Will my son ever stop using his shirt as a napkin?

Question

yes i give him napkins, towels, cloth as well as paper. but to no avail.

will he outgrow this or will he get married with BBQ sauce on his tux at his wedding one day?

he is 7 years old now.

Answer 1

Kids grow out of that eventually, at different ages........

Answer 2

No if you don't make him mind you!  Why do you let him get away with it?   Make you kid mind, Mom!

Answer 3

My son is 17 and I am hoping the same thing you are....some day he will have some sort of table manners....actually it does get better, -  around  girls in a few years - in the mean time buy stock in spray and wash...

Answer 4

I'm sure he will out grow this behavior with your parental guidance but it is not likely it will happen as soon as you would like.  Consistency is the key here.  Never look the other way when it happens.  Continue to try to correct it.  Try to reward him with a treat or something when he does not do it.

Answer 5

Just be thankful he's not using it as a handkerchief. Or, maybe he is...?

Answer 6

i used to do that too!

Answer 7

my son does that too he's 61/2 but i don't think he will out grow it.....it's a boy or guy thing i guess, considering my husband is the same way!

Answer 8

Keep working on it---he'll get better. Sometimes it is a habit and he isn't even conscious of it any more.

If you hit the point where it is making you crazy:

1. Have him do laundry with you---and he has to pre-treat his shirts.

2. Have him eat without a shirt for a few days----he'll start to realize how much of a habit it is when he finds himself wiping his mouth on his skin.

3. Give him cloth napkins to use instead of his shirt---you'll know he has a napkin and it will seem special and it will be easier to replace the bad habit with a good one.