My son stores food in his mouth like a chimpmunk?

Question

My son stores food in his mouth like a chimpmunk?

my son is 16 months and when eating dinner, will chew up his food but refuse to swallow it. he'll "pack" it into his cheeks or under his tongue and won't swallow or spit it out. usually, i have to either dig it out or keep asking him until he'll spit it out. he doesn't always do this, but loves to do it when he is eating bread or chicken.

is this normal? how can i get him NOT to do it? does anybody else have a toddler that hoards food in their cheeks?

Answer 1

my son always did it with meat. he just got bored chewing it.

take the plate away until he finishes the mouthful.

try not giving him chicken and bread for a few days, he might forget about this habbit! give him stuff you know he eats well.

Answer 2

yes its very normal better u give her wat he likes

they r very bored of chewing so u better give liquids like juices or milk with some igredients

And while giving her food u play with her and change her mind to sumthing else so that he can swallow it quickly

Answer 3

My son did the same thing.  It was with chicken and meats.  I think it has to do with texture.  He will get over it and he wil learn how to spit it out soon enough.

Answer 4

My toddler is 14 1/2 months and we have a strict rule that food has to be eaten at the dinner table.  When she wants to get down and play she'll stuff tons of food in her mouth and then try to get down from her booster.  I end up having to dig it out and let her down.  If she comes back to me for more food, I put her back up in her booster and then give her just one piece at a time.

It's frustrating, but just give your son a piece or two at a time and not give him anymore until he swallows.

Answer 5

Yes its normal, I know a kid who did it up till she was around five.... dont allow him to add more food until what hes got in there is gone (even if it means taking the plate away for a bit until he swallows) and you have to be extra careful that he isnt hoarding something then you put him to sleep... huge choking hazard if you lie him down for a nap and hes got hoarded food in there... but yes it is normal, lots of kids do it.

Answer 6

My daughter does this, and it drives me insane.  I think, sometimes, they honestly have trouble swallowing things, especially tough things like meat.  I make her drink lots of water to help get it down.

Answer 7

Yes, unfortunately it's normal. I had a friend whose 2 year old daughter used to do this and I thought it was strange. Then years later my 2 year old started doing it. Drove me nuts!

She did it with meat a lot and veggies. She would say it was because she didn't like the veggies (of course, telling her that she's keeping the taste in her mouth didn't convince her to swallow).

I eventually just let it go. I tried making her sit at the table until she swallowed it, but that wasn't always possible and so I usually would just let her spit it out and go on with things. She eventually stopped doing it.

Answer 8

This is very dangerous to let him do. Try making him take smaller bites, chew and swallow before letting him take another bite. I saw a kid do this at a daycare and the kid ended up choking on the oranges he was cramming in to his mouth. Having to dig food out of a kids mouth so they dont choke can also cause choking or worse, food to go down their breathing tubes, which can cause asphixiation etc.

So, Id just make him not do that, any way possible. Good luck!

Answer 9

my mom says my little brother did the same thing!! my brother was about the same age too. my mom said she use to have to check is mouth at night before she would let him go to sleep! lol she said he would do it with meat and when she would look in his mouth it would be white because he was suck on it for so long.

Answer 10

My son did the same thing for awhile. When I asked the pediatrician about it he said it is normal. SOme children do that. My son would always store corn in his cheeks. I remember the first time I saw him do this I had fed him and then we left the house, In the car I turned around to check on him and he was chewing on something. So we pulled over so I could get it and When he opened his mouth all of his cheeks were full of corn and he was chewing it up.

Nothing to worry about. He will grow out of it!

Answer 11

i wouldnt panic. sounds like he is having some control issues.... i would definitely discuss with his pediatrician. in the mean time, do not make a big deal out of it because he is getting the rise out of you that he wants!

Answer 12

he will probably stop