Does your child lick his/her hands, suck on fingers?
By sylviekitty
@sylviekitty (2083)
United States
February 11, 2007 8:12am CST
I noticed recently that my 3 yr old has been doing this frequently, over the last few weeks or so. I notice it the most when he's sitting on the couch and watching tv (maybe it's because he's bored and needs something to do with his hands?). I don't know if he's doing it elsewhere, but it's very odd. I don't know if this is a sensory issue, maybe there's a deficiency of some sort (although he was just tested recently, so it probably isn't that), or maybe just a new Autistic "coping mechanism". OR like I said.. he could just be a bored kid. LOL What's irritating is that when his hand gets all slobbery, I can tell he's wiping it off on my couch. YUCK.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@wdiong (1815)
• Singapore
12 Feb 07
My 2 children suck their fingers, but my daughter does it more of a habit. She used to suck her thumb all the time when she was younger. It was her pacifier. For my son, I notice that he does it more recently on and off perhaps because he's teething. I agree it's really yucky when they wipe their salivary fingers on the furniture... and the smell....
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Ugh yeah.. the smell. My son is still very "oral". He likes to put things in his mouth that he shouldn't. It's amazing... I have found a whole pile of my daughter's doll accessories, covered in slobber. YUCK.
1 person likes this
@rainbow (6761)
•
12 Feb 07
Bong sucks or chews his sleeves and t-shirt neck if he's stressed. Roo has now, so maybe it's a 3 year old thing, or he's copying I try to ignor it incase he realises he gets 100% attention for it. I'd only interfere if it was getting sore or we were out in the cold.
Poor couch - I got a 2nd hand leather one as I can give it a good scrub.
1 person likes this
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
12 Feb 07
CJ does that as well at times...not very often but I do notice that he does it when I'm helping him with his homework.
I'm not sure but for him, it could be that his hand is dry/itchy. I really don't have a clue as to why he does it to tell you the truth. I don't know if he does it when he's alone, at school, or..? It could be a way for him to concentrate on what he's doing...
1 person likes this
@payingforschool (678)
• Canada
12 Feb 07
My son doesn't do this, but it sounds like a pretty sensory thing to me - both the sensation in the mouth and on the fingers. I'd guess it was a stimy thing. I'd look into something else he can chew on or do with his hands ... a fidget toy or a chew toy, or even gum and some fidget toys.
