Help with chinning?

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Does anyone know how to redirect chinning?

My son has started needing to chin me and his mom(or the dog lol) almost all the time he is awake. I don't mind so much, he likes to chin my shoulder, but he has out of the blue hurt his mom by chinning her boob even.

Is there some way to redirect this stimming to an object?

Good question. I didn't realize this is a stim. My guy does this. I'm thinking I'll ask him to jump on tramp, and then see if he an give me a gentle hug. I hope we get some creative answers.

Hi, by chinning, did you mean seeking pressure on the jaw ? My son began to do this at age 4 months and my OT suggested that I apply pressure on his chin and his jaw simulataneously use my thumb and index fingers. It has helped a little. Another surprising thing that is helping has been a bean bag ball - he squeezes it with his hands, and then places it on a flat surface and slams his jaw against it for about 5 minutes or so. This helps him a LOT, too.

Yes he takes his chin and applies pressure to an area, I've never seen him do it to an inanimate object just people or dogs heh.

He started it around 3 and a half years of age and it has become extreme.

He might benefit from pressurizing his chin using his own fingers. Or using something like a bean ball. My son used to slam his jaw on people's heads as he craved pressure on his jaw even as an infant. In the beginning (before we realized it was a red flag for autism), we found it amusing. It stopped being funny when his teeth came in and he grew stronger ! I apply pressure on his chin & jaw now, because he does not have the ability to do it himself, and it stops the pressure seeking and the teeth grinding briefly. You may want to try this, too.

My son (2 and 1/2 yrs) started doing this a couple weeks ago. At first I thought it was just a one-time thing and now he's starting to do it more frequently.

One of the first kids I worked with enjoyed pressure on his face, and I could even use it as a reinforcer that he worked for. He would place my hands on his cheeks/jaw, and I would press them in.

Chewing may be an effective substitute, since it applies some pressure in a similar area. If he does this in a variety of ways, you may be able to just define a set of appropriate "chinning" locations/techniques and inappropriate ones. For example, the arm of the couch may be ok, whereas other people's bodies would not. Or you could even be more specific - dad's shoulder is ok, mom's is not, etc. Then you can just redirect him to the appropriate ones when he starts doing it. As long as you're consistent about which types are ok, and which are not, he should be able to learn the distinctions and be able to contain it to those. One thing to consider (if you say it's ok to do it on your shoulder) is how it will play out if he keeps doing this for the next 10 years. So pick things that will still be effective / appropriate for a much older child / teen. That way you won't have to change the rules on him.

I used to do this a lot when I was young and had to redirect it because my chin was hurting people too. I tried doing it to my own arm to get a sense of what it felt like (it hurt) so I knew I shouldn't push my chin into people. I substituted with things like the palm of my hand or pillows and stuffed animals instead.

Thanks, Washi. I most love to know the experience of adults on the spectrum. Thanks again.