hey ladies was just wondering if anyone elses toddler dribbles...ALOT

my DS is 18months, has all his teeth (accept 2yr molars but no sign of them) last teeth came thru months ago, he has a dummy only when sleeping and otherwise is perfectly healthy.

but yet we go thru min5-6 bibs per day..and theyre soaked! i often use 2 changes of clothes too just cuz the bibs dont get everything. any idea why hes dribbling so much? hes been a dribbler since birth bu i thought hed grow out of it or it would ease when all his teeth were thru..it actually seems to be getting worse!!

Here's a link to a recent thread about toddlers (all boys!!!) dribbling.

Huggies dribbling thread

Since this thread, we have seen some improvement after a visit with the Sp Thp. She confirmed all the things we've been doing and added bubble blowing to our repertoire.

Out of interest, can your son blow out candles?

ETA: There can be a number of reasons for dribbling: our Sp Thp pointed out 2 with DS.
1.blocked noses- leads to open mouth breathing. He dribbles heaps more when he has a cold.
2. less sensitive lower lip- we use an electric toothbrush on the outside of his lips to improve this.

hmmm i dont know that id take him to a speech pathologist just yet (is he was 3 then id consider it) but were in a country area so its a big drive to any specialists and they charge an outrageous fortune. since hes only 18months i wont panic just yet but it is driving us nuts atm.

any suggestions that i could try NOW without having to go to a speech expert? he can make sounds and says alot of words fine, has good eating habits (as far at toddlers go), brushes teeth twice a day, hasnt got a dummy when awake, doesnt have trouble swallowing food or drink (just saliva) and he isnt sick sad really dont know what to do

Sounds just like DS. He already had 15+ very clear words before his 12month MCH check. But the dribbling just didn't resolve. The Sp Thp don't usually take on dribblers before 4 years as it tends to stop on its own. Oh I hear you about the expense- ouch!

Tips that have worked for us by building up muscles and mouth awareness. Choose as appropriate for his age

* bubble blowing
* party whistles
* using straws to suck and blow
* creating habits: We say "swallow and turn" every time we turn the pages of a book.
* wear / use bibs with patterns: they really do hide the dribbles better
* Ask "is your chin dry?" over and over!!!! Try to make your son responsible for deciding and then wiping own chin
* reminders to close mouth "Is your mouth closed?"- again, he needs to be responsible for saying yes or no.

It is a lot of work but worth it. We try to do 10mins a day as we have seen such an improvement.
Good luck!

my boys 2yrs and 3 months and still dribbles I've just learnt to live with it. He has got better but its still there. lol you are not alone

Sounds just like DS. He already had 15+ very clear words before his 12month MCH check. But the dribbling just didn't resolve. The Sp Thp don't usually take on dribblers before 4 years as it tends to stop on its own. Oh I hear you about the expense- ouch!

Tips that have worked for us by building up muscles and mouth awareness. Choose as appropriate for his age

* bubble blowing
* party whistles
* using straws to suck and blow
* creating habits: We say "swallow and turn" every time we turn the pages of a book.
* wear / use bibs with patterns: they really do hide the dribbles better
* Ask "is your chin dry?" over and over!!!! Try to make your son responsible for deciding and then wiping own chin
* reminders to close mouth "Is your mouth closed?"- again, he needs to be responsible for saying yes or no.

It is a lot of work but worth it. We try to do 10mins a day as we have seen such an improvement.
Good luck!

cheers for that ill try some of those things..his mouth control seems ok he can blow candles and we play games where we blow on eachothers faces etc but awareness is another thing..will def start pointing out that hes wet and getting him to wipe it himself and his mouth does hang open alot too. im just so over the bibs! my DD didnt even dribble when she teethed so i have no experience with this whatsoever

Some kids just dribble, my son who is now 5 used to do it a lot which I was really concerned about at the time. It eventually dried itself up. I remember constantly telling him to swallow etc. I think he was around 3 1/2 when it sorted itself out so dont stress to much, I know its hard but from someone who has been there, it does get better.