If your child continues to chew on toys, pencils, or non-food items after age two, it's often a sign they're using their mouth to self-regulate or explore their world at a developmental level younger than their actual age. While mouthing objects is completely normal for babies and toddlers under two, when this behavior persists in older children, it can indicate underlying sensory needs, developmental delays, autism, or other learning differences that deserve attention and support .

Is Your Child's Mouth-Chewing Normal or a Sign of Something Else?

Oral sensory seeking, where children continue to put things in their mouth after age two, is a commonly reported behavior in children with additional needs. This could include sensory differences, autism, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. The child might chew or suck on non-food objects available in their environment, suck or chew their sleeves or collar, constantly have a toy or pencil in their mouth, or in some cases, eat non-food items such as sand, play dough, or soil .

To understand whether your child's behavior is typical, it helps to know that mouthing items is a normal part of development. Babies and infants use sucking to help calm themselves and self-soothe, which is why pacifiers work so well. As children get older, they use their mouth to explore the world. It is very normal for children to put everything into their mouth between ages 18 to 24 months, as this helps their sensory motor development and teaches them about objects, such as how big they are, how hard or soft they are, and their shape. This behavior typically reduces from 18 months but can continue until age two. However, past age two, these behaviors would be less common in typically developing children .

What Are the Main Reasons Children Continue Oral Sensory Seeking?

Several factors can explain why older children continue putting things in their mouths. Understanding these reasons is the first step toward helping your child develop healthier coping strategies.

• Developmental Stage Mismatch: Older children with developmental delays may continue to use their mouths to explore objects like an 18-month-old does because their brains are processing information at a much younger developmental age. Despite being older chronologically, their brains are still working in the sensorimotor stage of development, which is why they are still putting things in their mouth as it is normal for this developmental stage .
• Self-Regulation and Calming: Children use oral sensory input as a strategy to calm themselves when overwhelmed, tired, or experiencing sensory overload. Because the jaw is one of the most powerful muscles in the human body, chewing gives the brain a significant amount of proprioceptive sensory input, which helps organize their nervous system .
• Sensory Processing Difficulties: Children with sensory processing difficulties, autism, or sensory issues may put things in their mouth or chew when they are overloaded. Chewing and sucking helps them self-soothe, so it is a strategy that children use to help calm themselves down if they are experiencing sensory overload .
• Dental Problems: In some cases, the child may have problems with their teeth. It may be that their adult teeth are cutting through, or it could be a sign of decay or infection. If this is suspected, the child should have a check-up with their dentist .
• Pica: A medical condition called pica causes children to put all things, not just food, into their mouths. This could be anything from a cigarette butt to Lego, dirt, or a coin. These children do not distinguish edible and non-edible items. Research has suggested that between 4% and 26% of people with learning disabilities show pica, and the likelihood of pica occurring increases the more severe the level of learning disability .

If you suspect your child has pica or another underlying medical condition, consulting with your pediatrician or dentist is important to rule out health concerns before addressing the behavior through other strategies.

How to Help Your Child Manage Oral Sensory Seeking

• Identify Patterns: Look for patterns in when oral seeking occurs. Does it happen when your child is tired, overwhelmed, or in certain environments? Understanding the triggers can help you anticipate when your child might need support and offer alternatives before the behavior escalates .
• Reduce Sensory Overload: Modify environments to reduce sensory overload. If your child tends to mouth objects when overstimulated, create quieter spaces, reduce visual clutter, or limit the number of activities happening at once. This can help prevent the need for self-regulation through chewing .
• Offer Safe Alternatives: Provide appropriate substitutes that meet your child's sensory needs safely. These can include chewy foods like dried fruit or licorice, sensory toys designed for chewing, or oral motor activities such as blowing bubbles, drinking through straws, or using a water bottle with a spout. The key is finding alternatives that provide similar sensory feedback without the safety risks .
• Monitor for Safety: Ensure that objects your child has access to are safe if they are going to mouth them. Remove small choking hazards, toxic items, or anything with sharp edges. If your child is eating non-food items like soil or sand, supervise outdoor play closely and redirect to safer alternatives .

The goal is not to eliminate oral sensory seeking entirely if it is functional and helping your child self-regulate, but rather to ensure it happens safely and does not interfere with learning or social development. Many children will continue to suck their thumb and chew on items after age two as a way to calm and self-soothe, and this can be a really helpful strategy when it is functional .

If you notice your child's oral sensory seeking is becoming problematic, zoning them out, or if you suspect an underlying condition like pica or a developmental delay, reach out to your pediatrician, occupational therapist, or a developmental specialist. They can help you understand what your child's behavior is communicating and develop a plan tailored to your child's specific sensory and developmental needs.