me the mouthing things at older ages in daycare came with the recent trend to use "natural" cleaning products.

No, I can't quote a study, it is just a hunch.

I have to say... I use 100% unnatural products in my home/daycare

[Cat Herder]

I have to say... I use 100% unnatural products in my home/daycare

Ok, then have you tried the potpouri scented Lysol spray?? It is the nastiest of the nasty tasting disinfectants... For hard core toy lickers. ::::::

Walked in front of the fan once with it, blew in my face, could not taste my coffee for hours....

[craftymissbeth]

Ok, then have you tried the potpouri scented Lysol spray?? It is the nastiest of the nasty tasting disinfectants... For hard core toy lickers. ::::::

Walked in front of the fan once with it, blew in my face, could not taste my coffee for hours....

I think I might actually have some. Is it really ok to leave it on the toys?

[Cat Herder]

I think I might actually have some. Is it really ok to leave it on the toys?

Yes. It disinfects by evaporation (unfolds and separates bacterial proteins disrupting replication/growth).

Spray a fine mist (2-3 seconds), allow 10 minutes to air dry. Carry on.

[craftymissbeth]

Yes. It disinfects by evaporation (unfolds and separates bacterial proteins disrupting replication/growth).

Spray a fine mist (2-3 seconds), allow 10 minutes to air dry. Carry on.

Awesome! Thanks!