Oral-Motor Development · Feeding & Swallowing
Every bite takes dozens of muscles, thousands of sensory signals and split-second timing between chewing, swallowing and breathing.
Swallowing is a reflex we're born with. Chewing is a skill children learn, one texture at a time. In this post we look at how both work, why they're worth celebrating, and how you can feel it for yourself with a short mindful chewing exercise at the end.
Think about the last thing you ate. You probably didn't plan where your tongue would move, when your jaw would shift, or when to pause your breathing. It just happened. Eating and drinking nourish the body, and they're also how we enjoy flavors and connect with the people we love.
For many children and adults, though, eating and drinking take real effort or aren't safe at all. Some rely on blended or modified diets. Others receive some or all of their nutrition through a feeding tube that delivers food directly to the stomach or small intestine.
1 in 37
children under 5 in the U.S. meet the criteria for pediatric feeding disorder each year
25–45%
of typically developing children have feeding difficulties at some point
Up to 80%
of children with developmental disabilities have feeding difficulties
Sources: Kovacic et al., 2021; Manikam & Perman, 2000. Full list at the end of the post.
Chewing and swallowing are gifts many of us never think about. So let's slow down and look at what your body does every time you take a bite.
How We Chew
Chewing and swallowing are run by the brain and nervous system. Several cranial nerves carry information about a food's taste, texture, temperature and size, and send signals back to the muscles of the lips, cheeks, tongue, jaw and throat. Together, they shape food into a soft, cohesive ball called a bolus that's safe to swallow.
The first bite.
The front teeth bite off a piece of food, or a bite-sized piece is placed in the mouth.
The tongue moves food to the molars.
The front and middle of the tongue carry food to the back teeth, while the back of the tongue stays raised so nothing slips toward the airway too early.
Lips and cheeks keep everything in place.
The lips stay closed so food doesn't fall out, and the cheeks hold food on the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
The jaw grinds in a rotary chew.
The jaw moves up, down and side to side while the tongue shifts food across the mouth. Saliva mixes in and its enzymes start breaking food down.
The bolus is ready.
Once the food is soft and cohesive, the tip of the tongue presses up against the roof of the mouth and a wave-like squeeze moves the bolus to the back of the throat.
Did you know?
On the brain's "map" of the body (often drawn as a figure called the homunculus), the mouth and hands take up a surprisingly large share. That's because they are packed with sensory receptors and need precise control. It's a big reason textures, temperatures and new foods can feel so intense to some children.
How We Swallow
Once the bolus reaches the back of the throat, a reflex takes over. The throat holds two tubes side by side: the trachea (windpipe), which sits in front and carries air to the lungs, and the esophagus (food pipe), which sits behind it and carries food to the stomach. In a fraction of a second, the body has to send food down the right one.
While breathing
The airway is open so air can flow to the lungs. The top of the food pipe stays closed.
During a swallow
Breathing pauses, the airway closes and the food pipe opens so the bolus can travel safely to the stomach.
This happens hundreds of times a day, usually without a single conscious thought, which is a big part of what makes it such a gift.
Watch: Chewing & swallowing animationA short video showing these steps in motion.Swallowing Is a Reflex. Chewing Is Learned.
Babies are born able to suck and swallow. Chewing is different: it's a motor skill that develops through practice with new tastes and textures. With every bite, the brain builds and strengthens the pathways that make chewing more automatic, until one day it takes no thought at all.
Around 6 months
Munching
As solids begin, babies use an up-and-down jaw motion to mash soft foods.
Around 9 to 12 months
Moving food side to side
The tongue starts moving food toward the gums and emerging teeth, so babies can manage more textures.
Toddler years
Rotary chewing emerges
The jaw begins its circular grinding motion, making tougher and mixed textures possible.
Early childhood
Refining with practice
Chewing keeps getting stronger, faster and more efficient through the preschool years and beyond.
Every child develops at their own pace. These ages are general guides, not deadlines.
Want a step-by-step plan for building these skills at home? Take a look at our chewing guide, or read Why Overcoming the Fear of Choking Matters When Starting Solids.
When to reach out for support
Talk with your pediatrician or a pediatric feeding specialist if you notice:
- Frequent coughing, choking or gagging during meals or drinks
- Food held in the cheeks (pocketing) or swallowed whole without chewing
- Strong avoidance of certain textures, or still relying mostly on purées well past the first birthday
- Meals that regularly take longer than 30 minutes
- A wet or gurgly voice after eating or drinking
- Weight loss, slowed growth or concerns from your pediatrician
Try it yourself
A Mindful Chewing Exercise
This short exercise slows chewing way down so you can notice everything your mouth does on its own. Grab a small piece of food with some texture, like a cracker, an apple slice or a piece of bread.
Look and smell first.
Notice the color, shape and smell before the food reaches your mouth.
Take one small bite and pause.
Which teeth did the work? Where did your tongue put the food?
Chew slowly.
Feel your jaw move up, down and side to side, and your tongue shifting food across your mouth.
Notice the change.
Pay attention as the texture softens and the flavor changes with your saliva.
Swallow with attention.
Feel your tongue push the food back, your breath pause, and the swallow happen on its own.
Now imagine learning every one of those steps for the first time. That's the work children do as they learn to eat.
Download the Printable ExerciseFrequently Asked Questions
When do babies start chewing?
Most babies begin with an up-and-down munching motion around 6 months, when they start solids. Side-to-side tongue movement and rotary chewing develop gradually over the next couple of years as children practice with a variety of textures.
Do babies need teeth to chew?
No. Babies can mash many soft foods with their gums, and practicing with safe, age-appropriate textures before teeth arrive helps build jaw and tongue skills.
Why does my child gag on new textures?
Gagging is a protective reflex. In babies it is triggered closer to the front of the tongue, and it usually moves farther back with practice and new oral experiences. Occasional gagging while learning is common. Frequent gagging, vomiting or distress at meals is worth discussing with a feeding specialist.
Wondering How Your Child Is Chewing?
If meals feel hard or you're not sure your child's chewing is on track, you don't have to figure it out alone. Book a free 15-minute call and we'll talk through what you're seeing and the next best step.
Want a full plan right away? Book a Comprehensive Feeding Consultation.
Selected References
- Kovacic K, Rein LE, Szabo A, Kommareddy S, Bhagavatula P, Goday PS. Pediatric feeding disorder: a nationwide prevalence study. J Pediatr. 2021;228:126–131.
- Manikam R, Perman JA. Pediatric feeding disorders. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2000;30(1):34–46.
- Goday PS, Huh SY, Silverman A, et al. Pediatric feeding disorder: consensus definition and conceptual framework. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(1):124–129.
- Matsuo K, Palmer JB. Anatomy and physiology of feeding and swallowing: normal and abnormal. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2008;19(4):691–707.
- Le Révérend BJD, Edelson LR, Loret C. Anatomical, functional, physiological and behavioural aspects of the development of mastication in early childhood. Br J Nutr. 2014;111(3):403–414.
