Chewing on fingers

[Missy]

Happy New Year!

I know that this topic has been posted about before but can any of you give some advise about how you got your child to stop chewing their fingers? My cousin's little girl (5 years) chews on her finger tips until they are red and bloody. I saw her this weekend and until now, I didn't realize just how bad it could be. I feel so bad for her and I'd like to offer some ideas to them. Thanks for your help.

Missy

[francine]

Hi Missy...

first of all how are you doing?? been thinking about you, especially since your last post.

This is what I recall that other people have posted already.... just in case they don't see your post and rewrite it...

(1) cover the hand with a neoprene glove at night

(2) splint the arm at night so that it can't come to the mouth

that'a all I recall - hope more people come forward with ideas!

Happy New Year and hope you are doing better now,
big hugs,
francine

[tina arvizu]

Gabrielle would chew on her thumb at night until it had no skin left. Infections would then set in. I would rinse her hand with peroxide/water solution a couple times a day. Then wrap her thumb and hand with gause. At night I would put a sock over the gause and use surgical type to secure it. Once she stopped teething the chewing stopped. Good luck.

[Pam & Parker]

Parker went through this for over a year and we tried everything. What finally worked was BRIBERY. We told him that if he let his finger completely heal, he could pick out any toy he wanted at the store. Stopped the biting immediately. Had one or two slips, but within a month and a half the finger was healed. He has been BITE FREE for about 2 or 3 months. We covered it with a sock as well...then put his wrist splint over that. Good luck. I know how frustrating it is...Pam

[admin]

I just wanted to add that my daughter who is 9 tell's me that she really cant feel any pain just very little from the bitting of her fingers and she tells me that they tingle and she has to chew them to make them stop.. we have tryed everyting I know of to keep the fingers out of the mouth but what seems to work the most is that chap lip medicine carmex... it helps remind her when she goes to put the fingers in her mouth... to keep them out and rub the fingers on her jeans instead of chew... maybe that may help if the child is old enough to understand.. good luck and God bless her... Denise

[admin]

hi! my daughter had a problem with that but she use
to chew on her arm until it will bleed. She said it
felt like bugs were in her skin. I assume she ment
that tingle sensation. I just use to wrap up her arm
at night and it slowly stoped but she still have scars.

[admin]

hi! my daughter had a problem with that but she use
to chew on her arm until it will bleed. She said it
felt like bugs were in her skin. I assume she ment
that tingle sensation. I just use to wrap up her arm
at night and it slowly stoped but she still have scars.

[browning93]

I just mentioned this to Sophiesmom on another post about decreased sensation. Go to your nearest health food store and purchase a small bottle of CLOVE OIL. It usually has a dropper. Put a drop or two on each finger and massage it in. Not only is it a natural antiseptic, it tastes like sh****.!They'll take their fingers out quickly. Unless of course they learn to like the taste of Cloves.LOL Just don't put cloves on any holiday hams for a while! Ha! LeeAnne