How do I get him to stop biting his clothes?

Question

My 9 yr. old went to day care with a girl who was teething and picked up the nasty habit of biting his sleeves and collar.He has ruined some good,even new, sweaters/shirts this way and I even saw him biting his coat collar. He does not have psychological problems, is not developmentally disabled(is actually quite bright and an A student) and is cutting a few teeth but claims there is no discomfort. I have tried talking to him, but he still does it while distracted. It is just a bad & nasty habitWhat can I put on his collar/sleeves that isn't toxic to get him to stop? How do I get him to stop biting his clothes?

Marelyfu: At 9 yrs. old he is 4 feet 7 inches and weighs 112 lb. He is hardly starving and has bitten his clothes right after eating.

AMOSUNKN:Yes, I have tried talking and consequences. He does not do it deliberately to p*ss me off. He does it absentmindedly and looking for a way that does not involve punishment or nagging does not mean I am treating him like an infant. I am looking for something I can put in there so when he gets a taste he goes ugh! and remembers he is not supposed to be putting those in his mouth.

Loucks 17: Good tip, thanks!

Answer 1

Lemon juice, tabasco sauce, vinegar.

Answer 2

A lot of kids do this. As long as nothing is making him anxious then its akin to the habit of clicking the fingers or biting the nails. A habit he's picked up by watching. Don't draw attention to it, he will grow out of it. Its just annoying in the mean time.

Depending on the kind of kid he is, gently pricking his conscience about it may help. If there is an 'thing' he likes to collect i.e video games but he knows are very expensive and are in similar value to the jumpers, gently make a vague comment within his earshot about 'not being able to afford a game he wants because he needs a new jumper because of the holes he bit'.

Do it at a time where you know hes listening or can hear you but it seems like you don't know he can hear you. And say it to someone else, not yourself. Do it just the once, and gently, to see if it has an effect.

Answer 3

Take a hair tie or rubber band and tie his shirt behind his back with it so he can't bite the collar or any loose spots..we did this with a kid at school and not only does he hate it but he stopped biting his shirtin a week. As for the sleeves, roll the long ones up and keep them there the same way, jsut don't hurt his arms, he'll get the picture.

Answer 4

My 12 yr had the very same problem - But after a visit to the dentist, where it was noticed that he's wearing down his front teeth through this activity... He's packed it in... It seems he takes more notice of the dentist than his parents & it did help when I pointed out that if he damages his teeth this early in life his dentistry costs as an Adult will be huge due to the failing NHS Dentistry in the UK!

Answer 5

Ya know....I actually used to that too. I don't exactly know how or why I stopped doing it. But one thing is that I am still actually tempted to do it every once and a while (And I'm 16 now >.<) Really, putting lemon Juice on his collor seems to be a popular answer, although it wouldnt work if your son likes sour things. For me, when I still get that rare temptation, I chew a piece of gum. I also bite on my necklace instead. >.<

Answer 6

All children have habits that are either inconvenient or gross! My 3 year old bites her clothes and leaves dribble all over them! My 11 year old likes to wipe everything from snot to tomato ketchup all over his clothes - he does it without thinking! You just have to remind them not to when you see them do it. Its repetitive and annoying! If its really getting bad then you can say that you will fine them their pocket money so you can replace the clothes he has ruined. I threatened my son with having to wash all his own clothes - its working - he wipes his food ridden hands down his jumper and then goes 'oh!' and runs off to get a cloth and clean himself! As soon as they become aware of when they are doing it, they start to stop if that makes sense. A little threat from you will make the point stick harder!

Answer 7

Have you tried telling him he's not a baby and to stop ruining his clothes and act like a big kid and not an infant?

Have you punished him for doing it when you've told him not to?

Have you encouraged him to think about it before he does it?

He's not 9 months old, he's 9. Treat him like he ought to be taught. Like a functional 9 year old and not some wayward mysterious infant.

Answer 8

What your rat is doing is protecting its fellow room pals as he's from a puppy save and grew to become into not observed while he grew to become into youthful!! he grew to become into additionally being very territorial!! Its widely used and to offer up him biting fold your hand right into a ball so he can not chew it and permit him smelll you. It worked for me!!! additionally rub your palms around the cage so your palms now scent of the cage earlier you attempt to %. him up! stable success e mail me for to any extent further help!!

Answer 9

give him something like a frozen teething ring to keep with him discreetly in his pocket..when he has the urge to bite, you'll need to train him first, then he can use that...or something similiar like a was cloth
also, tryy not to make a huge deal over it, the more you mention it the more he'll do it

Answer 10

Well, you cannot put a collar on him. So, I would say stop the chewing of your clothes and chew bubble gum.