When Baby Stuffs Food in the Mouth
As babies explore solid food and learn how to feed themselves, they may pack in too much food or keep food in their cheeks. Our pediatric pros explain how to keep baby safe as they face this learning opportunity.
Why is baby stuffing food in their mouth?
Stuffing food is normal. Babies rely on touch and feedback from muscles in the mouth to learn how to take manageable bites, move food around, and chew a variety of textures. This helps create what’s known as a “mental map” of the mouth.
Overstuffing provides lots of deep touch and pressure feedback to baby’s brain. Babies overstuff food in the mouth because:
They are learning how much food is too much.
They enjoy playing and tasting the foods.
They don’t realize there is already food in the mouth.
They just don’t know how to take it slow… yet.
The flavor, texture, and pressure from the food “teaches” the brain about the inside of the mouth. The bigger, firmer, and more flavorful the piece of food, the more input it gives to baby’s brain. Learn more about what to do when baby takes a big bite.
Why do babies pocket food in the mouth?
Babies may pocket food in their cheeks or in the roof of the mouth as they are learning how to eat. If baby cannot locate where food is in their mouth, or can't figure out how to reach it with their tongue, they may pocket it. Moving food around the mouth takes lots of time and practice to build, and it is normal for babies to pocket food beyond 12 months of age, particularly with food that is more challenging to chew.
Is stuffing and pocketing dangerous?
Generally, no. But the risk increases if baby leaves the meal with food pocketed in the mouth. Babies typically gag or spit out food that they have stuffed in the mouth. Pocketed food in the mouth becomes a concern when baby moves on from mealtime with food still in the mouth. Why? Babies are likely to forget about the food, which can pose a serious choking risk. Pocketing also carries a significant risk for tooth decay and cavities as food sits for an extended time against teeth. If baby is pocketing food, teach baby to spit out food.
Julian, 10 months, stuffs a large piece of kiwi in his mouth, then successfully chews and swallows it.
What should I do when baby stuffs or pockets food?
Stay calm. While it may feel like an emergency, it is likely not.
Clear the food from the table or tray. So baby does not put more food in their mouth.
Give it a minute. Baby may spit out food on their own.
Kneel down in front of baby to encourage them to look down, which allows gravity to help them spit out the food.
Coach baby. Say, “Too much food. Spit out.” Then, exaggerate spitting out a small bit of food with your tongue. You can also stick out your own tongue as you hold your hand just below baby’s mouth, which helps prompt them to spit out the food.
Use gravity if needed. Lean your baby forward gently, which can help encourage the to spit out the food.
If pocketing…Demonstrate swallowing. Show “swallow” by swallowing a bit of your own food (or drink) while moving your hand from your lips, along your throat, and down to your stomach.
Offer an empty spoon. Baby will likely open their mouth (to help you see where the food is), and oftentimes they may chew or suck on the spoon. This can initiate moving the food around and swallowing or spitting.
Offer a drink. Offer a small sip of water, breast milk, or formula from an open cup. An open cup lets liquid enter your child’s mouth right at the front to clear all areas.
Avoid putting your fingers in baby’s mouth. Any time you put your fingers in baby’s mouth, the risk of choking increases.
As a last resort, you can perform a finger sweep.
How can I get my baby to stop stuffing food?
Stuffing food in the mouth is normal, and over time, baby learns what “too much” feels like. These strategies can help.
Talk to baby. Every time you see baby starting to overstuff the mouth, say, “That looks like a lot. Finish that bite.” Or: “Slow down. Too much.”
Let them investigate. When baby spits out food, don’t take it away. Looking at it, touching it, and even putting it back in the mouth to try again can decrease overstuffing next time. Point to the food, and say: “See? Too much. Smaller bite next time.”
Space out food on the table or tray. Baby is less likely to pick up lots of food at once.
Introduce a fork. Fork practice can slow baby down as they work with one bite at a time. Sound effects like “boop!” when piercing can help encourage baby to participate.
Go big. If baby is between 9 and 12 months of age and eating bite-sized pieces of food, larger cuts can decrease overstuffing.
Teach how to bite and tear. Offer big foods and practice biting. Sound effects help, ““Grrrr!” as you bite, and “Rrrrrippp!” as you tear. If baby needs support, model how it’s done by taking a bite of your food, then hold a piece of food in front of baby and let them try. As they take a bite, gently pull away, encouraging them to hold on with their teeth. Show them where they bit the food; say, “Look! You took a bite.”
Choose foods that “wake up” the mouth. Soft, bland foods are usually more likely to be stuffed. Offer foods with stronger flavors (such as citrus, herbs, or spices) or more complex textures (such as roasted or grilled vegetables instead of steamed).
It can be tempting to try to prevent stuffing by only offering one bite of food at a time. Unfortunately, this isn’t a long-term solution. Baby will eventually be offered more food at once, and stuffing may continue. Remember that stuffing in itself is an “exercise” in building skill; letting baby learn helps decrease stuffing overtime.
How do I prevent food pocketing and break the habit?
These strategies can help:
Practice with food teethers. Offer long, unbreakable sticks of food (such as a chicken drumstick, corn cob, or mango pit) that baby can move in and around the mouth with ease. This teaches baby about the space inside their mouth, and encourages practice using the tongue to move food around.
Offer soft, well-cooked foods. Take a break from offering any dry foods (such as bread or dry chicken), and let baby practice with soft foods (such as cooked fruit or ripe vegetables). Baby may pocket food less when it is easier to manage in the mouth. This can also encourage baby to practice chewing and moving food to the back of the mouth to swallow. After 1 or 2 weeks of practice, reintroduce the more challenging foods.
Pump up the flavor. Offer foods with bright flavors: oranges or lemons, mashed blackberries, marinara sauce, and tangy yogurt are all examples. Sour and tangy foods “wake up” the muscles in the mouth and generate saliva, which prepares baby to swallow.
Regular oral hygiene. Brushing your baby’s gums, teeth, and tongue twice a day also “wakes up” and helps to “map” the mouth.
Talk to baby. Share what you see: “That bite is really chewy. There is still food in your mouth. Keep chewing and then swallow.”
When should I seek support for food stuffing or pocketing? Who can help me with this?
It may be time to seek support if:
You regularly find food in your baby’s mouth half an hour or more after meals.
You have tried the strategies above for a month or so and see no progress.
Your baby is over-stuffing or pocketing at every meal with all types of foods.
Discuss options with your pediatrician. You can find support from an occupational therapist or speech therapist with expertise in pediatric feeding, eating, and swallowing.
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