Hello!
I am a mother of a 1 yr old boy who at times will stick his finger down his throat. He usually does this if he wants to get out of the crib/playpen. He has done it under 10x. I usually will distract him instead of bringing attention to it. I am concerned because he receives more than enough attention, and I am wondering why he is doing this. He is teething, could that be it? I have heard of kids at the age of 2-3 who vomit to get their parents' attention, and I don't want that to happen. Is this just a phase? Is there a better way to handle it? If I ignore it, he continues to do it.
Thank you,
D.
Thanks for everyone's advice--he pretty much just stopped doing it. I think it was a phase, and I am learning that his behaviors are short-lived.
It's totally normal at this age. They are discovering their hands, mouths, tounge etc. He's not doing it to get attention - babies that age don't have the reasoning skills for that. Just ignore it if he's not making himself sick or distract him with something else so he'll forget about. I think my daughter did it for maybe a month?
It's a phase, and probably nothing more than that. As long as he doesn't seem to be in pain or ill, then I would keep doing what you're doing! By distracting him, but not making a big deal out of it, you'll help him find other more interesting things to do. :)
My son used to stick objects, like toys, too far into his mouth until he gagged. Totally freaked me out, and I overreacted! Then I had to UNDO the damage I had caused, because he did it over and over to get my attention after that! (Before that, I really think it was just some weird new thing to do...) So I took the toy away gently and distracted him each time. After a little while, he stopped on his own. Ignoring isn't always as effective as gentle redirection.
Your kiddo is very close to being a toddler. And toddlers are weird! They do the strangest things...and all you can do is go along for the ride, and try to figure out what's dangerous vs. what's just quirky...
But talk to a doc about anything you're really worried about. If it really feels like something is wrong, then call!
My Daughter has done this also. One time in the crib and I ran in thinking she was choking. We didn't respond after that and she stopped after a few times. Once in a while she will do it (at dinner or when I let her cry it out) we just ignore it. I feel if she gets a reaction she will continue to do it.
Just one of those things like spitting she will eventually get tired of. The new thing now is sticking her finger in her nose.
Good Luck.
Hi D.
My daughter is 15 months and ocassionally she has done this too. She is teething also and she often does get her fingers way back there where her molars are cutting through. Then all of a sudden, she gags.
I think it is a very normal behavior as long as he is not doing it constantly.
Perhaps it happens when he is in the crib or high chair because he is not able to do anything else when in there.
My daughter hates being in her high chair for one second after the last spoonful is given to her.
She wants out and she wants to get playing.
So maybe he gets more aware of his teething when he is not doing other things. Perhaps try to anticipate when he is going to do it, and take him out of the chair etc before he gets a chance to get the fingers back there.
Then maybe it won't even happen again.
I agree not to make any kind of fuss about it.
They learn all too quickly at this age what gets Mama's attention!!
Good luck!
P.
He could be doing that because of his 1 year molars coming in. My son started doing that 2 months ago at the 1 year mark. He doesn't make himself vomit or anything - he is just attempting to get his fingers back to bite on where the molars are coming in.
Two months and nothing has come in yet. We did just get him a gum massager that is nice and long and he can put far back instead of his fingers.
OH man, I remember when Paige used to do this. She's 20 months now, but it was about the same time. At first I freaked out because it was terrifying to see her gagging herself, but like everyone says...it goes away, it's normal [maybe not to us but hey, toddlers don't make sense..] and sure enough, it did.
Don't sweat it, ignore it, and it will stop.
Any babysitters who are bulemic? Our 28 year old did it when she was in the high chair phase and that's what it turned out to be.
More than likely it's a phase. Believe it or not, all 3 of my kids have done this. They've all stopped doing it on their own.
Definitely distract him, but don't worry too much about this. When my daughter was about this age, she did this all the time and did not throw up once. I never figured out why she would do this, and she stopped doing it after a few months. I hope this helps put your mind at ease a bit.
I know this all to well, my son who is almost 19 months does this to get his way. I don't let him get his way, when he does it I hold down his arms or I let him do it. If he gets sick I do not comfort him. I clean it up, change him (without saying a word) and go about my business. He's starting to get it. Also, don't show attitude, they love that.
