Why Do Babies Put Everything in Their Mouth and How to Handle It

November 23, 2025 The Complete Family Home

If you are a parent or caregiver, you’ve likely experienced the frustration—and curiosity—of a baby putting everything in their mouth. From toys to fingers, blankets, and even the occasional remote, this behavior is one of the most common milestones in early childhood. While it may worry parents, this habit is both normal and essential to a baby’s development.

Understanding Oral Exploration

Babies explore the world primarily through their senses: sight, touch, sound, and especially taste. Oral exploration begins around 3 to 4 months of age, peaking between 6 to 12 months, when teething often starts. Here’s why:

Sensory Development: Babies use their mouths to learn about textures, shapes, and temperature. Feeling objects with their tongue and gums helps them understand the environment.
Motor Skill Growth: Bringing objects to the mouth requires hand-eye coordination and fine motor control, which are crucial for later skills like feeding themselves or writing.
Curiosity and Learning: Babies are naturally curious. Oral exploration allows them to gather information about objects in a safe, manageable way.

By touching and tasting, babies develop cognitive and sensory skills that form the foundation for more complex learning later in life.

Teething and Comfort

One of the biggest reasons babies put objects in their mouths is teething discomfort. As their teeth begin to emerge, their gums feel sore and itchy. Chewing on objects can:

Soothe irritated gums
Massage tender areas
Distract them from discomfort

Practical Tip: Chill teething rings or wet washcloths in the fridge. Cold objects provide extra relief for inflamed gums. Always supervise to prevent choking hazards.

Cognitive Development

Oral exploration is also linked to cognitive development. By mouthing objects, babies:

Develop cause-and-effect understanding (dropping and retrieving objects)
Learn object permanence
Begin distinguishing textures and materials, which enhances memory and learning

It’s a foundational behavior that supports problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, and sensory integration. Parents who observe and interact with their babies during these moments can encourage learning through playful experiences.

When It Becomes a Safety Concern

While putting objects in the mouth is normal, it can be dangerous if babies access unsafe items. Common risks include:

Choking Hazards: Small toys, coins, buttons, batteries, and beads
Toxic Substances: Cleaning supplies, medications, certain plastics, or painted surfaces
Bacteria: Dirty objects can increase the risk of infections

Scenario: A baby finds a coin on the floor and tries to put it in their mouth. Quick intervention is needed, as coins are a high choking risk. Always scan floors and low surfaces daily to prevent such incidents.

Safety Tips for Parents

Keeping babies safe while allowing them to explore with their mouths requires careful planning, supervision, and consistent routines. Although mouthing behavior is natural and important for development, infants are highly vulnerable to choking, infections, and injuries. The following strategies can help parents maintain a safe environment while supporting healthy exploration:

Baby-Proof Your Home

Creating a secure environment is the first step in preventing accidents.

Remove Small or Sharp Objects: Regularly scan floors, countertops, and low surfaces for coins, batteries, pins, or other small items that could be swallowed or cause injury.
Secure Cabinets and Drawers: Use childproof locks on cabinets containing cleaning supplies, medications, or sharp tools.
Raise or Store Dangerous Items: Keep fragile or toxic items on high shelves, out of your baby’s reach.
Cover Electrical Outlets and Cords: Babies may try to chew on cords or touch outlets, so use outlet covers and secure cords safely.

Example: If you store kitchen utensils like knives or graters on a low shelf, move them higher or install a cabinet lock to prevent access.

Choose Safe Toys

Not all toys are created equal when it comes to infants. Choosing safe, age-appropriate toys is essential:

Check Age Labels: Select toys specifically labeled for babies under 12 months. Avoid items with small detachable parts.
Inspect Regularly: Examine toys for cracks, loose pieces, or broken parts that could pose choking hazards.
Opt for Non-Toxic Materials: Choose BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free toys for safe mouthing.
Teething Toys: Provide soft, chewable toys that are designed to soothe gums and encourage sensory exploration.

Tip: Rotate toys weekly to keep babies interested while giving you the chance to inspect and clean them.

Supervise Play

Even in a baby-proofed environment, supervision is crucial:

Stay Present: Always watch your baby when they are mouthing objects, especially new toys or household items.
Designate Safe Play Areas: Use playpens or a baby-safe area where infants can explore under your supervision.
Be Alert to Choking Hazards: Keep an eye out for small objects that accidentally fall within reach.

Scenario: While cooking, place your baby in a secure playpen with soft teething toys nearby. This allows them to explore safely while you complete household tasks.

Clean Toys and Surfaces Regularly

Since babies put many objects in their mouths, cleanliness is key:

Wash Toys Frequently: Sterilize plastic or silicone toys with warm water and mild soap. Use a baby-safe disinfectant when necessary.
Machine-Wash Cloth Toys: Soft toys should be washed regularly to remove dirt, bacteria, and saliva.
Sanitize High-Touch Surfaces: Clean tables, floors, and other surfaces babies frequently touch or mouth.

Tip: Consider setting a weekly cleaning schedule to ensure all toys and surfaces stay hygienic.

Avoid Unsafe Foods

Babies exploring with their mouths can include food, so providing safe, age-appropriate options is critical:

Cut Food into Small Pieces: Avoid large chunks that could cause choking.
Soft Textures: Offer soft fruits like bananas or cooked vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes.
Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods: Nuts, raw carrots, hard candies, and sticky foods like peanut butter can be choking hazards.
Encourage Self-Feeding: Supervised finger foods help babies develop motor skills and independence safely.

Example: Serve thinly sliced avocado or steamed broccoli florets that are soft enough to mash with gums.

Additional Safety Strategies

Maintain a Calm Environment: Avoid distractions when your baby is exploring to quickly notice hazards.
Educate Caregivers: Ensure anyone caring for your baby understands safe practices.
Emergency Preparedness: Learn infant CPR and choking first aid in case of an accident.

By implementing these safety measures, parents can reduce stress, prevent injuries, and support their baby’s natural curiosity and developmental growth. A well-planned environment allows safe oral exploration while teaching babies about boundaries and proper play.

Encouraging Healthy Exploration

Instead of discouraging mouthing, parents can guide babies toward safe alternatives:

Offer teething toys with various textures
Provide safe household objects like wooden spoons or silicone spatulas under supervision
Encourage sensory play with soft fabrics, textured balls, or water activities

Example: Set up a sensory bin with clean kitchen utensils, soft fabrics, and textured toys. This allows safe oral exploration while stimulating curiosity.

Understanding Developmental Stages

Different stages of infancy influence why and how babies explore with their mouths:

0–3 Months: Reflexive sucking, primarily for feeding.
3–6 Months: Increased hand-to-mouth coordination. Babies begin holding toys and exploring textures.
6–12 Months: Peak oral exploration; teething begins and babies start self-feeding.
12–18 Months: Oral exploration decreases, replaced by tactile and imaginative play.

Knowing these stages helps parents anticipate behavior and respond appropriately.

Addressing Common Parental Concerns

Parents often worry unnecessarily about this habit. Common myths include:

“It’s dangerous for all objects.” Not every item is harmful—safe toys and clean household objects are fine.
“It’s a sign of bad behavior.” Mouthing is natural and part of development.
“Babies need to stop this quickly.” Most children naturally outgrow the habit around 18 months to 2 years.

Understanding the facts helps reduce parental stress and encourages healthy, supportive behavior.

Signs That Require Medical Attention

While oral exploration is usually harmless, contact a pediatrician if your baby:

Frequently chokes or gags
Puts toxic or unsafe objects in the mouth despite supervision
Shows signs of developmental delays in motor skills or sensory processing

Early intervention can prevent serious issues and ensures your baby’s developmental milestones are on track.

Practical Strategies for Busy Parents

Balancing supervision and household responsibilities can be challenging. Consider:

Rotating Toys: Introduce a few toys at a time to maintain interest.
Designated Play Areas: Use playpens or safe spaces for supervised exploration.
Interactive Play: Encourage hand-to-mouth and sensory activities together for bonding and learning.
Educational Tools: Some teething toys double as sensory learning tools, stimulating sight, touch, and taste.

Example Scenario: While cooking, place your baby in a secure play area with a set of silicone teething toys. This allows safe exploration while you complete household tasks.

Encouraging Independence Safely

As babies grow, they begin to feed themselves and explore independently. Safe oral exploration fosters independence and confidence. Tips include:

Offer finger foods with safe sizes and textures
Use BPA-free utensils for self-feeding practice
Praise exploratory behavior when safe, reinforcing learning

Allowing autonomy while maintaining safety helps your baby develop essential life skills.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Babies put many objects in their mouths, so hygiene is crucial:

Wash hands before playtime
Clean high-touch surfaces and toys regularly
Rotate and disinfect toys to reduce bacterial exposure

Tip: For household objects that can be mouthed, use a baby-safe cleaning solution or boil sterilizable items periodically.

The Takeaway

Babies put objects in their mouths for developmental, sensory, and comfort reasons. While it can be messy and worrisome for parents, it’s a normal and important part of learning about the world.

With proper supervision, safe toys, and a baby-proof environment, parents can let infants explore freely while minimizing risks. This habit naturally decreases as babies grow older and explore new forms of play.

By understanding the reasons behind mouthing behavior, providing safe alternatives, and maintaining vigilance, parents can support both the safety and developmental growth of their baby.