Still drooling like crazy?

JustcallmeGG2

My 18 month old boy has had most of his teeth for quite a while and still drools like crazy. He is pretty behind in speech as well but is making a tiny amount of progress. he didn't qualify for early intervention a couple months ago but I remember during the evaluation they said that the drooling could be a sign of something else that could affect his speech but we all thought it was just teeth related. Something with the mOuth formation?

Anywho, are there any other toddlers out there that are still drooling a lot even though they have their teeth? At this age?

ashiscute

My DD is almost 3 and still has drooling issues.  She has a speech disorder that was diagnosed this past fall but has been in speech therapy since 17 mos.  Her SP also diagnosed her with an oral sensory disorder.  Basically she craves extra input orally compared to other kids.  She has her mouth open a lot during play and TV time and has to be reminded to close her mouth.  She still puts toys and things in her mouth that most kids have moved beyond.  She also extra explores with foods she is eating (like rubbing and likes spicy and strong flavored foods.  

I don't know if you recognize any of these symptoms for your LO but if so I can give you ideas on what we do to work with my DD.  She still has days where there is drool but she is getting better.  

UMichGirl

PeopleKnowMe said:

My DS is almost 17 months old and still drools like crazy. His problem is he never shuts his mouth! I swear it's open 24/7. He has all his front teeth plus two molars on the right side. None on the left yet. I have a bib on him all day and I feel bad but otherwise he'd be all wet. My DS does talk a lot so I have no input regarding speech.

This is us almost exactly. DS is 18 months and drools ALL THE TIME. We have asked the pedi but he talks a lot (more like never stops talking) and eats just fine so we haven't pursued anything further. We will ask next week at his well visit though bc it is ridiculous. While he is still getting his bottom molars (they're like half through) he has all other teeth he should have at this age. Idk what to tell you but he wears a bib all the time too and we constantly are saying "Close your mouth!" bc he walks around with it hanging open!

JustcallmeGG2

Ha! I never really thought about Him keeping his mouth open. maybe that's it?

@ashiscute: I don't think they have similar issues. my kids hardly ever put things in their mouth that typical kids do. For example they never bite on books or anything like that. daycare says they can't leave out books because kids chew on them and I have never had one of my kids put a book in theIr mouth. Looks like we will prob be having another EI intervention though.

pb_bride

@ashiscute,what you are describing sounds a lot like my son. He is 14 months and drools nonstop - his mouth is always open when he is playing. He soaks through his bib, his sweaters, all the way down to his onesie underneath. He is a mouther compared to other children his age. He also did not babble until he was 10 months. At 14 months he has zero words still. I wonder if he is going to turn out having some sort of speech delay.

ashiscute

pb_bride said:

@ashiscute,what you are describing sounds a lot like my son. He is 14 months and drools nonstop - his mouth is always open when he is playing. He soaks through his bib, his sweaters, all the way down to his onesie underneath. He is a mouther compared to other children his age. He also did not babble until he was 10 months. At 14 months he has zero words still. I wonder if he is going to turn out having some sort of speech delay.

It's so hard to say because some kids are so different even with the same things.  My DD babbled around 6 or 7 months but her babbling never really developed and she was referred to EI at 15 months because she had zero words.  She was not imitating and not really making any attempt to communicate beyond pointing and grunting.  Once we started therapy I noticed a huge difference in both of her issues.  We started out with sign and she picked up on that pretty quickly.  We didn't overwhelm just started with basics like more, all done, and eat.  Does your son do any signs?  I found that to be so helpful at first and it took maybe 2 weeks from when she started signing till she started using her 1st word (around 18 months).

As for the drooling we give her plenty of appropriate things to chew on like teethers and the like.  My DD also loves strong flavored food so we notice if she eats olives or salsa and chips she tends to drool less afterwards.  She loves to brush her teeth and we give her plenty of extra teeth brushing time.  She still deals with these issues now (she'll be 3 in a couple weeks) but has made huge progress.  

If you think your son may have issues I'd push to get EI involved.  The sooner you get him help the sooner and easier it is to address the problems.  Of course it could be nothing at all!

pb_bride

@ashiscute thanks very much for your post.  We have been signing to DS before he was 6 months but he still doesn't sign back ("more" "all done" "please").  He still has one more month to go, so we'll see if he gets a word or 2 out by then.  We do "classes" every week and one of the teachers used to be in EI speech therapy, so I can ask for her advice too.  Thanks again.

mb314

DS is almost 16 months and still drools like crazy. He soaks through several bibs/shirts a day. His mouth is often open, although now that is a little better since he is not congested for the first time in months. Maybe it could:be something more, but some kids just drool a lot.

DS also ddoesn't have many words.

ashiscute

JustcallmeGG2 said:

Ha! I never really thought about Him keeping his mouth open. maybe that's it? @ashiscute: I don't think they have similar issues. my kids hardly ever put things in their mouth that typical kids do. For example they never bite on books or anything like that. daycare says they can't leave out books because kids chew on them and I have never had one of my kids put a book in theIr mouth. Looks like we will prob be having another EI intervention though.

Just keep an eye on him during play time and see if his mouth is open.  We gently remind DD to close her mouth by popping our lips which she will do no problem.  It's probably more of an absentminded thing honestly.  If he doesn't have any other concerns (eating, speech) I wouldn't worry too much yet.  If you have other concerns contact EI.

ashiscute

pb_bride said:

@ashiscute thanks very much for your post.  We have been signing to DS before he was 6 months but he still doesn't sign back ("more" "all done" "please").  He still has one more month to go, so we'll see if he gets a word or 2 out by then.  We do "classes" every week and one of the teachers used to be in EI speech therapy, so I can ask for her advice too.  Thanks again.

Do you take his hands and sign for him?  For example if you think he wants more do you help him sign more while saying it?  That's what we did with DD.  We would actually do it for her and then one day at lunch she signed more by herself.  It was amazing.  Have you ever seen the "Baby Signing Time" videos?  We get them from our library and both my kids love them.  I'm not sure how you feel about letting your LO watch any TV but the video features a woman who sings songs and she teaches signs and there are lots of kids using the signs as well.  It is very repetitive and has been great for my DD.  

pb_bride

@ashiscute, We sign for him sometimes, when we remember.  I'll try to do better and sign for him more often!