Making mealtimes a sensory experience – a variety of foods can add to the oral sensation of eating

What to try 

• Offer different foods at meals, and mix between foods that are chewy, crunchy and highly flavoured.  
• Swap between warm and cold foods to offer different sensations. 

Good to know 

Your toddler may still explore items in their mouth, and this is fine. They are learning about the world and their mouth is a sensitive part of their body. At times, they’re probably not even aware that a toy or object is in their mouth as oral investigations are so natural. 

When oral sensory experiences are provided at mealtimes, it might encourage your toddler to use their hands more when they play. Show your toddler how you move, stroke, squeeze and pat toys. Learning different ways to explore using their hands might make play more interesting.