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Hanna Violet 酱紫's avatar

What do you recommend for stopping my three-year-old from mouth-breathing? I suspect she would be resistant to the mouth tape.

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Guen Bradbury's avatar

Good question. I have a hand signal (bringing finger and thumb together) as a reminder. If I need a second reminder, I say 'teeth' (shorthand for teeth together, tongue on the roof of the mouth, lips closed). I ask them to remind me when I have my mouth open (it's not uncommon, no matter how hard I try!). When I go and check them in the evening, if their mouths are open, I gently move their head or tickle their tongue until they close their mouths.

Three year olds are very different. If you want to try the mouth tape, model it yourself, and say that it's only for big people. After a few days of seeing that you're not giving it to her, she'll be desperate to try it. And don't worry if she takes it off straight away. If she's asking for it as part of bedtime, then there will come a point where she sleeps with it too.

Just don't get frustrated about it. It's a hard habit to break - our job is to remind and help. :)

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Hanna Violet 酱紫's avatar

This is wonderful advice. Thank you!

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