Why Your Baby Puts Everything in Their Mouth — And How to Keep Them Safe
- Genesis Childcare 1989 - Tampines
- Nov 10, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 6
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably noticed that your baby seems to put everything in their mouth — from their tiny fingers to toys, household objects, and even the corners of their baby blanket! This stage can be both adorable and nerve-wracking, especially for new parents. But don’t worry — mouthing is a completely normal and important part of your baby’s development.
In this article, we’ll explore why babies mouth objects, when this behavior starts, and how parents can keep their little ones safe while still supporting healthy growth and exploration. We’ll also show how Genesis Childcare 1989, a trusted Tampines infant care and Tampines child care center, helps children develop safely and confidently through every stage.
When Does Mouthing Begin?
Around 4 Months
At about four months old, your baby starts discovering their hands. They’ll begin bringing their fingers or fists to their mouth and may spend long minutes sucking on them. This self-soothing activity helps your baby feel calm and comforted, especially when they’re tired or hungry.
At Genesis Childcare 1989’s Tampines infant care center, caregivers understand this developmental stage deeply. Teachers encourage sensory play and gentle hand-to-mouth coordination exercises in a clean, well-supervised environment, allowing babies to explore safely.
Around 6 Months
By the time your baby reaches six months, their hand-eye coordination has improved significantly. Now, they can reach for nearby objects — toys, teething rings, or even your house keys — and instinctively put them in their mouth.
This stage is also when babies begin teething, which increases the urge to chew. The gums may feel itchy or sore, and gnawing on something firm helps relieve discomfort. At Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines nursery and preschool, teachers use safe, baby-friendly teething toys that are cleaned and sanitized daily, ensuring infants can explore their world without risk.
Why Does Your Baby Put Everything in Their Mouth?
1. To Self-Soothe
Just like adults might hum, tap their feet, or play with their hair when stressed, baby puts everything in their mouth as a way to self-soothe. Sucking, chewing, or mouthing objects helps them regulate their emotions and provides comfort when they’re tired, overstimulated, or anxious.
The nurturing caregivers at Genesis Childcare 1989 understand that babies need emotional comfort as much as physical care. Their Tampines infant care program provides warmth, security, and gentle routines that help babies feel safe, loved, and emotionally supported.
2. To Explore the World
For a baby, the mouth is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Babies don’t yet have the language to describe objects — they taste and feel textures instead. Mouthing helps them learn about their environment, much like how older children use their eyes and hands to explore.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, educators design sensory-rich play sessions for infants and toddlers. Soft toys, textured surfaces, and safe sensory bins are used to engage curiosity while keeping health and hygiene a top priority. This makes Tampines child care at Genesis Childcare 1989 a safe and stimulating experience for growing minds.
3. Teething Discomfort
When babies begin teething — usually between 4 to 7 months — their gums can become sore, swollen, and itchy. Chewing on objects helps relieve the pain and pressure.
In Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines nursery, teachers provide chilled teething rings and soft chewable toys that soothe discomfort safely. Parents can rest easy knowing their babies’ needs are met in a clean, nurturing setting.
How to Keep Your Baby Safe While Mouthing
While mouthing is natural and healthy, it’s also important to protect your baby from potential hazards. Here are some practical safety measures every parent should follow — and which are practiced daily at Genesis Childcare 1989.
1. Remove Choking Hazards
Babies can choke on anything small enough to fit in their mouths. Keep dangerous items out of reach, such as:
Marbles, coins, and buttons
Balloons and plastic bags
Small building blocks or dice
In Genesis Childcare 1989 Childcare’s Tampines preschool classrooms, all toys and materials are carefully selected based on age-appropriateness and safety standards. Teachers perform daily checks to ensure there are no small, loose parts that could pose a risk.
2. Store Hazardous Substances Safely
Babies don’t know the difference between a toy and a dangerous chemical. Always keep cleaning products, medicines, nail polish, and other toxic substances locked away.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, safety is non-negotiable. All learning spaces, including the Tampines infant care rooms, are childproofed and regularly sanitized. Every caregiver is trained in first aid and emergency response to ensure a secure environment.
3. Manage Household Items Wisely
Power cords, pacifiers, bibs, and soft blankets may look harmless but can pose strangulation or suffocation risks when left unattended. Keep cords tucked away and supervise your baby during nap or playtime.
Genesis Childcare 1989’s staff members follow strict supervision protocols, maintaining high caregiver-to-child ratios. In their Tampines nursery, infants are never left unsupervised, giving parents complete peace of mind.
4. Watch Out for Spoiled or Pet Food
Curious babies sometimes crawl near pet bowls or pick up leftover crumbs. Old food and pet treats may contain harmful bacteria that can make your baby sick.
Genesis Childcare 1989’s Tampines preschool maintains high hygiene standards — with sanitized eating areas, safe meal practices, and allergen-free zones. Cleanliness and safety are part of their daily routine, not an afterthought.
5. Encourage Safe Mouthing with Teething Toys
Rather than stopping the behavior entirely, offer your baby safe alternatives like BPA-free teething rings or soft chew toys. This not only satisfies their curiosity but also helps strengthen their jaw and mouth muscles.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, safe sensory materials are part of every infant’s daily activities. Teachers use soft, sanitized toys to support teething comfort while promoting healthy oral exploration.
6. Keep the Environment Clean
Sweep and vacuum your baby’s play area frequently. Babies often drop toys and pick up random objects that may have been stepped on or dirtied.
At Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines child care, the team ensures that all play areas are spotless. Toys are disinfected regularly, and hygiene practices are strictly followed — creating a clean, safe space for every child to grow and play.
How Genesis Childcare 1989 Supports Safe Exploration
At Genesis Childcare 1989, every infant’s development is nurtured with care, attention, and expertise. The Tampines infant care program is designed to support the natural curiosity of babies while keeping them safe through:
Age-appropriate learning materials that encourage sensory play
Professional caregivers trained to observe and respond to developmental milestones
A clean, secure environment designed specifically for infants and toddlers
Holistic routines that balance exploration, comfort, and learning
For parents, this means peace of mind knowing your baby is in the best hands. For babies, it means a joyful start in life where discovery and safety go hand in hand.
Final Thoughts
Your baby’s habit of putting things in their mouth may look messy or even concerning, but it’s actually one of the earliest signs of healthy development. Through mouthing, babies learn to comfort themselves, understand their surroundings, and prepare for important milestones like teething and speech development.
As parents, your role is to guide this natural curiosity safely. Remove hazards, maintain cleanliness, and offer safe objects for exploration. And if you want professional support from trained early childhood educators, Genesis Childcare 1989 is here to help.
With decades of experience, Genesis Childcare 1989’s Tampines infant care, Tampines nursery, and Tampines preschool programs provide the perfect blend of safety, learning, and love — helping your child grow with confidence, curiosity, and care.
What matters most to parents? Our most-read articles:
Reading & talking to infants
Playgrounds in Singapore
Must-have child products
Changing diapers
Unforgettable moments
Family-friendly things to do
Angry child
Stop baby from crying
Genesis Tampines Childcare 1989 is one of the best preschool and childcare in Tampines. Our Preschool Tampines have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. At our Tampines Childcare, we advocate that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished.
As a leading early childhood center in Singapore since 1989, we are committed to nurturing our early learners holistically through various learning areas and positive learning dispositions. We place a strong emphasis on the way our teachers facilitate and interact with the children.
Our Childcare Tampines believe that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished. Hence, our holistic curriculum aims to create meaningful learning experiences for each and every one of them!
Our Playgroup Tampines provides parents with the confidence that their children are in the good hands of our trained and caring teachers.
Our professional team of preschool teachers has a good understanding of child development and learning principles. We apply them efficiently and set the stage to create a meaningful learning experience that supports your child's discovery.
We consistently create a positive and cozy environment that will give your child a sense of security which builds their self-confidence to explore the world around them.
If you are looking for a good Tampines infant care or Tampines preschool or Tampines childcare near Tampines Central, do consider Nurture Infant House or Genesis Childcare 1989.
Located alongside our childcare in Tampines is our Nurture Infant House. If you are looking for Tampines infant care or infant care in Tampines, do visit Nurture Infant House. It is for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. You can learn more about our infant care Tampines here.
Lastly, would you like to visit our Genesis Childcare 1989 to find out more about our environment and setup as well as understand our operations by talking to our teachers and supervisor?
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 S(520433)
Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 S(520433)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm) & Saturday (7am to 2pm)
Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293
Tel: 96664141
Comments