KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Recently my 4yr old son keeps putting his fingers into his mouth. i do not know why is his doing this. Initally i thought he might have copied this from someone in school(he is attending fullday CC) but even his teachers asked me why does he keeps putting his fingers in his mouth?!

I asked him why he keeps putting his fingers in his mouth, he doesnt answer me. so whenever i saw him put his finger inside his mouth i will tell him to take out his fingers from his mouth. he will take out his finger but after 5mins he will put his fingers into his mouth again. from what we observed, he will put his fingers inside his mouth & kept touching his tongue, he's not sucking his fingers but he is sort of like playing or touching his tongue for fun & then his hand is full of saliva(sorry,i know is gross). only after awhile, he will tell me he wants to wash his hands cos is dirty. but after washing his hands, he will still continue this behaviour.

Can anyone pls tell me what should i do to help my son stop this behaviour? i don't want him to keep putting fingers in his mouth cos very easily spread disease especially hfmd... please advise....

My gal had HFMD before so each time she puts her hands near her mouth, I would remind her about the ulcers... that is enough to get her off that bad habit. Some pple also suggest rubbing the fingers with lime peel. The bitter taste will prevent finger sucking. It is a self-exploratory phase.

my son also had hfmd before, in fact twice. but that still doesn't stop him from putting his fingers in his mouth.

mummyJune wrote:my son also had hfmd before, in fact twice. but that still doesn't stop him from putting his fingers in his mouth.

Have you tried showing him pictures of germs (the big blown-up kind with scary faces) and how they can infect? You can also try a reward chart system.