Chewing skills are the ability to break down and mash food in the mouth before swallowing. Babies start chewing with their gums before teeth appear, and the skill improves as they are offered new and lumpier textures.
Key takeaways
- Babies do not need teeth to chew soft food.
- Moving from smooth purées to mashed and lumpy food by around 9 months supports chewing.
- Long-term smooth-only diets can make later textures harder to accept.
What you can do
- Gradually move from smooth to mashed, then minced and soft finger foods.
- Let your baby explore food with their hands.
- Eat together so your baby can watch and copy chewing.
When to talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if your baby regularly coughs, chokes or vomits with lumpier foods, or still only accepts smooth purées after about 12 months.
