Sooooo Gross!! 2.5 dcb won't stop licking things!!

Bah!! I need help stopping this disgusting habit of my 2.5 dcb.
He licks EVERYTHING!!! He licks my windows, my tables, my tortoise tank and who knows what else I haven't seen. He sucks on my stuffies and even takes his socks off and sucks on those!! He has even licked the other kids if they get too close to him!! So flipping grose!! He's been with me for 7 months now and I have tried everything. I've tried saying 'no licking' in a nice voice, stern voice, mean voice. I take the toys away from him that he licks or mouths and that doesn't phase him. I've tapped on his mouth and say 'no licking' in all types of voices and he has even tried licking me!! :woot: I've tried time outs and have even had him watch me sanitize the area that he's licked with the cleaner and paper towel and still nothing.
The boy is behind a little bit developmentally because he had some hearing problems when he was younger but he understands directions very well so I'm not sure what else to do. Next month I think he is going to see a specialist to find out if there are any underlying issues but until then I need some help because this is sooooooo gross and it's also not sanitary for the other kids obviously.
Blech! (Not to mention I am totally heebie jeebied out by other peoples saliva. So that doesn't help matters much either). Thanks in advance

Are there any other unusual or repetitive behaviours that this little guy has ? Sometimes these things can be hallmarks of other conditions. i.e. Autism, etc.

Sorry - I clicked on the post option before I finished my thought - end of the day brain. LOL I don't know if he would take a soother at his age, but I did that with one of my little daycare munchkins who was very "oral" - she couldn't put anything in since her mouth was already blocked. =)

You know when you go to the drs and at the reception desk they have the face masks for those that have coughs ??? Get some of those and put it on him and then he will only be able to lick the inside of the mask

I had a little boy start with me last summer and his Mom told me he did this all the time at home. He only did it here a few times when he got really upset. For some reason it comforted him. One time at the playground he hurt his lip and the first thing he did was run and start licking the climbing pole - a billion germs with one lick! Ewwww!

Anyway, this is the way I saw it. Why, oh why didn't the parents tell the child it was unacceptable and stop the habit? My dcboy stopped because I explained to him every time he put his tongue on a wall that it was yucky and he would get sick and I saw him heading off to do it and stopped him. He was a very oral child, still on the soother 24/7 until he came here and putting everything in his mouth. I'm also diligent about telling children NOT IN YOUR MOUTH over and over until they stop.

Patience, patience and more patience and repeating yourself over and over until it works is all you can do. But it does work. One day you will realize you didn't have to say it! And for heaven sake ask the parents to do the same!

I"m sorry, but for some reason this one made me laugh. It would drive me nuts FOR SURE, but reading it seemed funny. Maybe I'm tired! :p I also like Crayola's advice...made me laugh even more!

I have no real advice, I"m just amused. I should really go make myself a coffee! I would ignore in the sense of not saying anything, just taking away everything he licks. Pretty soon it'll suck to lose what he wanted to play with (or lick!) Maybe he was a dog in his past life!

bahahaha at gjc ....a dog !!!!! now that made me laugh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gcj

............ Maybe he was a dog in his past life!

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:laugh: Ok, that's funny!