Help me stop her!

[YoYo]

DD's comfort 'item' is none other than my elbow.

She fondles it, pinches it, rubs it in her fingers and sometimes rubs her face on it.... And I'm OVER IT!

I'm tired of her obsessively grabbing my arm to put it in a comfy elbow fondling position, tired of her grabbing it when I'm trying to walk, tired of her shoving her hand up my sleeve trying to get up there! Help!!

How can I stop her comfort item being a part of me?? Who am I kidding, she doesn't just do it to me, but also my mum and MIL!

I've given her other things to touch. Not good enough. I'm pretty close to needing to buy a prosthetic elbow!

Waaaaaaaaaa!!

[Olive]

I'd make it less comforting for her, wrap it in a bandage or pop on some sports tape

[peanutter]

Can you get a prosthetic elbow? Or a toy banana or snake or something comparable?

How does she react if you say something like, "please stop, I don't like that"?

[YoYo]

How funny. My elbow compares to a banana or rubber snake lol! Good ideas Peantter!

She hates me telling her to stop. I tell her to be gentle (if she pinches) which she does, but she's like a psycho for it!

[peanutter]

How funny. My elbow compares to a banana or rubber snake lol!

Yes, because your elbow is clearly yellow, and has a forked tongue.


Thinking a little more laterally, plenty of parents facilitate their kids in "trading" their dummy / blankie / etc for a particularly desired thing. Any options there?

[Arimeh]

I would just be consistent and tell her that she can't do it any more. So instead of letting her do it until she pinches or whatever, just don't let it be done whatsoever.

Maybe get her to pick out a new teddy or something that she can play with its elbow instead? lol

[lilima]

My friend has the same issue with a raised freckle on her thumb. Her son uses it as a comfort. She just had to make him go cold turkey. He is about the same age as your DD.

[YoYo]

I'm not sure I've found a toy whose elbow replicates mine Arimeh! That lovely skin just sliding around on the bone!! Creepy child

I think I will be a bit harder on it though, taping them up is a good idea too.

lilima - hope your friends son gets over the freckle soon too

Ok, now I'm kind of giggling at this whole elbow thing

[peanutter]

a couple of juggling balls in a tied up knee high stocking/sock?

[JLeigh29]

A friends DS was obsessed with her ear. She actually ended up buying a fake ear from a dress up shop, lol! Don't think it worked though. Can't remember if they went cold turkey or if he just grew out of it when he started kindy.....

[MrsFabuloso]

Gosh, it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one....DS2 is obsessed with a raised mole I have near my boob. When he was breastfeeding he used to fondle it (for lack of a better term!) and now it's his comfort to go to sleep and when he's upset or tired. I am getting over it rather quickly. WHne I pick him up his hand automatically goes into my shirt.

[wysiwyg]

My DD is a bit like that with my boobs - or the top of them (the area that is above a v necked top in summer) - is automatic almost if she is sat on my lap for her to put hand there. She has tried it on my mum, and also a couple of other close friends (I suppose is nice she feels that comfortable with them!). For her is associated with thumb sucking - so am working on that because she will stop if asked but it happens before she thinks. DS does it too :-( but he is littler so not so bothered.

[boomba]

Hugs babe.

Ds2 still touches my boobs.... All the time. Plus he will hold my face in his hands while he sleeps. He also plays with my armpit. Lol. I have tried everything and he still does it so. I just try to distract him lol

[2CheekyMonkeys]

I had the same problem but it was my boob too!! Just be consistent. Who am I kidding, my. Dd is 4 and she still goes in for a feel if she's tired or hurt herself!!

[PumpkinZulu]

DD1 obsessively sucks on our hair to get to sleep, that's her comfort thing. I find it disgusting and want to just go cold turkey too. Kids are so weird!

[Jennifer13]

DD1 insisted on touching the mole on my tummy to go to sleep. It stopped when she stopped bfing to sleep.

As much as I disliked it, I kept telling myself it was a good thing that she associated me with comfort and didn't rely on something inanimate that could get lost or required washing. Lol

Good thing was, when she did stop, she had no issues at all and has since always settled herself without needing anything else.

[Arcadia]

Dd loved the moles on my neck. Gross. I couldn't stand longer than a few minutes of the stroking and picking. Ds twiddles my nipples. Double gross. I've never really let him do it, so the comfort is almost him fighting me to get into my top lol. Urgh!

[YoYo]

Wow! I'm so glad I'm not the only one.

I know she'll probably grow out of it soon but I just find it so irritating! It used to be cute when she called it my 'belbow'

There's a market out there for strange prosthetics for kids. Ears, moles, nipples, skin on bony elbows, freckles.

I'm going to cover them up and see what happens.