Need Help with 1 Yr Old Gagging Himself on Purpose for Attention

I am in the same boat as you. She likes to do it while eating as well. It drives me crazy. I have tried to ignore it and sometime's that helps, and other times it encourages it. She also caughs for attention. I think it is a stage. I know sometimes her hands are in there and she is sucking, so I am sure it is teething and a new experinece. If I think of anything that works, I will let you know. Right now I live with it and see what happens. Just wanted you to know you are not alone.

Start socializing your son with children his own age...sign him up for swimming lessons and other activities at his age level. Also spend special quality alone time with him...doing fun creative things he will enjoy. Let him know he's loved and an important part of the family unity will change this negetive behavior.

You may not agree but my daughter did that as well and I spanked her. Since he is one I would say 1 swat on the diapered rear should work when he tried it. You can use your hand or a spoon. Also when he does it say NO! IF he still consistently does it you might have to take off the diaper and do a swat on the butt. Then you could use a chopstick so it just hurts a little bit. He should get the message. That you aren't putting up with it. He is one and knows that he is doing something wrong since he laughs. You aren't being a bad parent by spanking. children have to learn that there are serious consequences for their actions or they will go through life thinking they can sail through everything with just a "time out". My opinion, you can take it or leave it.

God bless!

My parent's tell me all the time that I did this as a young child. I was about 15 months when I started. If I didn't get my way.. I would put my hand in my mouth.. gag.. and then throw up. If they didn't hold me or rock me.. I would do it again. My parent's were at wits end.. until someone suggested a water gun or spray bottle. Sounds crazy.. but as soon as I would start to gag.. they would spray me.. and low and behold.. i would look shocked.. and stop.. they would then walk away.. if I was in the crib.. they would shut the door walk away... within a few days I stopped... They say this also works when a child is screaming and won't stop... go figure... good luck...

Our son did the same thing and it was disgusting! It also sounds like your little guy is strong willed like our son. We tried a ton of things and it the end the only thing that worked was ignoring him and not cleaning him up or his car seat or crib. He didn't really care what kind of attention he was getting as long as it was attention. He loved us pulling the car over, changing him into new clothes, cleaning the seat etc. or doing the same for his crib. It was like a 45 min ordeal each time which was like the jack pot for attention for him. I mean when we were ignoring it I would change him and his sheets after the nap or clean the car seat when the trip was over. But he was super stubborn. It took about a week and half which seemed like an eternity! Good luck!

my mom said i used to do that...she let me wallow in it once. i never did it again.

I'd ignore him..but still watch to make sure something worse doesn't happen.

My daughter coughs to get attention. She figured out that if she coughs real loud and often, I'll come running to see if she's okay. She giggles when I do.

Don't know what to tell you.

Hi M.,
My 13 month old has done the same for months now. He surprised himself once by throwing up, but I'm not quite sure he associated it with the gagging. It is an attention thing and at the same time, he starts it when he is teething. So I don't pay attention to it anymore, except to get him a dose of Tylenol in the next few minutes. I do try to distract him at times, but not in direct response to the gagging. He doesn't do it as often now. Believe it or not, some kids don't mind that sensation - it's learning a new response their body has - they have a limited amount of control over it. So that makes it interesting far above and beyond losing all the precious food (and the time it takes to ingest!) that they had for lunch (time and money really having no value except when needs aren't met NOW! :) and interesting, when left alone, is what a little boy looks for.

Try a toy from a different room (moving it into his line-of-sight, not brandishing it for him to notice) or a game with the 3 year old that the 1 year old can join in (like singing a song, or This little piggy, or old macdonald or Bingo or...)

Good Luck!
M.