Lurker with a question re:oral fixation

mlovesm

Hi, ladies, sorry to intrude but I'm hoping someone might have some suggestions for me.

I do child care for a child with Down Syndrome. She is almost 2, and has a serious oral fixation. About 95% of the things she touches go straight to her mouth. Sometimes it's just licking/sucking, but sometimes it is chewing/biting. She has begun chewing my furniture, biting my daughter, and chewing anything cloth she comes in contact with - including my clothing. She receives EI services in my home, and her mother and I have both discussed this with her therapists. They've suggested a chewy tube, which the LO rejects completely, and snacks, which her mom understandably doesn't want to offer her all day long. It's getting to the point where it is making it difficult to play with her or engage her in anything - I spend most of the day telling her "no mouth" and removing either her or the objects from the area while futilely offering the chewy tube.

Does anyone have any other ideas of what we can offer her or do with her to help satisfy the need for oral stimulation and try to prevent her from mouthing everything? I want her to have the stimulation she needs but I have no clue how to provide it appropriately.

JoJoGee

Why not offer her a washcloth - wet or dry.  I know my DD liked those for a while.

ToastieSimons

The banana toddler toothbrush. My kid loves it.  What about the vibrating teethers? How about a necklace she can chew on? As pp said washcloths are great.

bumpuser511563

Is there anyway you can attach the chewy tube to her clothes? Like the attachments they have for pacifiers.

We bought one for DS on Amazon to attach a teething ring.

bumpuser511563

Maybe the mom can order one or buy one from the store.

JoJoGee

ToastieSimons:

The banana toddler toothbrush. My kid loves it.  What about the vibrating teethers? How about a necklace she can chew on? As pp said washcloths are great.

This reminds me... you could also use a vibrating toothbrush.  There is one that looks like a crayola crayon.  It was recommended to us by my DD's speech therapist.  We haven't used it with DD yet, but she loves that kind of stuff (we use vibrating toys at speech).

kcisthebombdotcom

We do a vibrating toothbrush along with chewlry during the day. It helps a lot.

mlovesm

Thank you SO much, ladies! I'll try the washcloth today and talk to her mom about the vibrating toys or toothbrushes!

Florak8

My LO did not like the tube either-- too hard and not enough texture. He is doing well with a chewelry necklace that looks like a phone cord. It is always there to chew on. Might be worth a try.

starshine1977

I got some chewelry necklaces and a bracelet here for a student of mine. They worked great.

https://www.nationalautismresources.com/chewelry.html