Winter coat

[Anonymous]

A mother from church came to me yesterday and raised a "problem" she saw. She wasn't mean or anything but she seemed really really concerned about her doing this at this age.

My daughter is 13 and has the habit of licking her coat when it is zipped up to the mouth or nibbling/putting those strings in her mouth on occasion. Agree it is not the most appealing but I am wondering if it's really such a huge problem? Would you be concerned? Never really bothered us till now and we originally think it will be a phase she will grow out of.

She doesn't like chew off chunks of the coat like during her younger days nor seem to have any sensory issues like licking other things inappropriately.

I know it's not the most hygienic licking your coat and we try to wash their coat once a week or so. But I am sure it happens to other kids too? Would you really have her checked out or let the comment go? Should this be concerning and wwyd if your kids are doing this?

[Anonymous]

Check her blood works.

[Anonymous]

Its fine. Odd habit. Lots of girls that age will suck on the end of their hair too. Dont' look for problems.

[Anonymous]

That would be a minor annoyance at worst. Just ignore it.

[Anonymous]

A kid in my DD's K class did obsessive licking, mostly of her own face which left it red and sore, but also sometimes her sleeves.

It could be a symptom of a disorder, a minor one which may pass, or it could just be a slightly annoying habit.

What you do about it, or not, is really up to you.

[Anonymous]

In OT, your daughter's licking her coat would be considered one way she is using her body to stay calm and focused. However, what usually is ok for younger kids become habits that really aren't socially acceptable in older ones.

Have you spoken to her lately about this habit? You are right that she probably will outgrow it, but you may need to mention to her that she needs to find a new habit. If you say nothing, she may not realize that she needs to make a change. My son finally settled on chewing gum and carrying a stress ball if we had to go somewhere.

[Anonymous]

I chewed my hair at that age. I stopped when peers started commenting, not my parents.

[Anonymous]

My daughter used to chew her coat till about 7 or 8 until chunks of the collar sometimes disappeared. She then progressed to "less discreet" habit and licked her coat till around 12. It's a long wait! We tried everything from punishment to rewards but nothing worked.

But she eventually stopped. I think it was when a friend came over and it was snowing out and I kind of overheard she didn't want her coat because she licked it! So I am sure it must be peer pressure and her friends knew!

[Anonymous]

My view on this sort of thing is that most people have some kind of weird or embarrassing habit that, to them, satisfies some sort of craving or even need. An OT would talk about this behavior as sensory seeking or a psychologist might say orally fixated or whatever. That doesn't mean it is a huge problem, though.

Assuming your child has this one habit and no real problems/challenges in the rest of her life, I would absolutely not seek an evaluation but rather try to channel it into something else or replace it with something more hygienic and socially acceptable. for one of my kids who put his shirt collar in his mouth and ended up with a wet shirt every day I googled "chewelry." I bought a ton of things and experimented until I found ones that worked. They could be cleaned every day (which I liked) and it just looked less weird, more like fidgetiness, than the shirt sucking.

I'll add that for my kids a lot of this sensory stuff is related to anxiety and completely goes away when anxiety goes down, only to return in stressful periods. So that might be something to keep an eye on.

[Anonymous]

Kids are strange...people are strange. My daughter used to sniff her hands....all.....the...time. She still occasionally does it but a lot less now.

[Anonymous]

I used to do it and grew out of it, before high school. Unless other things are present that seem concerning to you, I wouldn’t worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to do it and grew out of it, before high school. Unless other things are present that seem concerning to you, I wouldn’t worry about it.

Strange habit but I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

I constantly have to ask my 12 yr old DS to stop chewing on the zipper of his sweaters--you know the quarter zip ones? The zippers always have a rubber coating on them. He zips them and chews that. Annoying. He also likes to chew/bite pencils, but only #2, not mechanical. Told me it's about the way the wood gives under your teeth, chewing on pens isn't the same.

Frankly, I remember chewing on those too. I also remember plenty of people chewing pencils and ends of pens. Girls chewing their hair, etc. I don't see anyone in my office doing that, and I don't chew on my writing utensils anymore.

Point being, I'm sure they will all outgrow it. I think it used to just be assumed to be a kid thing, not something that required a physician. It'll pass, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I constantly have to ask my 12 yr old DS to stop chewing on the zipper of his sweaters--you know the quarter zip ones? The zippers always have a rubber coating on them. He zips them and chews that. Annoying. He also likes to chew/bite pencils, but only #2, not mechanical. Told me it's about the way the wood gives under your teeth, chewing on pens isn't the same.

Frankly, I remember chewing on those too. I also remember plenty of people chewing pencils and ends of pens. Girls chewing their hair, etc. I don't see anyone in my office doing that, and I don't chew on my writing utensils anymore.

Point being, I'm sure they will all outgrow it. I think it used to just be assumed to be a kid thing, not something that required a physician. It'll pass, I think.

I used to lick my winter coat too. :p. I do occasionally still bite on the hoodie strings and the little
Springy toggle but I no longer lock my coat. It will pass but it also never gave me any problems. When I was licking my coat then, I learnt how to do it discreetly
So that my friends couldn't see me and make fun! Not sure why I did but it was just all natural to me then as it was just right up my mouth. Thinking back, bet it was all disgusting and must have smelled!

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old son does the same thing. He has anxiety. He's self-soothing. I agree it's slightly annoying, but I wouldn't really worry about it unless it's rapidly damaging the coat or something.