Feral Toddler Co.

Key Highlights

• Persistent chewing in toddlers over two may signal a need for oral sensory input due to underlying sensory needs.
• Children often use chewing as a self-soothing mechanism to manage sensory processing and calm their nervous system.
• Safe alternatives like chewelry and specific foods can satisfy a toddler’s desire to chew.
• Oral sensory activities, such as blowing bubbles or drinking through a straw, help develop oral motor skills.
• Consulting with an occupational therapy professional can help identify the right strategies for your child.

Introduction

Does your toddler constantly put things in their mouth? You are not alone. While mouthing objects is a normal part of development for babies, it can be a sign of something more when it continues past the age of two. This behavior often indicates that your child is seeking oral sensory input to meet their sensory needs. Understanding why this happens and finding safe, effective ways to address it can make a big difference in your child’s daily routine and overall well-being.

Understanding Oral Sensory Seeking in Toddlers

It’s common for toddlers to explore the world with their mouths, but when this behavior continues, it’s often called oral sensory seeking. This is your child’s way of getting specific sensory input that helps them understand their environment and regulate their bodies. Their sensory needs are driving them to find certain sensations.

Understanding the reasons behind this can help you respond effectively. Instead of just stopping the behavior, you can provide safe and appropriate alternatives that satisfy their need for oral sensory input. Let’s look at what oral sensory seeking is, the signs to watch for, and when it becomes a consistent habit.

What Is Oral Sensory Seeking and Why Does It Occur?

Oral sensory seeking is when a child, typically over the age of two, continues to put non-food items in their mouth. This might include chewing on their sleeves, toys, or even their own fingers. This behavior is a way for them to receive strong oral sensory input, which can be very calming and organizing for the nervous system.

You can often tell if your toddler is seeking oral sensory input by observing their behavior. Do they frequently chew on their clothing or toys? Do they seem calmer after sucking on their thumb or a pacifier? These actions provide powerful feedback to the jaw, which helps organize their sensory processing.

For some children, especially those with developmental delays or a sensory processing disorder, this need for oral input is more intense. If you notice these signs, it might be helpful to provide safe alternatives. An occupational therapy professional can also offer guidance and support tailored to your child’s specific needs.

Common Signs of Toddler Chewing Behavior

Recognizing the signs of oral sensory seeking can help you understand your child’s sensory needs better. These behaviors are a clue that your child might need more oral sensory stimulation to feel regulated. Sensory seekers often look for intense input to help them manage their sensory processing and impulse control.

If you’re wondering what signs suggest your child needs more oral stimulation, look for consistent patterns. These behaviors often become more frequent when a child is tired, overwhelmed, or anxious.

Common signs include:

• Chewing or sucking on shirt collars or sleeves
• Frequently putting toys or other non-food items in their mouth
• Biting their own fingernails or thumbs
• Chewing on pencils or pieces of paper

When Chewing Becomes a Sensory Seeking Habit

For some toddlers, chewing evolves from a developmental exploration phase into a consistent habit. This happens when the need for oral sensory input becomes a regular part of their sensory processing. These children, known as oral sensory seekers, use chewing to self-soothe and regulate their bodies throughout the day. It might become a go-to strategy during their daily routine.

Your toddler puts objects in their mouth because the sensation is calming and organizing for their brain. When you see this, the best response is to redirect them to a safe alternative rather than simply telling them to stop. Provide a chewable toy or a crunchy snack. This acknowledges their need while teaching them a safer way to meet it.

Over time, this consistent redirection helps your child learn what is acceptable to chew on. It validates their sensory needs and empowers them with appropriate tools. This approach turns a potentially challenging habit into a manageable part of their self-regulation strategy, making their daily life smoother.

Reasons Toddlers Engage in Oral Sensory Seeking

Toddlers chew on things for various reasons, and it’s not always just a bad habit. Often, it’s a response to their internal sensory needs and developmental factors. The strong sensory input from the jaw can be very organizing and calming for a young child’s developing nervous system.

Understanding these underlying causes can help you support your child more effectively. From developmental milestones to self-soothing mechanisms, the drive for oral input is a powerful one. We will explore some of the key reasons why your toddler might be engaging in this behavior.

Developmental Factors Leading to Chewing

Chewing is a natural part of early development. Babies and young toddlers use their mouths to explore and learn about their world. This oral exploration helps with their sensory processing, teaching them about different textures, shapes, and sizes. For children under two, mouthing objects is completely normal and expected.

You can often tell if your toddler is seeking oral sensory input if this behavior continues past the age of two. If your child has developmental delays, they may continue to explore with their mouth as a younger child would. Their developmental age, rather than their chronological age, dictates their actions. They are still in a sensorimotor stage where oral input is a primary way of learning.

These children simply need more time to move past this developmental stage. Providing them with safe, age-appropriate items to mouth can support their development while ensuring their safety. It’s about meeting them where they are in their developmental journey.

Self-Regulation and Soothing Mechanisms

Sucking and chewing are powerful tools for self-regulation, even from birth. Babies use sucking to calm themselves, and this soothing mechanism can continue into the toddler years and beyond. When you see your toddler chewing on their shirt or thumb, they are often trying to calm their nervous system.

Yes, oral sensory activities can absolutely help calm an overstimulated toddler. Chewing provides deep, organizing pressure to the jaw, which sends calming signals to the brain. This helps improve their sensory processing and gives them a way to manage their feelings and impulse control when they feel overwhelmed, tired, or upset.

For many children, this is an effective, unconscious strategy. It’s a sign that they may not have other tools for self-soothing. By providing safe chewing options, you are helping them develop healthy self-regulation skills that will benefit them as they grow.

Overstimulation and Oral Sensory Needs

When a child’s brain is overwhelmed by too much sensory information from the environment, it’s called overstimulation. This is especially common in children with sensory processing challenges. In these moments, children often turn to familiar, calming behaviors to cope, and chewing is a very common one.

Oral sensory activities are highly effective at calming an overstimulated toddler. The act of chewing provides deep pressure to the jaw, a powerful form of proprioceptive input that is grounding and organizing for the nervous system. This can help a child who is feeling overwhelmed by their surroundings.

If your child has a sensory processing disorder, their oral sensory needs might be even greater during times of overstimulation. Chewing on a safe item can help them filter out excess sensory noise and regain a sense of calm. It’s a tangible way for them to manage an internal state that feels chaotic.

Safe Tools and Toys for Sensory Seeking Toddlers

When your toddler has strong oral sensory needs, providing them with safe outlets is key. Instead of trying to stop the chewing, you can redirect it to appropriate sensory tools and toys. This approach validates their needs while keeping them safe from chewing on harmful objects.

There is a wide variety of sensory toys designed specifically for this purpose. From wearable items to handheld tools, these products are made from non-toxic, durable materials. Let’s explore some popular options that can help satisfy your child’s need to chew.

Popular Chewelry and Chewable Items

There are many safe tools and toys available to support your toddler’s oral sensory needs. Chewelry, which includes silicone necklaces and bracelets, is a popular and discreet option. These items look like regular accessories but are designed for safe chewing. They come in various shapes, textures, and firmness levels to match a child’s preference.

Besides wearable items, other oral motor tools can be very effective. Chew sticks, for example, are simple but provide satisfying resistance. You can also incorporate certain foods into your child’s diet. Chewy foods and crunchy foods like dried fruit, carrots, or popcorn can provide excellent oral sensory input during snack time.

Here is a look at some common chewable items and their benefits: | Item Type | Sensory Benefit | |——————-|—————————————————————–| | Chewelry | Provides a discreet, wearable, and safe chewing outlet. | | Chew Sticks | Offers firm resistance and can feature textured surfaces. | | Crunchy Foods | Delivers alerting and organizing input through sound and texture. | | Chewy Foods | Requires strong jaw work, which is calming and organizing. |

Selecting Age-Appropriate Oral Motor Toys

Choosing the right oral motor tools is crucial for safety and effectiveness. Always consider your child’s age and chewing intensity. Younger toddlers need larger sensory toys with no small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Older children might prefer more discreet options or toys with different textures.

When selecting a toy, think about what your child seeks. Do they prefer soft, squishy items or hard, resistant ones? Trying out a few options can help you find the perfect fit. A pediatric occupational therapist can also provide recommendations based on a professional assessment of your child’s needs.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting toys:

• Check the age recommendations on the packaging.
• Choose materials like food-grade silicone that are non-toxic and durable.
• Consider toys with varied surfaces to provide different textures for exploration.

Safety Considerations for Chewable Products

Yes, there are many safe tools and toys for oral sensory seekers, but safety must always be the top priority. When choosing sensory tools, look for products made from non-toxic, food-grade or medical-grade materials. Ensure they are free from harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and lead.

Regular inspection of these items is essential. Check for any signs of wear and tear, such as cracks or pieces breaking off, which could become a choking hazard. If a toy is damaged, it should be replaced immediately. For oral sensory seekers who are aggressive chewers, look for extra-tough options designed to withstand heavy use.

Supervision is also key, especially when introducing a new chewable product. An occupational therapist can be a great resource for recommending durable and safe brands. They can help you find the right sensory tools that meet your child’s needs without compromising their safety.

Effective Oral Motor Activities for Toddlers

Beyond chew toys, you can incorporate specific oral motor activities into your toddler’s day to help with their sensory processing. These activities are designed to strengthen the muscles in the mouth, lips, and tongue while providing the deep pressure input many children crave.

Engaging in these exercises can be both fun and therapeutic. They offer a constructive way to meet your child’s sensory needs, helping them feel more regulated and focused. Let’s look at some simple exercises, playful activities, and therapist-recommended ideas.

Simple Exercises to Support Oral Motor Skills

You can easily support your toddler’s oral motor skills with simple, playful exercises. These different activities don’t require special equipment and can be woven into your daily routine. The goal is to engage the muscles around the mouth in a fun, low-pressure way.

Many recommended oral motor exercises feel like games to a child. For example, making funny faces in the mirror, puffing out cheeks, or blowing kisses all work the facial muscles. These activities help build the strength and coordination needed for speech and feeding.

Here are a few simple oral motor exercises for toddlers:

• Blowing bubbles or whistles
• Drinking thick liquids like smoothies or yogurt through a straw
• Making fish faces or smiling as wide as they can
• Using a party blower to unroll the paper

If you have concerns, an occupational therapy professional can provide more targeted exercises.

Incorporating Heavy Work for Mouth into Play

“Heavy work” activities for the mouth are exercises that involve resistance, providing intense oral input. You can easily incorporate these oral sensory exercises into your toddler’s daily routine to help meet their sensory needs. This can be done through food, drink, and play.

Mealtimes are a perfect opportunity. Offer crunchy foods like apple slices, carrot sticks, or pretzels. Chewy foods like dried mango or bagels also provide great resistance. For drinks, have your child use a straw to drink a thick smoothie. The effort required to suck up the liquid is a fantastic heavy work activity.

Outside of meals, you can play games that involve blowing. Try blowing cotton balls across a table with a straw or see who can blow the biggest bubble with a bubble wand. These playful heavy work activities provide the oral input your child is seeking and can be a fun part of your daily routine.

Therapist-Recommended Oral Sensory Activities

Therapists, including those at specialized centers like an uplift therapy center, often have a wealth of creative ideas for improving oral motor skills. These activities are designed to support a child’s sensory systems and are often used in speech therapy and occupational therapy sessions.

A key therapist-backed tip is to make activities fun and engaging. Using musical instruments like a harmonica or a recorder can be a great way to work on breath control and lip strength. Vibrating toothbrushes can also provide gentle, organizing sensory input to the mouth.

Here are some therapist-recommended oral sensory activities:

• Blowing bubbles with bubble straws for better control.
• Drinking from a water bottle that requires a strong suck, like a CamelBak.
• Sucking on frozen fruit or homemade juice pops.
• Playing with party blowers or whistles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, engaging in oral sensory activities can significantly benefit toddlers who constantly need to chew. By understanding the underlying reasons for their chewing behavior and providing appropriate tools and activities, parents can help their little ones develop essential oral motor skills while also addressing sensory needs. From selecting safe chewable items to incorporating therapeutic exercises into daily play, there are numerous ways to create a supportive environment for sensory-seeking toddlers. Remember, it’s all about fostering a balance that promotes comfort and development. If you’re looking for tailored strategies to enhance your toddler’s sensory experience, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation with our experts today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can oral sensory activities calm an overstimulated toddler?

Yes, oral sensory activities can be very effective for calming an overstimulated toddler. Chewing and sucking provide deep pressure to the jaw, which has a regulating effect on the nervous system. This is especially helpful for children with a sensory processing disorder. An occupational therapist can suggest specific activities.

How do I know if my child needs more oral sensory stimulation?

You may notice your child frequently chews on non-food items like clothing, toys, or their fingers. This behavior, especially after age two, often indicates a need for more oral sensory stimulation. It’s their way of seeking sensory input to manage their sensory needs, especially if they have sensory processing challenges.

How can I add oral sensory activities to my toddler’s daily routine?

An easy way to add oral sensory input into a daily routine is through food and play. Offer crunchy or chewy snacks, and have your toddler drink thick smoothies through a straw. You can also provide sensory tools like chewelry or play games that involve blowing to help improve oral motor skills.