Sticking finger down her throat?

My 16 month old has been sticking her finger down her throat for many months now! She mainly does it when I put her in "time out" in her crib and she wants out or if someone is talking and she wants the attention she will do it! I have told her over and over not to, but she does not care to listen to me. She has made herself sick many times doing it and I don't know how to fix it!

She is at the stage now where everything you tell her to do, she does the opposite.

Any advice?

Oh and in case anyone is wondering, she does not see anyone of us doing that. I am a big girl as it is and I love my food too much to make it come back up  

Ohhhhh holy crap. My son does this too and I can not for the life of me figure out why, or get him to stop! If you find out why they do, let me know!! If I pull his hand away, he gets mad and just ends up doing it again.

Quoting Trent's Mommie {O08}:“ Ohhhhh holy crap. My son does this too and I can not for the life of me figure out why, or get him to ... [snip!] ... him to stop! If you find out why they do, let me know!! If I pull his hand away, he gets mad and just ends up doing it again.”

Same thing here! She has learned it will make mommy running because I think she is choking. Goshhhhh

I know it sounds bad but IGNORE IT, once she realizes that it no longer gets her any kind of attention she will quit it.

My oldest used to hold his breath until he passed out. We had to ignore it. It was super tough but he stopped

My daughter does the same thing, but she does it all the time and gets sick every time. Its kind of annoying I think. Sorry no help. I thought I was the only one that has a daughter that does that.

ignore it. she does it because she knows you will react to it.start puttinga bib on her all the time and when she has calmed down take it off and put a clean one on, making absolutelyno mention of what she has done.
a friend of mine's baby makes himself through up when he is in trouble soemtimes. now all he has to do is make a gagging sound and he gets whatever he wants. he has become extremely unmanageable.... mom wishes she had ignored it in the beginning.... he is 3 now and this started when he was about your daughters age.

Maybe try ignoring it.. I know that must be impossible but it sounds to me like it's all for attention

Quoting .Lisa. ♥ [ebfb.hm]:“ I know it sounds bad but IGNORE IT, once she realizes that it no longer gets her any kind of attention ... [snip!] ... will quit it. My oldest used to hold his breath until he passed out. We had to ignore it. It was super tough but he stopped”

That will be really REALLY hard to do though. I don't want her to make herself sick   Especially not all in her crib.

But we might have to try that.

They do it because, at one point in time, you reacted to it (and maybe you still do). They know that if they stick their fingers down their throat and gag, you will rush to their rescue and everything will be okay.

My son did this as well.

I'm not saying let them choke themselves to death, but do not give in to it right away. It takes alot of time and patience to get over this stage (atleast is did with us). As long as he/she looks like they are not "really" sick, puking, or in danger, do not react and do not give in. It's hard, but over time they will learn it does not work and they will stop

Is she getting a quick reaction when she does it? If so, that will continue to reinforce the behavior. I know it might be hard not to react, but really the worst thing that will happen is that she will puke. If she doesn't get attention for it, eventually she will stop.

When she does it, try to calmly redirect her attention to something else.

Quoting ღSqueakyToyღ:“ My 16 month old has been sticking her finger down her throat for many months now! She mainly does it ... [snip!] ... she does not see anyone of us doing that. I am a big girl as it is and I love my food too much to make it come back up  ”

My son used to do it a lot when he was about a year old and his pedi told me to keep stopping him but in reality it was the stimulation and the fact that he didn't realize that it caused him to gag and get sick. Like kids pulling their hair and not realizing that is what makes it hurt. But after months and months of stopping him he finally stopped. He is two now and still does it once in a while but not nearly as much

Quoting trishthedish:“ ignore it. she does it because she knows you will react to it.start puttinga bib on her all the time ... [snip!] ... mom wishes she had ignored it in the beginning.... he is 3 now and this started when he was about your daughters age.”

Hmmmm. I know it is for attention! I guess momma has to put her feelings aside  

Why did nobody tell me that raising children are so hard?!?!?!

Quoting 333 (the devil):“ Is she getting a quick reaction when she does it? If so, that will continue to reinforce the behavior. ... [snip!] ... get attention for it, eventually she will stop. When she does it, try to calmly redirect her attention to something else.”

Yep, I run to her everytime and say "Don't stick your fingers down your throat!" and I take her hands out of her mouth.

So I am going to have to let her do it, show her it isn't going to get my attention(even though it does) and she will be fixed LMAO!!!!!

Gosh this is going to be TOUGH!

Quoting ღSqueakyToyღ:“ My 16 month old has been sticking her finger down her throat for many months now! She mainly does it ... [snip!] ... she does not see anyone of us doing that. I am a big girl as it is and I love my food too much to make it come back up  ”

My little girl did the same at that age. She finally out grew it. I think it something new and weird feeling to them..

I am glad to hear my daughter is not the only one doing this. She has been doing all sorts of crazy and bad things lately. I could fill the entire PWT section easily LOL