My 11-month-old still mouths objects a lot. Sometimes, she just presses her lips against a wall or window, just ... because. She frequently chews books and other objects. We've babyproofed and keep small things out of reach. I'm just wondering how long this phase could last - my son got over the mouthing phase pretty early (well before this age) and was never as insistent as she is to feel things with her mouth, so I don't have any personal experience to call on. Thanks!
It really varies. I have a 6 year old that still shoves everything into her mouth!
My son stopped around 12 months, and my 14 month old is getting there.
It varies with children. Could last another few months. and then pop up when she is teething.
You can distract her with things, she is allowed to put in her mouth and use the verbiage to reinforce it.
"We do not put out mouths on the coffee, table, but you can use this teether." Or "Looks like your mouth s sore, here is a frozen wash cloth."
Yes, this is typical for many children. If it seems she needs more things to chew, build them into her diet. Cook veggies for a shorter time, leaving some resistance. If she is drinking from a cup or bottle, thicken it a little. Let her crunch into teething biscuts. Best of luck! As with all stages, this too shall pass, sooner or later.
It really depends on the kid. As a little my daughter rarely put things in her mouth. She's 7 now and I occasionally find bite marks in barbie feet.
It could go on for a while. So continue to baby-proof and "mouth-proof" your home and places that you can control. Elsewhere, you will have to control HER.
Some kids learn about their environment with their mouths more than others.
*shrug*
Just like some kids will sit happily in your lap and just watch/observe what goes on around them, and some kids you have to push so far away from the table that you can't reach it, to keep them from yanking/grabbing everything even close to their reach (the tablecloth, your plate, your fork, your knife, your napkin, the salt, your glass, your tablemate's cup...). Different personalities is all.
You can't really stop her, so you have to keep her safe and be aware of what she has in her possession or in her reach that she could put into her mouth. She's too young to learn not to put things in her mouth yet. Not reliably. And unless it is something that is dangerous, it shouldn't be off limits. It's how she explores right now.
I thought it was pretty normal for 2 and even 3 year olds to do this. My 5 year old still puts things in his mouth, so we are taking him to OT next week. We'd like to see if we can help him break this habit.
But let's face it. Some people always have gum in their mouth or like to chew on pen caps. Some people just like having something in their mouth. Your daughter might be one of them.
I hate to tell you this but my 3 y/o son STILL does it. Some children are just wired to experience their world through the mouth! It's their way of figuring stuff out. Drives me nuts as my 1st was not at all like that. My solution has been to keep and eye on him, have a couple sturdy toddler chewies on hand for those days he seems to just need to gnaw things (teething??) and have lots of non-toxic painted, wooden toys! On the bright side- she'll probably have a great immune system. ;-)
Kids put things in their mouths until they learn to learn about their environment other ways. Generally, they stop by 3, that is why all the toys have that warning, "not for children under 3". My son's speech therapist said that putting things in the mouth is organizing for people. She said it is why adults chew gum, pen caps, etc. So, I would say she is just being a normal kiddo and will stop when she's ready. My little guy stopped about 2.5 and my daughter never really mouthed much of anything. I wish you patience.
By age three 99.9% of all kids have stopped putting anything in their mouth to experience it. This could last another year. She tastes of it because she is totally about the mouth. I did have some kids at age 2 that still put stuff in their mouths to figure it out but in all my years of child care I'd still say it was just a couple.
