The Mouth Seeks Calm
Occupational therapy research points to the jaw as one of the body's richest sources of deep-pressure input, which is why chewing can help a child feel calm and organized (child development research). That shirt collar in their mouth isn't defiance or a bad habit — it's their body reaching for the fastest tool it has to find their calm.
Try this
Offer a Chew Swap
Try keeping a chewy snack — a bagel, dried fruit, crunchy veggie — or a designated chew necklace nearby during the moments you notice the shirt going in. You're not stopping the seeking, just giving it somewhere safe to land.
Notice the Trigger Moment
Some families find the chewing spikes right before transitions, during homework, or in loud rooms — a clue about what's actually demanding the regulation.
So the real question becomes: what's happening right before the chewing starts for your child?
What's happening right before the chewing starts for your child?
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