The Gagger

by Julie Ellis
(Webster, Tx)

My lil Mo (Monique)

My daughter will be one this June 30th, and she will not stop sticking her fingers down her throat.

It always results her puking all over the house.

I've gotten to the point that I put a dab of hot sauce on them, but she just liked the hot sauce :), and sucked it off her fingers. I have put socks on her hands, but she just takes them off. Then I started to pop her hand, not too hard just to get her attention that it is bad, but she doesn't stop.

What should I do?

Comments for
The Gagger

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Jun 16, 2009

A few tips...
by: Baby Help Line

Hi Julie,

Having your daughter puking all over the house must be tiresome! I truly understand that you would like her to stop immediately.

Are you sure she is not teething or has a sore throat? If that is ruled out, I assume she just has learned a new "skill" and likes to try it. And she does get a lot of attention doing it too, right?

Babies don't find it as uncomfortable to puke and sticking the fingers down the throat in this age is actually quite common.

The best way in my experience to deal with a stubborn one year old is distraction. Convincing using words, explanations, a load voice or physical punishment doesn't work. At most, your girl will get frightened - and put her finger back in her throat.

So try distract her with singing, interesting new things to play with, being allowed to help you in the kitchen, chase her, tickle her etc when she starts her little game.

You can also try to give her something else to chew on, like some tasty finger foods.

And remember that this period will pass. One year old really is an age of lots and lots of abilities and willpower, but not that much common sense... :-)

Hope this helps a bit,

Paula

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