Why Chewing Is Essential for Baby’s Jaw Development
Babies don’t just chew for fun—chewing plays a critical role in jaw development, speech clarity, and healthy oral function. While it may seem like a simple skill, learning to chew properly strengthens the jaw muscles, supports airway function, and sets the foundation for eating a wide variety of foods later in life.
According to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, some babies struggle with chewing simply because they haven’t had enough practice with textured foods beyond purees. Introducing different textures between 6 and 10 months helps babies accept a wider range of foods as they grow, preventing food aversion and feeding difficulties.
How Hard Foods Strengthen Oral Muscles
In today’s world, many baby diets rely heavily on soft foods, but introducing firmer textures at the right time is crucial for oral development. Here’s how chewing helps:
Jaw Strength and Stability
Just like any other muscle in the body, the jaw needs regular exercise to grow stronger. Chewing firm foods encourages proper jaw movement and muscle activation, helping babies develop better oral coordination.
Better Speech Development
The same muscles used for chewing also control tongue, lip, and jaw movements needed for speech. Babies who practice chewing early on often develop clearer pronunciation and better articulation as they grow.
Improved Breathing and Airway Function
Chewing helps develop proper swallowing patterns, which can prevent mouth breathing. Nasal breathing is essential for better sleep quality and overall health.
Digestive Benefits
Chewing is the first step in digestion, breaking food down and mixing it with saliva to aid in nutrient absorption. Babies who learn to chew properly often transition more smoothly to solids.
Orthodontic Benefits
Proper jaw development through chewing can influence tooth alignment and facial structure. Chewing firmer foods promotes healthy jaw growth and spacing, potentially reducing the need for orthodontic treatments like braces later in life. Babies who rely too much on soft foods may develop weaker jaw muscles, which can contribute to crowded teeth, misalignment, or narrow palates. Encouraging proper chewing habits early on supports a well-formed dental arch and balanced facial growth.
Chewing Without Teeth: How Babies Learn to Chew Before Their First Tooth
Did you know that babies don’t need teeth to start learning how to chew? Chewing is a skill that begins developing between 6 and 9 months. Regular exposure to different textures helps build strong jaw muscles and better eating habits.
Ways to Encourage Chewing Before Teeth Appear
Introduce a gum brush or training toothbrush
Letting babies munch on a soft-bristled gum brush strengthens their jaw and prepares them for solid foods.
Offer safe hard munchables
Offer resistive, firm foods that do not crumble like teething biscuits, a whole raw carrot, or a firm teether to encourage jaw movement and introduce them to hard textures safely These aren’t for eating but for practicing biting and jaw movement.
Help with food placement
Use a training toothbrush, a clean finger, or your baby’s own finger to move soft food to the sides of their mouth to encourage chewing.
Provide chewy finger foods
Long, thick strips of chewy foods like crusty bread or dried mango teach babies how to move their jaw up and down.
Start with dissolvable foods
For non ‘hard-munchables’, foods like baby rice crackers or soft wafers melt in the mouth, making them a great first step in learning to chew and swallow.
Safety Tip: Always supervise your baby to ensure they handle food safely and do not bite off large chunks.
Teeth for Chewing: Advancing Your Baby’s Chewing Skills
Once your baby has developed basic chewing skills, teeth allow them to break down firmer foods more efficiently. Here’s how to support their chewing development once teeth come in:
Cut soft foods into bite-sized pieces
Small, manageable pieces encourage chewing while reducing the risk of choking.
Guide food placement
Help your child move food to the sides of their mouth where chewing naturally occurs.
Start with soft, chewy foods
Cheese sticks, scrambled eggs, and soft fruits are great early chewing options. As confidence grows, introduce steamed vegetables, pasta, and finely chopped meats.
Introduce familiar favorites first
Offering chewy versions of foods your child already enjoys helps with the transition to more complex textures.
Encourage mealtimes with peers
Babies learn by watching! Seeing other children eat chewy foods can encourage them to try new textures.
Final Thoughts
Chewing is more than just a step toward eating solids—it’s a crucial milestone for jaw strength, speech clarity, and healthy oral function. By offering a variety of textures at the right developmental stage, parents can help babies build strong chewing skills that support their growth and overall health.
Encouraging chewing early on sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating and oral habits. Whether your baby has teeth or not, giving them opportunities to practice chewing is one of the best ways to support their development!
