Sensory Strategies for Supporting the Oral-Seeking Child

When kiddos (who aren't teething) constantly mouth, chew, or bite on non-edibles, we describe them as having oral-seeking behaviors.  Putting fingers, toys, or other objects in the mouth provides multi-sensory input that helps to organize a dysregulated nervous system. While such behaviors may pacify the child, these oral-seeking behaviors tend to cause us adults a lot of stress! Nobody truly wants a child to chew on his shirt, lick the wall, gnaw on Lego's, or bite a board book! Another point to ponder is that if the child is chewing on the toys, that means he's not playing with them in an appropriate or expected manner. Since children learn best through play, the lack of purposeful play can contribute to developmental delays.

Let's examine some strategies to support the oral-seeking child.

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Food Options

• Provide chewy foods such as gummy bears, bagels, licorice, beef jerky, chewy granola bars, fruit leather, raisins, tootsie rolls, small pieces of steak or other meat
• Try crunchy foods such as pretzel rods, Dutch pretzels, raw veggies, crunchy granola bars, sliced apples, kettle-cooked potato chips
• Offer cold or frozen foods such as Popsicles, ice chips, frozen grapes (cut in half for safety), slushies
• Try sour snacks such as sour gummy worms, oranges, lemons
• Offer carbonated beverages such as flavored sparkling water (no soda please!)
• Use sippy cups with straws instead of spouts (sucking is organizing to the nervous system)
• Try high-intensity flavors such as salsa, spicy ketchup, Hot 'n Spicy Cheez-Its, jalapeno-flavored chips, Hot Tamales, black licorice, radishes, pickles, green olives
• Encourage the child to chew gum or suck on mints (when it is developmentally appropriate)  
• Allow the child to sip milkshakes or applesauce through a straw (consider using a straw hierarchy)

​Cari's Straw Hierarchy​ (from least to most resistant)
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Milkshake straws first (cut them in half to make the task easier)

Next offer bendy straws

After that try coffee stirrers

Finally, offer crazy straws

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Non-Food Options
Try creating a "Biter Bucket" filled with a variety  of objects that are allowed to go in the mouth such as:

• A vibrating toothbrush (not to be used during teeth-brushing, but rather offered as an oral-sensory toy)

• Chewy jewelry that is designed for children with teeth (be cautious about using non-therapeutic options that are for babies whose teeth have not yet erupted)

• Chewy tubes 

• Ice maker tubing, cut into 3-4 inch pieces (this is highly resistant, food grade material that kids cannot chew through)

•  A rolled up washcloth (for kids who chew on their shirt, this will provide more resistance to the jaw)
• Mouth toys such as whistles, kazoos, harmonicas, and party blowers

​When the child puts something inappropriate in his or her mouth, block and redirect to the "Biter Bucket." Pair these non-food options with some of the food options listed above, and over time, you should start to see a decrease in the oral-seeking behaviors. 

*Note: When back molars come in around age 2, expect an increase in mouthing until those teeth erupt!