When do toddlers stop mouthing or eating everything (non-food)?!

[AndiE]

DS1 will be two next month and he eats or mouths EVERYTHING! Mainly, though not limited to, books, some toys, crayons and textas (colouring-in requires close supervision!), even the occasional T-shirt he's wearing!

I know that this is fairly normal behaviour for young toddlers ... but when does it stop?? (A) It's driving me nuts and (B) I'm getting jack of following through on threats to remove the item he's eating/mouthing and/or biting.

[Mad Scientist]

I found that DD1 would chew more things when she was teething, but she didn't bite everything. Just random things, like her dvd cases (which we had to pack away) or the remote. But it definitely coincided with teeth coming through. She stopped mouthing EVERYTHING at about 12 months.....maybe it's his teeth?? Sorry I'm not much help :s

[~Kim~]

I think some kids are just tactile like that. That's the way they best explore their world.
My DD is 4 in May and often (like 10-20 times a day) I still have to say to her, "that doesn't go in your mouth".
Though other kids (like my DS) grow out of it quite quickly.

[CrazyLady]

lol, sorry but i remember eating dog food at 4..... was the little crunchy ones, not tinned

do kids ever stop trying to sample stuff?

[BhoysGirl]

Oh, I hear you. No advice unfortunately, cos I basically have to do the same - remove the item....and then the next item...and the next one.

[bon]

My DD is 3 and still puts anything and everything in her mouth. It can get very frustrating, but she will grow out of it eventually.

[AndiE]

Sheesh ... so I may have another couple of years of this ! At this rate the kid is going to find himself without any crayons, books and/or toys. They'll have either been confiscated or eaten

CrazyLady ... OMG, you made me realise I'd fogotten to add dog food to the list of what he will happily shove in his mouth, it's high on the list if he finds half a chance to get to it. I often wonder why he'll happily eat dry dog food when he turns down the food I've "slaved" hours in the kitchen to make ... little bugger

As for teeth, it's possible. He was a late teether, didn't start teething till he was around 12 months ... so he's a bit behind most kids. Definitely a thought ...

Thanks for the thoughts all.

[kelebek]

DS is putting everything into his mouth at the moment and he seems to be getting more teeth (he only recently got 3) that it settles soon for you