I've always been vaguely aware that most small children put
things into their mouths. For years, my mother reminded me that
as a toddler I loved to chew on cigarette butts I found at the
park, yet despite this knowledge, it still came as a shock to
discover with my own children just how much time I'd spend
trying to prevent them from eating the inedible. Even more
shocking is the list of hazardous items they've managed to get
into their mouths to date, despite my vigilance—a list including
such delicacies as hair clips, staples, and even broken glass.
What Is Mouthing? There is some comfort in knowing I'm not the
only parent fighting this battle. "Mouthing behavior is a normal
part of development for young children," according to Dr.
Kimberly Thompson, MD, a Harvard professor and director of the
Kids Risk Project. "It's one of the ways that children explore
their environments. Studies show that children put an enormous
range of objects into their mouths ... but some children show
very little mouthing behavior