4 min read · For babies aged 7–8 months
If your baby seems determined to put every safe-looking object into their mouth, they are not using toys incorrectly. At seven and eight months, mouthing is one of the main ways babies investigate the physical world.
The mouth provides detailed sensory information, while improving hand control allows your baby to grasp an object, bring it towards the face, reposition it and explore a different side.
Teething can increase the desire to chew, but mouthing is not only about sore gums. It is also part of sensory learning and hand-to-mouth coordination.
For a broader overview of movement, communication and play during this stage, read our guide to baby development at 7–8 months.
Why do babies explore objects with their mouths?
Your baby can see and touch an object, but the mouth adds another layer of information. The lips, tongue, gums and inside of the mouth are sensitive to small differences in a surface.
Through mouthing, your baby can begin noticing:
- whether an object feels smooth, textured, firm or flexible;
- whether it is warm, cool or close to body temperature;
- how its edges and curves feel;
- whether it is easy or difficult to reposition;
- how its weight changes when held at a different angle.
Your baby is not consciously naming these properties. The brain is gradually combining information from sight, touch, movement and the mouth into a more complete experience of the object.
What does mouthing have to do with hand coordination?
Bringing an object to the mouth requires several actions to work together. Your baby must first notice the object, reach towards it, close the hand around it and guide it towards the face.
They may then:
- hold the object with both hands;
- change their grip;
- move it from one hand to the other;
- rotate it to explore another side;
- move it between the hands and mouth repeatedly.
This repeated loop between looking, grasping and mouthing supports the developing connection between sensory information and movement.
It may look like your baby is simply chewing the same object again and again. In reality, each change of grip or angle creates a slightly different experience.
Is mouthing always caused by teething?
No. Mouthing often begins before the first tooth appears and continues whether or not a baby is actively teething.
Teething may make chewing more frequent or forceful. You may also notice increased dribbling, gum rubbing, irritability or a stronger desire to bite firm objects.
However, a baby who calmly holds, turns, licks and mouths an object may primarily be exploring it rather than trying to relieve gum discomfort.
Teething and sensory exploration often happen at the same time, but they are not the same process.
Why should mouthing not be interrupted every time?
When the object is safe, clean and appropriate for the baby’s age, mouthing can be allowed during supervised play.
Constantly removing every object from your baby’s mouth may interrupt the sequence of reaching, grasping, repositioning and exploring. Instead of stopping the behaviour automatically, first ask:
- Is the object designed or suitable for a baby?
- Is it too large to become a choking hazard?
- Is it intact and free from loose parts?
- Is it reasonably clean?
- Am I close enough to supervise?
If the answer is yes, your baby can usually continue exploring.
How to choose safe objects for mouthing
Offer objects specifically intended for babies and appropriate for their developmental stage. Read the age guidance and care instructions supplied with the product.
A safe object should:
- be larger than the baby’s mouth;
- have no detachable or loose small parts;
- have smooth, rounded surfaces;
- be free from cracks, splinters and sharp edges;
- be made from materials suitable for oral contact;
- remain intact when pulled, bitten or dropped during normal use.
Small toys, loose toy components, coins, buttons, batteries, beads, pen caps and pieces of packaging must remain completely out of reach. Objects intended for children under three must not contain small parts that create choking, aspiration or ingestion hazards.
How large should a mouthing toy be?
There is no reliable home rule based only on length or width. The overall shape matters because a narrow section or detachable component may still fit into the mouth even when the full object appears large.
Choose products designed for babies, follow the manufacturer’s age recommendation and inspect the complete object rather than judging it by one measurement.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends choosing toys and toy parts that are larger than the child’s mouth. Household objects should not be treated as safe teethers simply because they look large enough.
Using the Owloo Cloud Teether
The Owloo Cloud Teether has an open shape that allows a baby to grasp it with one or both hands, rotate it and bring different curved surfaces towards the mouth.
During supervised play, place the teether within comfortable reach rather than directly into your baby’s mouth. Allow your baby to organise the movement independently.
You may notice a sequence such as:
- reaching towards the teether;
- grasping the outer edge;
- bringing it to the mouth;
- changing grip with the second hand;
- turning it and exploring another section.
This transforms a simple teether into an opportunity for oral sensory exploration and coordinated hand use.
How should teethers and wooden toys be cleaned?
Follow the care instructions provided with each product, as cleaning methods vary according to the material and finish.
For a wooden teether:
- wipe the surface with a clean, slightly damp cloth;
- remove visible saliva and dirt after use;
- allow it to air-dry completely;
- do not soak, boil or place it in a dishwasher unless the manufacturer specifically permits it;
- store it in a clean, dry place.
Inspect the surface regularly. Stop using the teether if the wood develops a crack, splinter, rough edge or other damage.
When should you remove an object?
Remove the object immediately when:
- it is small enough to enter the mouth or throat;
- a part has become loose or detached;
- the surface is cracked, sharp or splintered;
- it contains a battery, magnet or other hazardous component;
- it is dirty with something that cannot be safely cleaned;
- your baby begins coughing, choking or struggling to breathe;
- the object was not intended for infant use.
Keep floors and low surfaces free from small household items. At this age, a baby may reach an object and bring it to the mouth more quickly than an adult expects.
When might mouthing be different from ordinary exploration?
Mouthing frequency varies between babies. Some explore almost every object with the mouth, while others rely more on looking and touching.
Speak with your baby’s paediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional if:
- your baby repeatedly coughs, gags or struggles while handling non-food objects;
- mouthing appears painful;
- your baby has difficulty bringing either hand towards the mouth;
- you notice a persistent difference between the two sides of the body;
- your baby has lost a skill they previously used;
- you have concerns about swallowing, movement or sensory responses.
One individual behaviour does not provide a developmental diagnosis. Look at your baby’s overall pattern of movement, interaction and progress, and raise any concerns early.
Frequently asked questions
Does mouthing mean my baby is hungry?
Not necessarily. Babies mouth objects for sensory exploration, comfort and teething as well as hunger. Look at the full pattern of feeding cues rather than mouthing alone.
Should I stop my baby from chewing wooden toys?
Only allow mouthing when the item is designed for infant use, intact, clean and being used under supervision. Remove household wooden objects and any toy with cracks, rough edges or loose parts.
Can I give my baby cold teethers?
Follow the product instructions. Some teethers may be cooled in a refrigerator, but they should not be frozen unless the manufacturer explicitly says this is safe.
Why does my baby mouth the same object repeatedly?
Repetition helps your baby gather information from different grips, angles and movements. Familiar objects can also feel predictable and calming.
When will my baby stop putting everything in their mouth?
Oral exploration gradually becomes less dominant as hand control, vision and other ways of investigating objects become more precise. The timing varies between children.
Explore play for babies aged 7–12 months
The Owloo Grab & Grow Play Kit for 7–12 Months includes developmentally appropriate objects for grasping, two-handed exploration, repetition and supervised sensory play.
The aim is not to stop mouthing, but to give babies safer objects through which they can explore naturally.
The Owloo approach
Mouthing is not a habit that needs to be corrected whenever it appears. It is one part of how babies connect what they see and hold with what they feel.
Prepare the space, choose suitable objects and remain close enough to supervise.
Make it safe. Let your baby explore. Inspect every object.
Written by Tina Krapez, Owloo Co-founder & COO
Tina Krapez is the Co-founder and COO of Owloo, where she helps create thoughtful play solutions and educational resources that support parents through their baby’s early development. Her work focuses on turning developmental knowledge into simple, practical guidance families can use in everyday play.
Sources and further reading
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Milestones by 6 Months
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Movement Milestones: Babies 4 to 7 Months
- American Academy of Pediatrics — How to Buy Safe Toys
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Safety for Your Child: 6 to 12 Months
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Small Parts Ban and Choking Hazard Labeling
- NHS — Tips for Helping Your Teething Baby
