Chewing in Bed

My son loves to chew on his teddy bear, too. He is pretty orally fixated, and of course it's way worse when he's teething.

Have you thought about giving a couple of hard pacifiers to your daughter in bed? My friend's son never took a paci, but she started giving him the hard soothies when he got really bad during teething. He'd just chew on them, and it really worked out! Also, I'm a big believer in a sippy cup (or bottle) full of water in the crib at night.

How old is she?

It seems like your daughter has the need to chew on something in her crib. This may be a way for her to sooth herself at night. I would provide her with something that is appropriate to chew on, like a teething toy or something. This way she can satisfy her need to chew but do it in a safe way. Good luck!

It sounds like your daughter is teething. Keep several teething toys in her crib for her to chew on when she feels the need to.

Hi K., This may be a duplicate because I thought I sent it earlier.

My daughter was also a chewer although it wasn't centered around her bed. You are very right to be concerned about her choking and I wouldn't wait to let her just grow out of it. I do know that some kids are more orally focused even to a later stage in life. My daughter at 14 or so still had pen caps or bits of plastic mulling around her mouth. Surprisingly she is not a gum chewer. I do believe it is behavioral and this focus on her bed items is unusual enough to talk to a child therapist that has experience with early childhood development.

My daughter is now 16 and has braces. She takes the rules about braces seriously and I think this has helped and may move her finally past this need for oral gratification. Children are all so different and one of best tools we have as parents is to follow our gut feeling.

You are doing the right thing by reaching out. Keep going until there is an explanation and solution. Keep going and demanding help until you can sleep at night in peace. Lastly keep being that caring mommy who will fight hard to do what is right for her child.

Best of luck,
H.

Hi K.. This is something I have never heard of but you are right to take stuff out of her crib. You did not mention her age. I would check in once in a while to see that she has not torn up anything. She needs a blanket in the winter so you can't really take that away. I will pray that this is a passing behavior. Grandma Mary

How old is she... Do you have a video monitor?? Always trust your gut feeling. I would worry as well. I would talk to another medical professional in regards to modifying her behavior if you think it is more than natural. Let me know how old your daughter is and I know a facility in Mineola that may help.

My son as a baby ate his fuzzy chair and some some stuffed animals. He was checked with a blood test for a vitamin deficiency. He did not have one and did eventually stop fuzz eating. That was my experience. Hope all works out for you.