DD is putting EVERYTHING in her mouth

[ribbit1019]

Should I worry? She has gone from next to nothing going into her mouth to the last two weeks everything goes into her mouth. I don't understand. She is looking for things to put into her mouth. While I was downstairs washing diapers, she disassembled a toy and put a freaking Battery (!!!!) in her mouth. Aside from removing everything within reach (first and foremost any toys that don't have the screwed in battery compartments) I don't know what to do.

Redirection doesn't work because whatever I redirect her to, she puts in her mouth. Timeouts are wasted on her for the most part. Is this toddler teething and I missed the memo? She isn't chewing on anything but straws. I am so confused.

Christy
My Waterbabies
Maddy 6/9/04
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& Jarred 3/8/06, 11 lb 14.5 oz 24" @ 6 wks, a happily breastfed babe.
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[mommyoftwo]

Christy,

It sounds like she might be teething. Amelia has been doing this a lot lately. She has even started chewing on her teethers from when she was a baby. She is chewing on everything including her hands. Maddy is probably getting molars and the chewing helps with the discomfort. I wouldn't worry about it unless she is chewing on something dangerous of course. It's normal behavior for a toddler while teething. She's probably working on her two year molars.

[jhaud]

can i say i'm jealous??!? my 21 mo old has been putting everything in her mouth since... she could i guess! she loves to taste nature... and i finally gave that battle up. but as long as i don't think it will hurt her or that she'll choke on it, i've relaxed about it. (dirt just helps them be healthy ... right??!?) at this age, she has had maybe 2 colds and that's it for my 36 week gestation baby!

it'll be okay, but definately take the batteries away! :)

[MarisaSF]

Ugh! I'm so with you, Christy!
DD put a lot in her mouth around (what was it?) 5 months or so. That was the way she explored things.
Now (21 months) it seems like she does it just to see my reaction -- shells, pennies, packing peanuts -- that was just today. She is still getting teeth, but she's doing this as some (sick!) game. Rrrrrgh.
I could use any advice too.
MIL reassures me by reminding me that she found DH (once) with chards of broken glass that he found on the street and (another time) with old gum he found stuck under a table in his mouth when he was a toddler.

[jhaud]

our sidewalk chalk has bite marks ;)

[Moneypenny]

Oh, DD is doing this, too! She was never very oral as a baby and now at 21 months she just wants to lick everything. When I tell her it can't go in her mouth she pretends to lick it. She was even trying to lick my feet last night. Ugh. I haven't found anything that works to squelch it so I'm just putting on my blinders and muttering "It's a phase...it's a phase...it's a phase..."

Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
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