Chewing with mouth CLOSED!

[Harmoni]

Hi Girls!
I'am looking for some advice on how to get one of my dcb's to chew with his mouth closed! It has been nearly two years since he has been coming to my house and is now 5yrs old. Everyday I sound like a broken record and meal times are a disaster as the other kids have picked up my pet peeve. :o I'am starting to think he does it just to be disruptive, he also seems to have issues keeping his feet and arms to himself at the picnic table. The only thing that doesn't put him eating by himself is the smacking sounds! :rolleyes: If anyone has any little tricks to offer would be great!!! :D

[JennJubie]

So he's fidgety? You could always try sitting him on a wiggle seat. As far as being rude and chewing with his mouth open, if he doesn't follow the rules of the table he doesn't get to sit and finish his meal, (if you really do believe he is doing it on purpose)

[Momof4]

I had a little boy like that and I was always asking him to close his lips and try to eat quietly. I asked his Mom if it bothered her at all and she told me it didn't because his Dad eats the same way. Okey, dokey then!!! But I couldn't eat at the table or stand to listen to it so I think that's why I got into the habit of reading stories and singing songs and kind of doing part of my circle time while they ate. I eat my lunch after they are all tucked into bed. It Is So GROSS!

[mlle.coccinelle]

AHAHAH! I totally agree with Momof4! I have the same problem with one of my girls... ( the famous 3,5 girl) and it drives me NUTS! It seams like she is physicaly unable to eat with her mouth close, so, now i sing and talk and I eat in silence when they are down for their nap ( and I enjoy my food SO much more! ;) )

[Mamma_Mia]

Hearing anyone's lip smack via foor or gum literally sends chills up my spine. It's my biggest peeve!! DH chews with his mouth closed but ie. w/ chips has to chruch it loudly then chew....I give him a glare each time..he stops. I can't STAND it. I'll move to another table in a restaurant if someone near is smacking.

I tell them to eat quietly or they have to leave. I don't care if it's "allowed" at home....its not here!

[Momof4]

Haha, MammaMia, you're tough! Do they actually stop? I would have liked to see you make my lip smacking boy stop. I mean, I tried and tried before I finally gave up because his Mom didn't see any problem with it.

But I think it's part of my job to teach the children good habits so that they will be rid of the problems for the rest of their lives, you know? Yeesh! Right now I have an almost 2 year old sweetie who has started humming while she chews. I'm afraid it's because I sing songs to them a lot while they eat and now I have to stop because it's getting to be quite a habit for her. Now I have to say that we'll sing after lunch. It never ends with the problems, I tell ya!!!!!

But the lipsmacking boy has graduated so now I'm able to eat my lunch with the children again and I'm trying to get back into that habit over the past few months and then we can have our full circle time right after lunch again.

[Harmoni]

Wow! I'am sure happy to hear that I'am not the only one who that drives crazy! Haha Mamma_Mia, what is it about chips?? I know so many people that do the too, grrrrrr!!! I feel that we need this lip smacking to stop NOW before he grows up and drives his wife nuts! :laugh: Anyways, maybe I'll just have to get stronger and divide the lunch up?? Because I know I don't like to eat listening to that (just gives me the heebie jeebies) and some of the kids are in the same boat! As for the "wiggle seat" hmmm, not sure what that is so will have to google it! Thanks for sharing!

[JennJubie]

You can find the wiggle seats on amazon, (they're called balance discs on there), http://www.amazon.ca/Fit-Balance-Training-Disc-Pump/dp/B001181P8G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353934224&sr=8-1

I have one for my son, and it helps greatly at meal time.

[Mamma_Mia]

I mean, I tried and tried before I finally gave up because his Mom didn't see any problem with it.

That's why IMO it didn't work...if mom was on the same page as you then I think it would have made a difference. My sil has said before "it doesn't bother me" and my reply is...."wether it bothers you or not isn't the issue. It's about proper manners we are teaching our children to use. Would you let him pick his nose all day? No because it's poor manners, just like "farting" and burping and LIP SMACKING".

[Kellybelly83]

I realize this thread is old, but I had to post this link here. I really dsi
Like lip smacking and repetitive noises, but it doesn't usually make me angry, thank goodness! It doesn't surprise me that it's an actual disorder....

My new Dayhome boy chews with his mouth open.... It's a work in progress lol!

http://www.thekitchn.com/misophonia-the-unbearable-loud-155746

[ebhappydc]

Could a child's open mouth eating be due to adenoids or nasal issues? My son had his adenoids removed which solved also open mouth sleeping. My hubby can't breathe and eat at same time (nasal septum issues). Sometimes they just can't help it.

[Kellybelly83]

Oh for sure, lots of kids have that issue (I was one of them :) )

[fivelittleones]

EEEEK!! Luckily, I have no children with this issue and God help me if I did because it's my ULTIMATE pet peeve. My daughter chews gum from time to time and if I hear her chew with her mouth open even for a brief second I shoot her a look and she knows to chew with her mouth closed. I think it becomes a habit and I don't think it helps when the parents do it at the dinner table or when it doesn't bother them.

I would have a conversation about manners at the table or manners when eating. That it's not polite to show your food being chewed and when you chew with your mouth open everyone can see your chewed up food. For me, I would correct it just like you correct other behaviours like taking toys or pushing. Maybe turn his chair around when he does it until he realizes it's not going to be accepted.

Usually if it is a medical issue, you will hear a lot of breathing while eating almost like when we have a stuffy nose and can't taste our food then children are more likely to eat with their mouth open.