moms, a question

hmonkey · October 2010

at what age does everything stop going into the child's mouth?

we will have a 2 1/2 yo in the apt, and we don't know what kind of childproofing we will need to do. any suggestions?

specifically, we need to know if we need to remove all our magnets. dh and i use those tiny rare earth magnets, and we have about two dozen of them.

DG1 · October 2010

I would remove the magnets. Not that the kid will necessarily put them in his mouth, but if he does it can be hugely tragic - perforated bowel and all that.

My 2yo is mostly over putting things in his mouth, but he can't really resist a nibble on the play doh sometimes. I would not leave strong magnets anywhere he could get hold of them.

nicoleg1982 · October 2010

Agreed. Anything small, I'd move up. Esp. magnets. Just stick them to the side of the fridge for the time being.

Heffalump · October 2010

I would definitely get rid of the magnets, but that's partially because I am disproportionately paranoid about them. We have them too and now they're all lined up along the top of the fridge door, just in case DD might wake up 5'6" tall tomorrow. The whole thing about intestinal blockage and surgery scared me witless.

As for the rest, I thought we were getting to the end of that stage, but no. DD has stopped inidscriminately stuffing things in her mouth, in favor of sticking things that she finds interesting in her mouth. My siggy was snapped in between bouts of wrangling playground mulch out of her mouth. She thought it was a game. But she's more than a year younger than your guest, so maybe he's past all that.

AuntFlo · October 2010

Our little one hasn't ever been one to put things in her mouth.
Honestly, the only childproofing we've done is the outlet covers and a gate at the top of the stairs. She has learned to not touch certain things, don't get into certain cabinets, etc.
We will be doing some major childproofing in her bedroom pretty soon since she'll be moving into a toddler bed. But any where else she is in the house, we are near enough that we always know what she's doing.
As far as the magnets go, I would just make sure they are up high, out of their reach.

AuntFlo · October 2010

Der! I can't read. My response was based on childproofing your house for your own child, not a guest. Since this child isn't yours, it's hard to predict what they'll get into. Basically, put everything up that you can.

*Barbie* · October 2010

Nephew is 2.5 and destructive, niece is 2 and behaves pretty well.

It depends on how much the parents are watching the kids and how well behaved they are, in general.

If you have the opportunity, get anything breakable or small enough to be shoved in a nose/mouth out of reach. (Either that or be prepared to watch the kid like a hawk.)

Nephew was over when we were getting ready to move, and the house was a mess. SIL wasn't watching him, so I did - I didn't want him to break anything.

DK had to go to the Dr./Hospital ( don't remember which) when he was a kid because he shoved corn (or peas) up his nose. I have another friend (who is a MD now) that did the same thing. I don't know how old they were, but I'm betting it was older than 2.5 - they both had the thought that if they shoved the veggies up their nose, their parents would think that they ate them.

mrsconn23 · October 2010

Hmmm...I had nephew (almost 3) this weekend and he didn't put anything in his mouth except for food.

I would put up everything just in case though. Especially anything breakable/valuable. Again, nephew has been taught well not to touch things at home and at anyone else's house, but you never know what other people's children have or have not been taught.

NOLABridesmaid · October 2010

I think some kids are more busy, than others. I agree about removing the magnets or putting them very high.

6fsn · October 2010

They are probably over the mouth stage, but I'd rather be safe with magnets and put those up. Anything else breakable or valuable should probably go away too.

DG1 · October 2010

Some kids just put things in their mouths. Others don't.

When Dex was really little (like 8m?) we said something to SIL about having to put everything out of reach so he didn't try to eat it. She looked at us like we were aliens, because her daughter had never even tried to put stuff in her mouth.

Babies and toddlers aren't exactly the best at remembering all of the rules, even if they are fully aware of them.