Oral Motor Function Matters When Starting Solids

Starting solid foods is an exciting milestone in your baby’s development—but it’s more than just introducing new tastes and textures. Behind every successful bite and chew is something called oral motor function.

Oral motor function refers to how well your baby uses their lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks to move and manage food in their mouth. These skills are essential for safe swallowing, successful feeding, and eventually, speech development.

In this video from our Baby’s First Year Course, we break down what oral motor function is, how it develops, and why it’s so important as your baby begins solids.

How Oral Motor Skills Support Feeding Success

• Safe swallowing: Good oral motor control helps your baby move food safely from the front of their mouth to the back.
• Effective chewing: Coordinated jaw and tongue movement makes it easier to break down food and explore textures.
• Less frustration: When babies have strong oral motor skills, they can focus on enjoying the eating experience instead of struggling to manage food.

Oral motor development doesn’t happen overnight. It builds gradually—from early reflexes and mouthing behaviors to the more complex movements needed for solid foods.