Your Baby Puts Everything They See in Their Mouth? Let Them.

Moms, I ask you for a favor: the next time your infant shoves something that shouldn’t be in their mouth in there, do not react. I repeat— Do. Not. React. That means don’t panic and yank that soft toy away, don’t shriek when you spot a half-eaten marker tip, and don’t scold them for gnawing on a tissue. You’ll be doing them a favor, not me.

Mouthing is so important for your little learners!

I know this from watching my baby cousins and seeing how much they learn through mouthing things. Sure, it seems a little gross sometimes (I mean, my cousin once tried to eat an old sock!), but it’s actually super important for their development. 

For one, it nurtures your baby’s natural curiosity, showing them that it’s okay to explore this brand-new world through their senses—especially oral and motor ones. They’re learning about textures, tastes, and temperatures, which gives them a solid foundation to transition from purées to solid foods (get it?) and avoid a picky eating rut. Plus, as they move their tongue and jaw in new, fun, and interesting ways, they’re unknowingly developing the mature chewing patterns they’ll need to eat a healthy variety of solid foods and form clear consonant sounds.

As if that wasn’t reason enough to encourage mouthing—it also plays a key role in the gag reflex! As babies grow, mouthing helps shift the gag reflex from the front to the back of the mouth, making it a crucial defense mechanism against choking.

Does that mean that if my mom hadn’t coated my toys with vinegar to stop me from mouthing them, I might have been better prepared to prevent a future choking incident? Maybe!

A bad reaction to them mouthing on your end will only teach them that such exploration isn’t a learning process but an unacceptable mistake—probably the last thing we want, right? 

That being said, I don’t expect you to just sit back and enjoy the sight of your little one putting everything within reach into their mouth—that might come back to bite you later! So, here’s what you can do...

You can’t (and shouldn’t) stop your baby from mouthing everything around them, but you can make sure that the things you deliberately hand them are safe, toxin-free, and designed with the understanding that every baby will eventually taste-test it (seriously, why do so many baby companies ignore this?).

Make sure the toys you give them are 100% cotton and not phthalate-leaching plastic. Make sure the markers they scribble with aren’t oozing VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that they’ll inhale and ingest (Doodle can help with that 😉). Make sure their teddy bear isn’t packed with PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers), ready to be released when their little canines tear through the stuffing.

Your baby is wired to explore the world with their mouth—it’s how they learn, grow, and develop essential skills. So instead of stopping them, make sure what they’re mouthing is actually meant for them. Safe, thoughtfully designed products aren’t just a nice thing to have; they’re a necessity.

Would love to hear—what’s the weirdest thing you’ve caught your baby mouthing? Let me know in the comments!