Why Does My Baby Put Fingers and Toys in Their Mouth?
 Category | Physiology |
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Medically reviewed by pediatrician and perinatal psychologist Polina Kizino
Babies put objects in their mouths — it’s a natural stage of development. This is how they explore the world: feeling texture and shape, exercising their mouth and tongue, preparing for solid foods, and soothing teething discomfort. Ensure safety by choosing teethers made from safe materials, cleaning toys regularly, and keeping small items out of reach.
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Quick takeaways
- Babies put everything in their mouth — it’s a natural stage of development. This way they explore texture, shape, and temperature, strengthen oral muscles for speech, and get ready for solids.
- How to ensure safety: use special teethers made of safe materials, avoid small objects that could be swallowed, clean toys regularly.
- When to be concerned: behavior continues after age 2, baby eats inedible items like chalk, sand, or paper (possible deficiency), mouth sores or bad odor appear — signs of infection. See a doctor in these cases.
This way of exploring is normal at this age
When a baby is born, their senses are still developing. Oral sensations are among the strongest. Babies learn about shape, texture, and temperature by putting things in their mouth.
This stage is known as the oral stage of development — and it’s completely normal. It also contributes to:
- Sensory development: understanding shape, texture, temperature
- Preparing for solids: learning to move different textures around the mouth
- Strengthening mouth muscles: key for speech
- Soothing during teething: massaging gums instinctively relieves discomfort
This stage can last for a while
- From 2–3 months, babies begin actively mouthing hands, toys, and other objects
- At 4–6 months, this becomes more intense as gums start to itch before the first teeth emerge
- Until age 1, babies explore everything they can grab with their mouth. This supports motor coordination and prepares for starting solids
- If mouthing continues after age 2, consult your doctor
Follow simple rules to keep your baby safe
- Remove small objects that could be swallowed
- Use teethers to help with teething discomfort
- Clean toys and teethers regularly
- Choose safe materials — no BPA or toxic dyes
When to consult a pediatrician
Most of the time, mouthing is normal. But look out for:
- Mouthing objects actively after age 2 — may signal a habit or sensory need
- Preference for inedible items (chalk, paper, sand) — may indicate nutrient deficiencies
- Frequent gagging — may be a sign of a strong gag reflex
- Mouth sores, redness, or bad breath — could be an infection
FAQs about why babies put fingers and toys in their mouth
Is it normal for babies to put fingers and toys in their mouth?
Yes. This is a normal developmental stage in which babies explore the world through their mouth. It provides sensory experience, helps them learn texture, shape, and temperature, and supports the development of oral muscles used later for speech and chewing. This behavior is typical in early infancy and gradually decreases as other skills develop.
At what age do babies most often put things in their mouth?
This behavior usually starts around 2–3 months when babies begin to discover their hands and surrounding objects. It peaks at 4–6 months due to increased sensory curiosity and teething discomfort. Gradually, it becomes less frequent and usually decreases significantly by 12–18 months as children develop other ways to explore their environment.
How can I keep oral exploration safe?
To keep it safe, remove small objects that could be swallowed or cause choking. Wash toys and teethers regularly and ensure they are intact and undamaged. Use only safe, non-toxic materials designed for infants. During teething, provide appropriate teethers to reduce gum discomfort and decrease the need to mouth unsafe objects.
When should I see a doctor about mouthing behavior?
Consult a doctor if the behavior continues beyond age 2 or if the child eats non-food items such as paper, sand, or chalk. Also seek advice if there is frequent gagging, mouth sores, redness, or persistent bad breath, as these may indicate an underlying health issue that requires medical evaluation.
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Sources
- Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. (M. Cook, Trans.). W W Norton & Co. https://doi.org/10.1037/11494-000. Accessed 3 Apr 2026.
- Fagan MK, Iverson JM. The Influence of Mouthing on Infant Vocalization. Infancy. 2007;11(2):191-202. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-7078.2007.tb00222.x. PMID: 19081776; PMCID: PMC2600509. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2600509/. Accessed 3 Apr 2026.
- “Teething”, UK National Health Service, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/teething/. Accessed 3 Apr 2026.
- “Teething: Tips for soothing sore gums”, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/teething/art-20046378. Accessed 3 Apr 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. (2019). ISBN: 978-1984817705