How can we stop 10 year old's lip-smacking habit?

Question

Our 10-year old son has a bad habit of smacking his lips rather noisily while he's eating. We have reminded him many times over the last year or so not to do this. He will comply briefly, but a minute or two later, he will go right back to loudly smacking his lips while he's chewing. Then, he will insist that he's not doing it at all and becomes very sad and defensive.

Because he is a very good eater and never complains about his food, we don't want to make a battle out of mealtimes. However, we really want to correct this annoying problem, before he gets much older. Any suggestions?

By the way, we have 2 younger children as well, neither of whom has the lip-smacking habit. Just in case that helps anyone out there to formulate an answer.

Answer 1

i have a 10 year old that used to do that i had to pop him everytime he did it .. he stoppped

Answer 2

give him a spanking

Answer 3

EVERY TIME he does it, reach over and close his mouth.

Answer 4

make him take some bi-gender ettiqiutte classes. you know, good manner classes for both boys & girls? tell him they're classes for 10 year old boys who need to learn to stop smacking they're lips so mommy doesn't get irritated lol

Answer 5

why did you wait till now to control this? don't bring a lot of attention to him when he does this, it em-barres him and that does not help..sit beside him and when he does it lay you hand over on his and when he looks at you, smile and softly say " lets chew with our mouth close". Talk to him in private about maybe trying to slow down when he eats and practice chewing with his mouth closed..explain to him that you don't want to see other child make fun of him at school and we need to work on this problem together, you watch me and make sure that I am chewing with my mouth closed and I will do the same for you, eye contact will say it all, and the next thing you know he will be retrained how to eat properly at the table.

Answer 6

1-ignore the problem or 2-set him outdoors to eat with the animals when he makes "animal" sounds.  be sure there is not a medical cause for the sound (see a dentist & pediatrician).