Why do babies put everything in their mouth? | Development, senses, and tips for parents

When your baby grabs something for the first time, there’s a good chance the object will end up in their mouth within a second. A block, a cloth, a stuffed animal… everything seems to have the final destination “mouth.” But why do babies actually do this? And should you be worried?

In this blog, we explain why babies put everything in their mouths, what this says about their development, and how you as a parent can handle this safely.

The mouth as the first 'discovery instrument'

Between 3 and 7 months, your baby enters what is called themouth phase: an important developmental phase in which your baby learns about the world through the mouth. Babies initially cannot see well, grasp, or analyze with their hands like adults do. What they can do? Taste, suck, and feel with their lips, tongue, and gums.

The mouth is at that moment the most sensitive sense and helps your baby gather information about:

• Temperature

• Texture (soft, hard, smooth, rough…)

• Size and shape

• Whether something is edible or safe

So no, it is not a "bad habit" – it is a completely natural and even essential part of the sensory and motor developmentof your child.

Is it dangerous that babies put everything in their mouths?

In principle not, as long as the itemssafe, clean and suitable for their age . Think of teething toys, soft cuddly toys, silicone rings, or fabric books. However, as a parent, you need to be alert for:

• Small items(choking hazard)

• Sharp edges

• Batteries and magnets – life-threatening

• Toxic materialslike paint or plastic without a quality mark

💡 Safety tip: choose products with a CE certification ( in accordance with EU regulations) and avoid anything smaller than a ping pong ball.

The importance of teething toys

During the oral phase and especially when the teeth are coming through, can teething toys provide lighting. These are specially designed to suck or chew on, without causing damage to gums or teeth. You can find them in all kinds of shapes: from silicone figures to cooling elements that you place in the refrigerator.

A softplay matWith bite-friendly toys nearby is the ideal combo: your baby lies comfortably and can safely experiment with grabbing and tasting.

When does it stop?

The peak of the oral phase is between 6 and 12 months. Around the first year of life, babies also start to explore more with their hands and eyes, but the oral use does not disappear immediately. Some children continue to like putting things in their mouths even after that – that is normal.

What can you do as a parent?

• Give your baby toys that are made for chewing.

• Ensure a safe play environment , such as a defined play mat without small objects. Check out our blog about a safe play environment.

• Let your baby explore, but stay close by.

• Remove unsafe objects such as keys, coins, or plastic packaging.