How to Get a Toddler to Chew Food

Starting your toddler on solid foods is an exciting transition in a parent's life. This stage of your child's development may bring with it certain questions, such as how to get your toddler to chew food as opposed to simply swallowing it. You can respond to this concern by providing soft foods for your child to start off with, BabyFit.com advises. Rather than giving your toddler hard foods to chew and swallow, a softer food will make the chewing process easier until your toddler understands how to chew more effectively.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft foods

Instructions

    • 1

      Demonstrate how to chew to your toddler. Place a piece of food in your mouth and start chewing in an exaggerated motion.

    • 2

      Break off a small piece of soft food for your toddler to chew. If your toddler is not a great chewer, you should always start with bite-size pieces. Monitor as your toddler places the food into his mouth. Then, demonstrate the chewing to him once again in hopes that he will copy you.

    • 3

      Play a counting game, where you count how many times your toddler chews. Each time she puts food into her mouth, you begin counting "One ... two ... three ..." until the food is swallowed. The goal of the counting game is for your toddler to chew the food well, so you want to encourage her to chew and chew and chew.

    • 4

      Limit distractions around your toddler as he chews. It could be that your toddler is swallowing his food and not chewing well because he is in a hurry to do something else or is distracted. Provide a comfortable and calm eating environment so your toddler can focus on chewing his food, the British Columbia Ministry of Health advises.

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