Babies putting things in their mouths, otherwise known as mouthing, is not only
normal, but also signals a growing interest in the world around them. In the first
year, children explore their surroundings through their senses -- seeing,
touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting. The more they explore, the more they
learn.
At about 5-6 months of age, almost anything within reach makes a beeline
straight to the mouth - keys, toys, their feet, etc. This oral exploration has several
developmental benefits/reasons
Anytime your baby wants to explore something, she will instantly try to put it in
her mouth. Doing so will give her an idea about the taste, shape and texture of
that object. In fact, mouthing will give your baby one of her first lessons in
learning more about the world around her.
Your baby’s mouth has more nerve endings per square millimetre than any other
part of her body. So if she really wants to find out what something feels like, she
puts it in her mouth. If you don't want something to go into your baby's mouth,
don't leave it where she can get hold of it!
While your baby is learning to master his hand movements -- reaching, grabbing,
and swatting -- he's not yet so adept at using his fingers. So when a baby grasps
what he desires and wants to investigate further ("Is it soft or hard? Can I eat it?
Does it make a sound?"), this often means putting it in his mouth. Mouthing
helps babies learn all about different shapes and textures. They also learn what
feels good and tastes good, and what doesn't -- so your child will only mouth a
wool blanket once.
Mouthing objects can also be a sign that the first tooth is ready to surface.
Although most babies cut their first tooth around 7 months, some start as early as
3 months. When this happens, you'll notice your child drooling a lot and
constantly putting things in her mouth.
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