Toward a dry mouth and chin

Keeping up appearances 



Saliva causes staining of clothes and can be smelly and offensive. When the child is little bibs can be changed frequently but as the child grows older there needs to be more appropriate ways of disguising the dribbling.  Here are some ideas:

- Scarves may be worn around the neck to absorb the excess saliva. These may be backed with absorbent fabric such as towelling. Matching scarves worn with different outfits can be a sophisticated way of disguise the dribbling. You may need to have several of the one colour as they will need to be changed regularly.

- Towelling panels can be sewn into windcheaters to absorb excess saliva. Using 'Kylie' material you can sew a piece under the sweater so that you keep the wet fabric away from the skin.

- Vests can be designed to go over dresses which can be easily changed.

- Velcro can be sewn onto clothes and motifs/collars attached. When the motif gets wet it can be quickly replaced with another one.

- Windcheaters which have a raised motif on the front can give the appearance of a windcheater which is drier for longer.

- Plain materials show the dribbling more. Chose patterned materials.



Saliva Control Clinic, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, 1998