Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
It’s often a common part of early childhood, but you may wonder, why does my child put things in their mouth? Ongoing mouthing or chewing can sometimes be related to oral fixation, oral sensory seeking, or another need for sensory input. Considering your child’s age, habits, and when the behavior happens can help you tell what’s typical and when extra support may be helpful.
Key takeaways
Mouthing is a normal part of development for many babies and young toddlers. It usually becomes less frequent as children grow.
Oral fixation is a term sometimes used to describe a strong habit or need to chew, suck, bite, or put things in the mouth.
Oral sensory seeking can be one reason a child continues to chew or mouth objects, especially when they’re bored, overwhelmed, excited, or trying to focus.
Chewing or mouthing does not automatically mean a child has autism or ADHD. One behavior alone can’t identify a developmental difference.
Frequent, unsafe, or persistent mouthing may be worth discussing with a pediatrician or qualified professional, especially if a child swallows non-food items.
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Screener for childrenWhy does my child put things in their mouth?
Putting things in their mouth is a normal part of development for babies and young toddlers. Mouthing helps children explore their world, soothe themselves, and learn more about the objects around them.
Babies use their mouths to learn about an object’s size, shape, texture, and temperature. Sucking and chewing can also be calming, especially when a baby is tired, overstimulated, or teething. For many babies, a clean teething toy or washcloth can provide a safe way to meet that need to chew.
So, if your baby or young toddler seems determined to taste-test every toy, piece of clothing, or random object within reach, you’re likely seeing a typical part of development.
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When do kids stop putting things in their mouth?
There isn’t one exact age when every child stops putting things in their mouth. It usually becomes less frequent around 18 months to 2 years as children develop other ways to explore and self-soothe.
“Occasional mouthing does not automatically mean there is a developmental concern,” explains Expressable occupational therapist Lauren Galipp, OTD, OTR/L. “What matters is what your child is putting in their mouth, how often they do it, whether they swallow non-food items, and whether the behavior creates a safety concern or interferes with daily activities.”
For example, a toddler occasionally chewing on a toy is different from an older child who often seeks out clothing, pencils, toys, or other non-food objects to chew. If your child continues to chew or mouth on objects as they get older, it’s helpful to consider why they're doing it.
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What is oral fixation, and why does my child chew on things?
The term “oral fixation” is sometimes used to describe a strong habit or need to chew, suck, bite, or put things in the mouth.
For example, someone with an oral fixation might often:
Chew on their shirt or fingers
Bite their nails
Chew on toys or other objects
Seek out crunchy or chewy foods
“Chewing or mouthing can sometimes help a child self-soothe, stay focused, explore their environment, or get sensory input,” Galipp adds.
Why might an older child keep putting things in their mouth?
If an older child keeps chewing or putting things in their mouth, it helps to look at when, where, and why the behavior happens. This can help you understand what your child may need.
They may be seeking sensory input.
Some children enjoy the feeling of chewing, sucking, or biting. This is sometimes called oral sensory seeking. You might notice your child chewing on their sleeves, collar, pencils, toys, fingers, or other objects. They may also seek out crunchy or chewy foods or look for something to chew when they are bored, excited, or overwhelmed.
Sensory-seeking behavior is not necessarily a problem. The bigger concern is whether the behavior is unsafe or gets in the way of eating, learning, playing, or other daily activities.
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They may be using chewing to regulate themselves.
Galipp says, “Chewing can also help some children feel calm, regulated, and organized. You may notice more chewing when your child is tired, worried, overwhelmed, waiting, or working on something challenging.”
For some children, chewing may be one way to feel more comfortable or focused during challenging moments. Understanding these patterns can help you respond with support rather than simply asking your child to stop.
Autism or ADHD may be part of the picture.
Some autistic children and children with ADHD may chew or mouth objects as a way to seek sensory input, self-regulate, or stay focused. However, putting things in the mouth does not mean a child has autism or ADHD. It's more helpful to consider your child's overall development, behavior, communication, and sensory needs.
Occupational therapy for ADHD helps children build focus, routines, emotional regulation, and independence. Learn how therapy works.
They may have pica.
There is an important difference between occasionally chewing or mouthing a non-food object and repeatedly eating non-food items. Pica is a condition in which a person repeatedly eats non-food items, such as dirt, paper, and clay.
If your child is regularly swallowing non-food items, we recommend talking with their pediatrician. Pica can have several possible causes, including medical, nutritional, sensory, and developmental factors.
How can I tell if my child’s mouthing is a concern?
Mouthing can look different from child to child. These examples can help you think about whether your child's behavior is simply part of their development or worth telling their doctor or another professional.
Mouthing is more likely typical when:
It happens occasionally
Child mouths safe objects
Child can easily move on to another activity
No pain or skin irritation
It’s worth talking with a professional about:
Frequent or persistent mouthing as a child gets older
Child seeks out non-food objects to chew or swallow
Chewing regularly interrupts play, learning, or attention
Chewing causes pain, irritation, or damage to clothing or other items
If your child's mouthing is causing injury, interfering with daily activities, or creating a safety risk, or if they swallow non-food items, it's a good idea to talk with their pediatrician.
How can I keep my child safe if they put things in their mouth?
If your child puts things in their mouth, the first step is to make their environment as safe as possible. This is especially important for babies and toddlers, but older children who often mouth objects may also need extra safety support. Here are a few ways to make mouthing safer:
1 Remove dangerous objects from reach
Keep small objects and other hazards out of your child's reach, including:
Button or coin batteries
Magnets and magnetic toys
Coins
Small toy parts
Balloons
Pen caps
Medications and vitamins
Cleaning products
Other small objects that could be swallowed
Button batteries and magnets can cause serious injuries if swallowed, so keep them away from children. Check toys and other household items for loose or broken parts. It's also a good idea to get down to your child's level and look at the floor and surrounding area for anything they might find.
2 Offer safe options
When appropriate, calmly remove the unsafe object and offer a safe alternative instead. Depending on your child's age and needs, this might include an age-appropriate chewy or oral sensory tool, a safe food with a texture they enjoy, or another sensory activity.
3 Watch for patterns
Pay attention to when your child is most likely to chew or mouth objects. Ask yourself:
What are they chewing?
What happens right before they start?
Are they tired, bored, worried, or excited?
Does it happen during certain activities or at certain times of day?
Do they seem calmer or more focused while chewing?
Are they swallowing the objects?
These patterns can give you clues about what your child may need and whether extra support could be helpful.
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How can I help my child stop putting unsafe things in their mouth?
“You don't necessarily need to stop every type of chewing or mouthing,” Galipp advises. “Instead, focus on safety and understanding what your child may be communicating through the behavior.”
When your child picks up something unsafe, calmly remove the object and tell them why in simple words, such as, “That's not safe to chew.” You can then help your child move on to another activity or, when appropriate, offer a safe option for chewing.
You don't need to stop every type of chewing or mouthing. Instead, focus on safety and understanding the reason for the behavior.
For a baby or young toddler, redirection may be as simple as handing them a teething toy or another safe object to explore.
For an older child, look at the pattern behind the behavior. If they chew when they’re feeling overwhelmed or bored, is there another way to meet that need? A safe chewing option, movement activity, or other sensory activity may help.
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When to talk with your child’s pediatrician or therapist
If you have concerns about your child’s mouthing or chewing, it’s OK to reach out to their pediatrician or another qualified professional. It's especially important to ask for help if your child regularly swallows non-food items, seeks out dangerous objects, or gets hurt or has pain because of the behavior.
You may also want to talk with your child’s doctor if the behavior suddenly happens more often or happens along with other developmental, sensory, feeding, or communication concerns. Your pediatrician can help you understand what may be leading to the behavior and recommend support if needed.
Depending on your child’s needs, this support may include an occupational therapist (OT), pediatric dentist, or speech-language pathologist (SLP). An OT can help with sensory needs, while an SLP can help if chewing or mouthing is connected to feeding, swallowing, or communication.
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Get startedHow occupational therapy helps with oral sensory and feeding concerns
If your child’s chewing or mouthing seems connected to sensory needs, an occupational therapist can help you understand what may be causing the behavior. They can help find safer ways for your child to get the sensory input they need.
An OT may look at when the behavior happens, what your child is seeking, and how their environment affects them. Galipp shares this example: If chewing happens when your child is overwhelmed by noise or a busy place, the goal may be to reduce that sensory overload, rather than simply finding something else for them to chew.
An OT can also suggest sensory activities or oral alternatives based on your child's age and needs. If the main concern involves eating, chewing food, swallowing, or other feeding skills, a speech therapist may also be part of your child's care team.
Not every child who puts things in their mouth needs therapy. If you're unsure what your child needs, an OT or another qualified professional can help you better understand the behavior and decide whether support would be helpful.
At Expressable, we’re here to support you with personalized care and guidance you can trust. Click here to find an occupational therapist and get started.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Children may chew on things because they enjoy the sensation, are seeking oral sensory input, or find chewing calming or helpful for focusing. Younger children may chew as part of normal exploration and development. Older children may chew more when they are tired, bored, overwhelmed, excited, or working on something challenging.
Oral fixation is not a diagnosis of ADHD or autism. Some autistic children and children with ADHD may chew or mouth objects to seek sensory input, self-regulate, or stay focused. However, chewing or mouthing alone can't tell you whether a child has ADHD, autism, or another developmental difference.
Some children with ADHD may chew or mouth objects as a way to get sensory input, self-regulate, or stay focused. However, putting things in the mouth is not specific to ADHD. It can happen for many reasons, including normal development and sensory seeking.
There is no exact age when children stop putting things in their mouth. However, mouthing usually becomes less frequent around 18 months to 2 years, as children develop other ways to explore and self-soothe. Some children may continue chewing or mouthing objects longer. In that case, it’s helpful to consider how often it happens, what they are mouthing, and whether it affects their daily life.
You don't necessarily need to stop every type of chewing or mouthing. Focus first on safety: Remove dangerous objects, calmly redirect your child, and offer a safe alternative for them to chew on when appropriate. If the behavior is frequent, unsafe, or interfering with daily activities, talk with your pediatrician. They can help you understand why your child puts things in their mouth and whether extra support, like occupational therapy, may help.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
