Why are mouth toys important for babies with feeding problems?
Many babies with feeding problems lacked the opportunity to develop generalized mouthing skills when they were infants. A child may have difficulty getting the toys to his mouth or holding on to toys. A child who has experienced pain or discomfort in the mouth from suctioning, naso-gastric feeding tubes, intubation or oral surgery may believe that any sensation in the mouth will hurt and will avoid any efforts at oral feeding. How do I choose the best mouth toys for my baby? A child’s own body is the first toy. Offer mouth toys after he has had opportunity to explore his own hands and even feet. The first mouth toys should be easy to hold and simple in shape and texture, such as the “hand and foot” teethers. Next introduce mouth toys with different textures such as “fruits on a ring” teethers. Experiment to see what your baby prefers. Some babies prefer softer toys and some firmer ones. Some become overwhelmed if the toy makes a sound and some love it. So break out those mouth toys and
