Is My Child Chewing?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Parents, particularly of children who are picky eaters, often wonder; Is my child chewing his food properly? Could that be the reason that my child refuses so many foods? Is that why my child chokes? Is that why my child doesn’t eat much? How can I tell if my child is chewing properly? This FAQ is written to help parents understand the complexity of chewing and to help them identify proper chewing skills.

Parents, particularly of children who are picky eaters, often wonder; Is my child chewing his food properly? Could that be the reason that my child refuses so many foods? Is that why my child chokes? Is that why my child doesn’t eat much? How can I tell if my child is chewing properly? This FAQ is written to help parents understand the complexity of chewing and to help them identify proper chewing skills.

Consider for a moment what happens when you chew food. Typically, you take a bite with your front teeth, transfer the food to the side (lateral biting surfaces) with your tongue, maybe after a few chews transfer it to the other side with your tongue to continue chewing and then when the food is chewed to a puree-like consistency, you elevate your tongue to initiate the swallow. Remember when you were a kid, your parents always reminded you to “chew with you mouth or lips closed”. Did you ever wonder why they needed to remind you so often? It is because it takes a great level of skill to chew on the lateral biting surfaces (back teeth) while maintaining closed lips. Even some adults have difficulty chewing with lips closed consistently.

Some children who haven’t mastered the proper chewing technique use a pattern that on the outside looks similar to chewing, however, the oral motor patterns (the way the tongue, lips cheeks and jaw are used) are completely different. Often when young children close their lips during chewing, they are not properly chewing their food on the lateral biting surfaces. You may see the food being transferred when the lips are open, however when they close their lips they may use a variety of the following techniques: use the tongue to mash the food on the hard palate (roof of mouth), use the anterior teeth and tongue to mash the food, use a strong suck like pattern with the tongue against the hard palate and then use a suckle transport. The part that may trick parents into thinking that their child is chewing is how active the jaw is during the manipulation. Try one of these “fake” chewing techniques with a graham cracker and watch yourself in the mirror. It can be tricky.

How can I tell if my child is chewing properly?

 Your child’s mouth should be open during the entire chewing process, with up and down jaw movements/munching pattern or a rotary chew.

 Food should be transferred to the lateral biting surfaces (where gums/molars are located).  Your child’s tongue should transfer food laterally and keep the food in place on the lateral surfaces with the help of his cheeks.

 Your child can chew many solids even without teeth (they are just under the gums if they haven’t surfaced yet).

 Your child should not grimace, gag, cough, choke, vomit, clear throat or extend his head or neck when swallowing. These may be signs of incomplete chewing or swallowing food whole.

 You should not see food pieces or large color variations in your child’s bowel movement.

Typical Chewing Development

7 Months of Age

 Is able to chew dissolvable solids such as graham crackers

9-12 Months

 Tongue transfers food from side to side, across middle of tongue when chewing

 Mouth remains open when chewing solid finger foods and chunks in puree

12-18 Months

 Bites through and open mouth chews soft solids such as a banana or a piece of cheese

 Continues to chew with mouth open, transferring food from side to side

If your child is not chewing properly you may observe the following characteristics:

 Mashing food with tongue against the roof of their mouth (mouth is closed)

 Sucking food, lips closed and active, may be pursed  Swallowing food whole

 Grimacing or wincing during the swallow, gagging, coughing, choking, throat clearing, vomiting

 Chunks of food in their bowel movements

 Holding food in mouth, pocketing food in cheeks, food scattered throughout the mouth

 Food refusals

Health Concerns may include the following:

 Malabsorption of nutrients, under-nutrition

 Constipation

 Diarrhea

 Obstruction: Gastrointestinal and Airway

 Indigestion/Tummy aches

 Low weight gain

If you have concerns about your child’s chewing abilities or if you are concerned about picky eating behaviors, ask your pediatrician to have your child evaluated by a feeding specialist to rule out difficulties. Also please see our related FAQ’s: Swallowing Food Whole, Typical Feeding Development, Lateral Munching, Hypersensitivities, and Picky Eaters