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Everything in Baby's Mouth
Staying Safe and Sane During This Phase of Development
By Kelly Burgess
In addition to texture and taste information, Dr. Steltenkamp says the first deliberate acts of mouthing, when a baby picks something up in his hand and brings it to his mouth while fixing it in his vision, help him learn about permanence.
"It's the same basic principle that thrills a baby about the game peek-a-boo," Dr. Steltenkamp says. "They have something in their hand and they know it's there because they can see it, and as they put it in their mouth, it's validation for them. (I still have this in my hand and now it's in my mouth.) It's very thrilling for them."
Making sure a toy is safe is just part of the challenge for parents of babies and toddlers who are determined to taste test everything. There are also the issues of choking and protecting the baby's emerging teeth. Here are some suggestions:
- Get down on the floor and crawl around, looking at Baby's world from her point-of-view. Kostelc says that babies at the creeping/crawling age have very acute vision and are very focused on tiny details. That's why the Barbie shoe or tiny leaf piece seem to always end up in the baby's mouth. Be very aware of even tiny objects on the floor.
- Buy a choke tube. It's a little plastic tube smaller than 2 inches in diameter. If an object can go into the tube, it's too small for the baby to play with. Choke tubes are available at baby supply stores and toy stores; alternatively, use a paper towel tube cut to 4 inches long.
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