my son makes himself sick!

Sandra - posted 8 hours ago

My 14m old does this sometimes. The more I tell him to stop, he more he does it. I find that if I just get him to focus his attention on something else, that usually works.

Ania - posted on 09/26/2012

On a different note, my son had very tormenting experience at school where a Grade 5 put a screwdiver to his neck from behind due to loosing a race he said he would get him and he did after school on school grounds but he has not been the same since, He is in Grade 3, got his swimming colours which allowed him to get a blazer and scroll but now he wont wear it and he keeps getting ill, coughing his lungs out, chest sounds terrible, always with an earache to not go to school. Is it possible that he is doing this to himself as he is tormented?

Toni - posted on 04/23/2010

Tricia Kennedy, i dont think there is much the doctors can do about it but it is worth a try. i just asked older parents and one suggested putting soap on their fingers so i tried it and my daughter now doesnt put her fingers down her throat it is a horrible thing to do i know but i was concerned of her health and well being, i wasnt near her regular gp. you can give it a try if you like but it would also help getting some medical advice to put your mind at ease.

hope everything works out for you as it did for me.

Tricia - posted on 04/23/2010

My son does this too, I don't know if it's for attention or not. When he was a baby he had reflux and I thought he done it to relieve the heartburn he was experiencing, as he started this at a very young age. He continues to do it..I meant to ask the doctor but keep forgetting! I hope someone gets an answer and posts it. It is very discouraging..especially after a meal. lol

Toni - posted on 04/21/2010

my daughter does it aswell, but she would also stick her spoon and fork down her throat when ever she was eating, so what i did when i notice that she was using her fingers aswell i would take them out tap her hand and say no, she still didnt want to respond to that so eventually i was told to try rubbing soap on her fingers and it worked she doesnt do it any more, i know it was horrible but i was told by older mothers that if she continued to do it, it could turn into a real health concern.

Ashlee - posted on 04/21/2010

My 16 month old daughter does the exact same thing! I should have come here sooner. I believe my daughter does it for the attention when she doesn't want to go down for a nap. It has gone on for almost 5 months now but the last time she did it I did not go in and get her and clean it up. I let her cry it out and deal with it until she woke up. She has never done it since.

Cara - posted on 04/20/2010

yeah my son does it...he laughs when he does it which is weird=) iv told my friends n family to stop laughing at him n not to look at him (unless he needs help of course) . he hasnt done it for a few days now which is good!!!

Jill - posted on 04/19/2010

My son did this too, for a few days, until he made himself throw up. He hasn't done it since, so hopefully it stops soon for you too! Good luck!

Carolien - posted on 04/19/2010

jes, but i speak dutch so i'm going to tell you as much as i can, jes it can be attention or pain from teeth.. just give him his pacifier or say to him (NO!! thats bad or ieeuww , jakkii.. ) I hope i helped a little my son is also 16months

Sarah - posted on 04/19/2010

I don't really know what to tell you. As for doing it for attention, I don't really think that children at 16 months old are developmentally able to understand cause and affect, and deduce and plan that this is a good way to get attention. Is he really so starved for attention that he has to resort to this? I certainly hope not. It's probably simpler, such as that he is experimenting with what his body does, or else it feels good in some way. And see Angela's post--it was because the child was touching a molar that was coming in.

But what you need to know is how to get him to stop. Have you asked your pediatrician? I wonder what a doctor would say.

Tina - posted on 04/18/2010

Hi Joanne. This is Tina. My son Cooper does the same thing too. My experience with this to distract him with a toy or sing a song. Do anything you can to take his mind off of what he is doing. As I have observed Cooper when he does this, I learned that the more I make a fuss over him the more he does it, which is not what you want to do. Cooper about four months ago gaged himself until he threw up. I let him sit there for a moment because I was not able to get him at the time. i was doing dishes. After I finished I cleaned him up and I have not seen him do it since. I did not spank him or holler or fuss at him. I acted like I did not know that anything had happened. He does it from time to time but just to see if i am watching him. I give him my mommy stare and he stops and grins at me. then we quack like ducks and sing. That has been my experience. Let me know how it turns out

Gloria - posted on 04/18/2010

2 things 1.>Teething happens a couple of times during early baby year!Symptoms fever once a week if had.unless un treated.YEs it is natural but there is a difference between gaging themslvs for attention 75% of belief(.24%+me1%=25% no belief in that/ not wanting to do anything about it just analize see if there is something up with it.I recommend teething phase 1my daughters 3months/5months teeth already out,BEEF JERKY the little round circle .25c at the little cornerstores.PERFECT!!!!Even better soulution( when they have the fever DOCTORS-recommend Twin popsicles.!!!!!!

Vicky - posted on 04/17/2010

Has anyone bothered to suggest that you maybe change your routine with your son. Try getting some more one on one time with him or just more playtime altogether. Sounds like he's wanting a little extra TLC. Does he go to daycare? Could there maybe be an outside source that is causing him to be self destructive?

Carole - posted on 04/16/2010

its a phase.. ignore it. he will stop, if it gets bad, he will throw up and not ike it and stop.. or he will stop when you dont react.

Rebecca - posted on 04/16/2010

wow! haha... I thought I was going crazy b/c our son has been doing the same thing. I don't think it's for attention but yes it's definitely no bueno. Hopefully it'll stop soon. I think you're right about the teeth. I think it has to do w/ his molars coming in.

Vanessa - posted on 04/16/2010

My daughter did it for a short while but we just ignored it and then she stopped. I was worried but think it was just attention seeking

Heather - posted on 04/16/2010

My son started doing this about a month ago. I don't think he does it for attention, I think hes just curious. Children at this age are just beginning to understand their bodies, part of it may be that they are just figuring out how things work. Especially since children this age are very oral anyway. When my son would do this he never made himself throw-up, just gag. I would tell him, "No. That will hurt you." and take his fingers out of his mouth and give him something to chew on, like a pacifier, or teething biscuit. He stopped gagging himself after a week or so.

Paula - posted on 04/15/2010

Hi Joanne,
I guess it's probably hard so say why he's doing it, especially if it's something new. Maybe check his mouth to see if there is a problem, maybe he has a mouth sore, inflamed gums or something's bothering him. If there isnt anything obvious, and you think it may be associated with attention seeking, I guess the best thing to do is get him to clean or help clean up his mess and dont mention it. The more you tell him not to do it, or the more he sees it bothers you, the more he'll do it (thats assuming he's anything like my kids). He is only 16 months, so it can be hard to get the msg through, but best way is to ignore any behaviour you dont like and go over the top praising the behaviour you do like. Hope this helps.

Danon - posted on 04/15/2010

My daughter does the same thing. I just give her a stern, disapproving "No ma'am." And she stops. Though initially I had to pop her hand.

Audra - posted on 04/15/2010

my son just started doing this like 3 days ago i think he is just doing it because he just realized he can he hasn't done it since that day

Ivette - posted on 04/14/2010

MY DAUGHTER IS 15 MONTH AND IS DOINT IT SINCE NOVEMBER WHEN I WENT BACK TO WORK BEFORE BED TIME SO IS DEFINITELY ASKING FOR ATTENTION.

Dawn - posted on 04/14/2010

I have twin girls that will be sixteen months this month, I have been having one of them doing that since january. I haven't figured out how to make it stop so if you hear of a way let me know. I just kind of pull her hand out and tell her no sometimes it works and other times it doesn't

Tia - posted on 04/14/2010

The only time my daughter does it is when she wakes up in the cot, and she does it on purpose coz she knows she will get attention. I just usually take her hand out and tap it

Nicole - posted on 04/14/2010

I agree with Amany but also my daughter likes textures too, so its about learning.

Amany - posted on 04/14/2010

i don't think he is doing that for attention , my daughter does the same..i read about the oral phase toddlers go through , i think that is what it is , also they want to explore new things by putting things in their mouth
or it can be just their teeth ..my advice is to take their fingers gently because fighting over control will just reinforce that habit .it will most likely vanish soon

Jessica - posted on 04/14/2010

My son is 15 1/2 mths and he does the same thing. All kids do it my daughter did it when she was smaller. It will pass. All I do is tell him no and take his hand out of his mouth.

Nicole - posted on 04/13/2010

My daughter started gaging herself for attention as well. I just ignored her and she stopped within a few days. Hope that helps.

Jessica - posted on 04/13/2010

Don't worry he will stop eventually, my daughter use to do the same thing, but she stop they are doing it for attention. I just kept telling her not to do it and finally she gave in. and when he does it ignore him.

Kirsty - posted on 04/13/2010

My 16 month old daughter has been doing the same thing for the past couple of weeks but she is cutting her back teeth and the same as Ashley, I think she is doing this accidently. As soon as I see her putting her fingers in her mouth I tell her no and take them out. I give her a teether to bite on instead.

Ashley - posted on 04/11/2010

My son is also 16 months and I've noticed that he has just started doing this. I think it has something to do with him cutting his back teeth and he just does it on accident. But he just gags himself, he hasnt actually made himself sick yet.

Sherre - posted on 04/11/2010

It's completely normal. My son does it too and it's annoying. I tell him,"no." And if he continues to do it, I take his fingers out of his mouth and tap his hand.

Angela - posted on 04/11/2010

My nephew does that for attention and to try to get what he wants instead of what he has. My brother has started to make him clean it up. He is a little older though. My little one was doing that for a while, but I figured out that it was because he was cutting a molar and sticking his fingers too far back in his mouth. Once the molar came through, the self induced vomit fest stopped.