Babies drool, and it's a fact of life for all parents of infants. But there are times when it seems to run like a faucet, leaving clothes and bedding a mess. What's all that drool about? What causes it and when should you be concerned?

"Drool, or saliva, is important to the digestive process as it serves to moisten food, making it easier to swallow," says Dr. Kenneth L. Wible, Chief of General Pediatrics at The Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. "It also contains amylases and lipases, enzymes that initiate the breakdown of nutrients in the food so that they can be absorbed by the body."

In addition, saliva is a natural lubricant, moistening the esophagus and helping to neutralize acidity. Infants and children, as well as adults, produce saliva as part of the normal course of digestion. However, older children and adults have developed the ability to control their saliva that young infants simply don't have.

"Infants have not learned to swallow the saliva being produced, so it simply overflows the mouth," Dr. Wible says. "Salivary output commonly increases sharply at about 4 months of age and some experts see this as a natural sign that the infant is ready to begin digesting solid foods."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.