Licking his lips...

The boys were sick mid November with one heck of a runny nose/coughing cold. Colton started constantly licking his bottom lip (along with the area underneath) b/c it was chapped. Now it has become a full blown habit. He does it all the time, to the point where it is always red and irritated looking. I tried putting Carmex on it, hoping he would hate the taste and stop... but it didn't seem to bother him. I know he started it b/c of being sick, but I KNOW that it has become a bad habit now. Do I tell him to stop? Ignore it? Any other advice?

 

Maybe you could try other lip balms until you find something he really hates? Also, at his age you could try asking him not to do it - depending what kind of kid he is, it just might work (it would for my DD, but not DS). But if that doesn't work, probably ignoring it is the only way to go.

 

Put lanolin on it (Lansinoh, the stuff breastfeeding moms use -- but the generic version is much cheaper and just fine) -- it's thick and sticky enough that it will stay put even if he licks. And, it's safe for him to ingest -- plus it will help the irritation!

Nadia went through a phase where she was chewing on her bottom lip and making it bleed, and we talked about it being a bad habit (she was about 3.5) -- but, it passed after a month or two.

 

DS did this and it went on so long we had to go to a dermatologist. The ped had told us to put diaper cream on it - what a mess! Got everywhere and didn't stop the problem. My dad still has a shirt with a grease stain on it from a kiss DS gave him with his "white" lips. The derm gave us some cream called Tetrix, I think, that was thick enough to protect it. Once the irritation finally healed, he grew out of the habit. But it was tough to find the right cream, went on for several months! Just telling him to stop didn't work, he was doing it unconsciously and couldn't control that. He was a little older than your son when we went through that. Now everyone has a designated chapstick, ID'd by stickers, and I'm pretty good about remembering to use it at night before they get into bed. Has helped stop the chapped lips from becoming a problem again, knock on wood!

 

My son was doing it and for some reason, he's stopped. Put aquaphor on it at night after he's asleep or the lanolin would be GREAT!!! :hug:

One of our friends DD's is doing it SO bad that she looks like she has a disease around her mouth, it's SO SAD!!

 

My son sucks on his lower lip in phases and I put Lansinoh on it every night and that helps clear up the redness, but I don't have any advice on getting him to stop. I hardly ever even see Eli doing it, just the results.

 

My 5yr old licks his lips a lot..I think its habit when his lips feel dry, especially in the cold.
Also, my 3yr old DD has a habit of sticking her tongue out along her bottom lip, and so it results in the area under her bottom lip being red and chapped. So, I just try to make sure I put chapstick on all of the kids before going outside, and also at night before bed.

Their chapped lips always seem to resolve quickly though. I would also try different ones, if one thing isnt working. The lanolin sounds like a great idea though! GL

 

Thanks everyone! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only who is dealing with this I will try the Lanolin and see if that helps!

 

Keep us posted! Let us know if it helps etc... :hug: