There’s an array of things we teach our babies to do. While it seems natural to adults, there is a learning curve when teaching babies to chew. But, how exactly do you teach a baby to chew? Offer your little one teethers and other toys to encourage them to learn how to chew. Babies also learn a lot from watching you eat as well. Remember never to force your baby to eat. Every baby learns at their own rate, and forcing them could have adverse effects.
How To Know Your Baby is Ready
Before getting discouraged that your baby isn’t interested in chewing, it’s important to know whether your little one is ready for the milestone. In addition, it’s recommended to wait until your baby is at least 6 months of age before offering solid foods for the first time.
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Baby Can Sit Up Without Assistance
While babies should always eat in a high chair, you want to ensure they can sit up without any assistance from you. If your baby cannot hold themselves up on their own for more than a few seconds, they are not ready to eat.
If you are short on space and don’t have room for a high chair, I highly recommend a clip-on table chair. It’s also great for traveling or using at a restaurant. I had one, and it was a life-saver. You can also easily remove the cover for washing.
Baby Can Hold Their Head Up
Babies with excellent neck control are ready to start eating. You want to make sure they can eat without choking. To ensure your baby is working on their neck muscles, ensure you allow plenty of tummy time. This gives your little one the chance to build those essential muscles for growth and stability.
If your baby isn’t a fan of tummy time, consider getting a fun play mat to make the time more enjoyable. It’s a great opportunity for your little ones to explore the area around them. My babies never liked tummy time, but once I gave them something to play with, they were much more interested.
Baby No Longer Has an Extrusion Reflex
The first time you offer your baby food, you’ll likely notice their tongue will push it out. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t enjoying the food, so don’t take it personally. Babies have something called an extrusion reflex, an instinct to prevent them from choking. So, while you may get frustrated they don’t want to try foods, it’s a good thing.
The tongue-thrust motion ensures your little one is ingesting only formula or breastmilk. If your baby accidentally puts a foreign object in their mouth, their extrusion reflex will work on pushing it out. Babies will lose their extrusion reflex between 4 and 6 months of age, the prime time to start offering foods.
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Tips For Teaching a Baby to Chew
Let Them Watch You
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The same goes for teaching your baby to chew. I knew when my oldest was ready to try food for the first time. I caught him watching my mouth move as I chewed. He would even mimic the motion. If your little one is doing the same, it’s the perfect opportunity to offer some food.
I also think it’s a great idea to put them in their highchair at the dinner table with some food in front of them. It establishes a good dinner routine and allows your baby to watch the whole family eat. You probably will be catching them watching everyone at the table one by one.
Offer Teethers
There are a variety of teethers on the market, including my favorite, Sophie the Giraffe. It’s a great way to encourage them to practice the chewing motion. It also has the added benefit of helping any sore gums due to teething.
It’s a good idea to clean your teethers and baby toys daily. You want to make sure your baby isn’t putting a germy teether in their mouth day after day. Disinfecting baby toys will ensure your little one stays healthy and their toys don’t start to grow anything.
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Practice, Practice, Practice
Babies aren’t going to learn how to chew the first time you offer them food. The more opportunities you allow them, the better they will get. As an adult, you probably don’t realize what chewing actually entails. There are quite a few steps inside your mouth before you being the digestion process. So, a baby who has never chewed a day in their life will need some time and practice.
Since you don’t want your baby to be eating while on the go, make sure you pack your teethers in your diaper bag or attach some to their car seat. It’s an easy opportunity to let them practice their chewing. Every opportunity for your baby to chew will be beneficial to them in the long run.
Offer a Variety of Foods
It’s a wise idea to offer foods with different textures and consistencies. It’s a good way to encourage chewing since foods with different textures will force your baby to chew a certain way for the specific food. In addition, it can help prevent your baby from getting too picky when it comes to eating since they are being introduced to a diverse grouping of foods.
In fact, babies who were served lumpy foods between 6 and 9 months of age are less likely to develop any feeding difficulties. I regret not offering a more diverse grouping of foods to my first child because I think some of his aversions to certain foods now can be traced back to those early days. What can I say? You live, and you learn.
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Offer Large Foods
I know this sounds crazy but hear me out. If you give your baby a large whole carrot or even a big piece of celery, they will not be able to bite any part of it off. Instead, they will get good practice chewing on something other than a toy.
I remember giving a whole carrot to my daughter when she was about 7 months old. Besides making for great photos, it was a perfect opportunity for her to practice chewing. She eventually dropped the carrot on the floor, but not before she worked those gums of hers!
Brush Their Teeth
Brushing teeth is a good habit to start early anyway, but it can also help your baby learn how to chew. When you brush their teeth, it helps them overcome their initial gag reflex, which they will experience the first time they try food. It’s advised to begin brushing your child’s teeth when they turn 6 months or when their first tooth pops through.
In addition, poor dental hygiene can be linked to speech delay and poor nutrition, in general. To ensure your child isn’t at risk for tooth decay, make sure you brush twice a day. Make sure you aren’t using more than a rice-sized piece of toothpaste for your little one. If you want to go a step further, gently brush your baby’s gums to ensure no bacteria is left behind. You can also use a soft cloth to rub their gums.
Offer Food When Your Baby is Hungry
If your baby has a full tummy, they are less likely to try some new foods. About an hour after you give your baby their breastmilk or formula, offer them some solid foods. At this point, they’ve had some time for things to digest and have some space in their stomachs for something else. Babies will only eat if they are hungry, so it’s best to give them some time between meals.
Foods that Encourage Chewing
Every baby has different first food. Some start with baby cereal or oatmeal, while others go straight to fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Regardless of which path you choose, it’s always good to know the top foods to give to babies. You want to avoid getting anything that will be too hard for your baby to chew.
Here are a few of my favorite foods to help introduce chewing to babies:
- Avocado
- Banana
- Softly steamed apples
- Puffs
- Steamed, soft vegetables
- Sweet potato
- Steamed Pears (This also are great if your baby is constipated)
Always remember to go at your baby’s pace. If you think they are having a hard time chewing a specific food, put it on the back burner for now. There’s no reason to rush something if your little one isn’t ready. You’ll likely regret it in the long run.
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Avoid Foods with High Choking Risks
Choking is downright scary, and as a parent who is starting to let your baby eat for the first time, you likely wonder which foods you should steer clear of. Here is a good guide of foods to keep away from until your child is older:
- Any nuts
- Whole grapes (I really thought I was going to cut up my kids’ grapes until they were in college.)
- Popcorn
- Hard candy (Babies don’t need candy in general. However, you definitely want to stay away from anything hard.)
- Marshmallows
- Full hot dogs (You can easily slice them up in small, bite-sized pieces to make them baby-friendly)
Fruits, like grapes, can easily be sliced longways or in quarters to help prevent choking. To make your life a bit simpler, consider buying a grape cutter. It’s also convenient for everyday cooking.
FAQs – How to Teach a Baby to Chew
How old should my baby be when they start chewing?
While every baby is different, most little ones start to chew around the 4-6 month mark. Remember, babies under 6 months should only practice chewing on teethers and toys. If your little one is reluctant to try new foods, add a little formula or breastmilk to what you are serving so they have a familiar taste.
In addition, even once they can begin eating solids, it’s important to have it secondary to formula or breastmilk. When they first start eating, they aren’t going to eat much, so you want to focus on where their nutrients are coming from. As a reminder, babies under one should not be given cow’s milk.
Finally, don’t hesitate to offer your baby a spoon. While it takes some time to master the art of using a spoon, it’s never too early to start trying. It also makes for some entertaining pictures when they have food all over their face.
How can I encourage my 3-month old to chew?
There is nothing wrong with starting early with little ones when it comes to chewing. While you can’t offer a 3-month old any solids, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any options for them. You can wet a cloth and put it in the freezer and then offer it to your little one once it’s had time to get cold. This also works wonders for teething babies. You can also offer them one of the teethers you have begun to stock up on!
Does my baby need teeth to chew?
It makes sense to think a baby needs teeth to chew, however, babies use their gums to chew as opposed to their teeth. In fact, babies get really good at mashing up food with their gums.
In addition, babies typically don’t use their teeth to chew until their first set of molars pop in, typically around the year mark. The second set of molars isn’t seen until your little one’s second birthday. Trust me. You don’t want to rush the process of those painful molars coming in.
How do I know if my baby has a problem with chewing?
All babies need some time before they master the art of chewing. However, if your child has turned one and is still having trouble chewing, it’s a good idea to reach out to your pediatrician. Feeding and swallowing disorders require attention, so don’t hesitate to call if you think something isn’t right. Even if it ends up being nothing, it’s always good to double-check first.
Is my baby chewing their hands because they are hungry?
Babies will put just about anything in their mouths, including their hands. But does it mean they are hungry? When babies put their hands in their mouths, it can be for various reasons, including teething, boredom, or, yes, hunger. However, most of the time, babies chew on their hands because they have newly discovered them. Hands are pretty awesome to babies.
Wrapping Things Up
Every child goes at their own pace, but it’s always wise to know how to teach a baby to chew. Before your child turns 6 months old, offer them teethers and others toys that they can feast their gums on. Even just chewing on a toy can help get the appropriate muscles in their mouth working to help them chew down the road.
Finally, my best piece of advice is to gather your family around the table for dinner, including your littlest love. Having your baby watch the whole family eat their meals is a great way to encourage them to begin chewing on their own. Everyone knows the baby wants to do everything the big kids do!
