In this article

• Why do babies put everything in their mouths?
• What are the potential risks of putting objects in the mouth?
• When do babies stop putting everything in their mouths?
• Be careful when closing your mouth

The child will explore and learn from his environment. As the baby’s immune system develops and adjusts during the first year, youngsters will use all of their senses i.e. smell, touch, vision, taste and hearing. With these small hands, the child will first hold and then move the hand directly to the mouth. This exploration process is called “mouthing” and it is completely normal. Let’s see why they do it, what are the risks of doing it and what precautions to take at this point.

Why do babies put everything in their mouths?

In the first year, by putting toys in your baby’s mouth, she will feel anxious and will try to stop it. However, the process of mouth formation is completely natural and means that the baby learns to explore, taste, see, touch, hear, smell and lick everything. The mouth and hands are a child’s way of exploring and learning about different shapes, textures, materials, smells, tastes and sounds.

Wondering why babies start putting things in their mouths? Young children try to put their fists in the mouth. Maybe even his feet! This is fine until they are about 7 months old. Then they control their hands and use their mouths. Slowly moving hands begin to grasp objects and then control their movement to the mouth. Exploration continues by reaching, moving, grabbing, hitting, patting, etc. They learn what is good and what is not and enjoy maximum divine pleasure, even the lucky things that mothers never dreamed of putting in a child’s mouth.

Babies also learn thumb sucking, which is their way of communicating and responding to stimuli such as hunger, boredom, and the like. Most mothers do not encourage this habit and rightly so because prolonged thumb sucking can have many negative effects.

What are the potential risks of putting objects in the mouth?

A child may suffocate on his positive journey of discovery. Such a simple thing to do is to make sure that little things can’t reach those little hands. Get down on the floor at the child’s eye level and look around to see which objects are harmful. One rule of thumb to follow is to make sure that things that pass through the toilet paper tube are not safe. Sharp, rough objects, toys that can be broken into pieces, glass objects, pet food bowls, vertical water buckets, etc., will be scratched and scrapes, scuffs, and even accidents can occur.

Yes, the mouth cannot be closed. Children also lick objects on the floor during the procedure. The best way to prevent infection is through hygiene and often cleaning floors, toys, and surfaces that the child has been in contact with. Don’t worry about it because the infection is caused by viruses and bacteria in the sick person.

Since there are many positive outcomes at this stage, just make sure that your child does not share toys with a sick child. Clean all toys, linens, and surfaces with a mild disinfectant, and encourage young children to play in groups. They learn by touching faces, blowing their noses, kissing, and tasting everything from blankets, clothes, and anything else that catches your eye. Group play and supervised exploration are the keys to the safe speaking phase. A little bit of dust and germs that can’t be prevented won’t make a baby sick.

When do babies stop putting everything in their mouths?

Starting at the age of 7 to 12 months, babies begin to put objects in their mouths. Usually at the age of two, fingers are used. By the age of three, most children will have stopped putting things in their mouths. If your child is still getting everything in his mouth and sucking his thumb at the age of four, you should see a doctor to establish corrective practices.

Be careful when closing your mouth

Here are some precautions to take to have a safe and obsessive parenting experience with your child chewing on everything.

1. Clean the small things

Check, remove, and remove any mouth-shaped objects out of the child’s reach. (Loose change, pet food bowl, small toys, stones and anything else that can fit in baby’s mouth). You will also need to stay away from chemicals, cosmetics, and the like that can be dangerous.

2. Rely on positive reinforcement

Do not yell at your child if he is about to put something in his mouth that is not safe. Instead, replace it with something safer.

3. Practice No

It is best to teach your child what “no” means so that he can close his mouth when told to do so.

4. Rope

Teething is very likely to put things in your mouth for chewing. To prevent this you can have some teething rings and give them a go. You can also freeze it to relieve teething pain.

The oral stage lasts a little longer and can be turned into a safe expedition for you and your baby. Enjoy this exploratory and communicative phase with an approach very obsessed with germ-racism and all will be well.