My Baby Holds Food in Mouth and Won't Swallow: Tips from a Mom
Graduating from a strict diet of milk to baby foods is a big milestone in your baby’s life. This means they are growing big and strong and need more sustenance to satisfy them! When beginning to feed your baby food, you will usually go from puree, to soft, to normal foods cut up in appropriate sizes.
As you begin this journey together, you may notice your little one stashing food away in their mouth and not swallowing. This can be scary for parents! The last thing you want is for your baby to choke on their food because they aren’t eating properly. Before you begin panicking, keep reading for tips on how to get your baby to swallow their food!
Why Is My Baby Pocketing Food?
You’re feeding your baby, and all of a sudden, you notice that they didn’t swallow their last bite as they go for another! You immediately stop as they need to finish what's in their mouth first. If they aren’t swallowing it after a few moments, you may start to get worried. Why is this happening?
There are a few different reasons why your baby may be storing food in their mouth. One reason is that they may just enjoy the feeling of having food in their mouth! Alternatively, they may also not have the strength or coordination to eat whatever it is they are munching on.
Another big reason why your baby may not be swallowing is because of pain! Whether it be current pain or past pain, your baby could be afraid to swallow and have it hurt. They could have a sore throat or swollen tonsils, making it hard to eat.
How Do I Get My Baby To Swallow Their Food?
Now that we’ve covered some of the common reasons your baby may not be swallowing their food, the next question we need to answer is how to get them to swallow their food! First and foremost, the food in question should be appropriate to their age range.
If they are eating age-appropriate food and still aren’t swallowing, follow some of these tips to encourage them to finish eating safely:
Instruct your baby on what to do. They may be feeling confused about what to do, so you can say something like, “I see you still have food in your mouth! Chew and swallow so your tummy will be nice and full.”
Demonstrate what to do. Sometimes we all need a little visual to get on the right track. Take a little piece of food and demonstrate how to chew and swallow, but do so in an exaggerated way so that they get the idea!
Keep a toothbrushing routine. Regularly brushing your baby’s teeth will not only keep good oral hygiene but also increase their sensory awareness, which is important when learning to eat.
Offer a drink. As your baby is eating their meal, they should have a drink readily available. If they are still having trouble swallowing them, encourage them to take a sip. If possible, this should be done with an open cup as this will cover more area in their mouth to help wash the food down.
Provide various food textures. Some babies don’t enjoy certain textures and will try to avoid them. Offer a few different foods and textures for your baby so that they can alternate between what they like most and what they like least.
Consider sauces and dips. Let’s be real. We’ve all accidentally overcooked chicken. Some foods come out a little drier than others, and this can make it hard for your baby to chew and swallow. If they have drier food, adding a sauce or dip will help moisten it up and be easier to eat. Plus, it’ll be tastier – who doesn’t love a good dipping sauce?
Tell them they can spit it out. After all these tips have been exhausted, the piece of food may be too hard or difficult to chew. If they can spit it out on their own, let them know that this is okay if they absolutely can not swallow it. Try to avoid making any faces during this time. The last thing you want is for them to think it is a game!
Wait it out. If they can’t spit it out on their own, you may have to wait a little bit. Try not to immediately hook the food out with your finger as this can increase their risk of choking from panicking them or pushing the food farther back. If you’ve waited some time and your baby isn’t swallowing or spitting the food out, take them to the bathroom and instruct them to open their mouth. Use their toothbrush as they are used to having this in their mouth, and carefully sweep the food out of their mouth.
Keep Track of Your Baby’s Meals with Baby Connect
Making the transition from only milk to incorporating food is a huge transition in your baby’s life. They should gradually work their way up to solid foods and only eat food that is age appropriate. Additionally, you need to be cautious of potential allergies your baby may have, meaning you need to monitor them when new foods are introduced to identify potential allergies.
You want your baby to have fun with food – and be safe too! As they learn how to eat, you need to be aware of what foods they are trying and ensure they aren’t allergic to them. You also want them to enjoy what they are eating! With Baby Connect, you can document the foods your baby likes, doesn’t like, or may have trouble eating. This is an invaluable resource to keep your baby’s wants and needs all in one place!
