Feeding kids can seem like a Herculean task at times. First Moms have to ensure that their babies don’t turn their mouths away when they see a spoon approaching. Then comes the point where they have to make sure the food that goes in doesn’t get spit out! Last but not least, is the part where Moms watch carefully to see that all that food is getting properly chewed and not swallowed right away. As you can imagine, that last part is probably the hardest!
What is Chewing?
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion, and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by digestive enzymes.
When can a baby chew food?
At approximately 5 months of age, babies begin using their fingers and teethers for oral exploration using a bite and release pattern. Babies start mouthing activities as early as 7 to 8 months when they are introduced to new foods and textures. They try to manipulate the food in their mouth to experience the taste and texture and that lays the foundation for chewing foods later. When babies’ diets change gradually from soft textures to lumpier ones, they start more tongue and cheek movement which helps develop their chewing action further.
As babies cross their first birthday, they develop better coordination for chewing foods properly. This coordination mainly involves the movement of food by the tongue – to the side for chewing, to the center and to the other side. This side to side movement is what mainly constitutes the action of chewing. At this stage their senses are developed enough to assess whether the food requires further chewing. If yes, they will be moved from side to side again and chewed; if the chewing is sufficient, the food is pushed back into the throat to be swallowed. This process is fine tuned by the age of 2 or 3, when the chewing pattern is smoother and faster.
My baby doesn’t have teeth!! Can she still chew?
We chew mostly with our molars and your baby will get his molars only around 10- 16 months, maybe a little earlier or later as well. However, babies do not wait until they get their molars to start chewing, which any breastfeeding mother will tell you! A baby’s gums are strong enough to mash food to a texture that is smooth enough for them to swallow. The first steps of chewing require only tongue, jaw and cheek movements. Teeth are used later for more complicated foods with fibers that must be broken up by the teeth.
7 Ways to Help your Toddler Chew
1. Use Grabber Tools
Grabber toys like the one shown here are specifically designed to to increase sensory and tactile stimulation, which help to introduce the baby to chewing movements. This will also help them in hanlding lumpier foods
2. Start with Soft Finger Foods
When you start finger foods for your baby, begin with softer ones that easily melt in saliva, as soon as the baby bites through them. This way, the baby learns that by biting and getting the food into his mouth, he’ll be able to soften it and swallow it easily.
3. Use a Fruit Feeder
To feed your baby fruit, use a Fruit Feeder – these are mesh feeders for fruit and vegetables that are placed inside the mesh bag. This helps the baby to explore the texture and taste of food, so that the baby cna explore teh etxture , texture with biting a little without the fear of choking
4. Encourage Self Feeding
Sometimes it works better to just hand your baby a spoon and let him try to feed himself. He might only got a couple of bites into his mouth, but he will be more likely to hold it in, chew and swallow it.
5. Feed when Hungry
A baby who’s really, truly hungry will be much more motivated to try something new! If you want him to try a banana but offer it after his yogurt, he’s more likely to play with it than attempt to chew and eat. While you’re prepping breakfast, sit him in his high chair and give him a few bites of the banana to look at/play with/attempt to eat while you chop up the rest of the banana to go in his breakfast.
6. Choose the Right Foods
Safety is your highest priority when choosing foods for your child. Avoid firm foods that are the size of your child’s airway until she is at least 3 years old. This includes nuts, popcorn, whole grapes and any meat that is not cut up finely.
7. Stay calm
As Moms ourselves, we know that this is easier said than done! It can be frustrating and nerve-wracking when your child’s total food intake at a meal is about three bites! But if you are anxious at mealtimes, he absolutely will pick up on that and I can tell you from experience that it will not help the situation. Keep working with him and he will have a healthy interest in his food.
Chewing may seem like the most natural thing to us, but it takes babies a little bit of practice to get in the groove of things. With these tips and lots of patience, you can be sure that he’ll soon pick up on this new skill and before you know it, he’ll be chewing away happily!!