My 3 Yr Old Will Chew His Food for a Long Time Before Swallowing

I think the bigger deal you make of it the longer her will persist. I am more concerned with the tiny sip of diet soda. Soda is bad enough but not too dangerous. But diet soda, use this great internet, wealth of information and look up the ingredients and complications from those ingredients.

I have worked with 3 year olds and thier parents for over 5 years, and worked closely with a nutritionist for the many eating issues that 3 year olds have. It is prbably the texture of the food and milk is thicker than the juices or soda. ice water will work to help him get that dried out stored food in his mouth down! He is not being stubborn, he is being 3. The only thing children have control over is toileting (when and where) and eating (when, where and how!) so it could be very easy for eating to become a power struggle between you. Accomodate him as much as possible, to help him thru this and to make both of your lives as easy as possible!!

Hi there

Actually, I would let him continue to chew his food for as long as he wishes, by chewing our food more properly, I have read it can lessen allergic effects, b/c the saliva helps to breakdown the food and by breaking it down as much as possible before entering our bloodstream, this can helps our system more efficiently break down and digest foods. Nowadays, everyone is in such a rush, even adults don't properly chew their food and instead wash it down with a drink. The child seems to be using his instincts. infact, do you know how many children gulp their food.. to me, this sounds like a good thing and will help your child in the future, in that by not hurrying thru his meal, he won't be more apt to overeat.

Hi V.,

I have been working with individuals and groups for 30 years in health and nutrition, and I have 3 grandchildren. I don't think there is a problem with your son. He may be displaying 'natural' behavior that most of us have lost. Rarely do we chew food near long enough! It should be chewed util it becomes 'liquid' (a smoothie consistency). I can't stress this enough to thoroughly digest food. Children are so individual we really can't compare them except in very generalized ways. By treating this like its not unusual it'll probably sort itself out naturally. Best! Sheri C.

First off not only is soda bad for children, diet soda is the worst. The chemicals in them have been linked to autism, adhd, migraines, many other behavioral disorders and worst yet, cancer. Even only once a week is bad. You are setting him up for unhealthy habits later on in life.

Second it is not bad for him to chew his food for a long period of time. Saliva is essentially digestive juices and he is breaking down his food. It would be different if he was refusing to swallow at all.

Also our mouth absorbs some of what we put in it so he is still getting nutrition, it just isn't in the form you want. Allow him the extra time to eat and let him have a drink with him at meal time. I know that sometimes I want to wash my food down, we all do.

Food also is an area that kids learn they have control. You can't force them to eat something they dont like no matter what and he seems to know who is in control at meal times, he is. He knows it makes you frustrated so repeatedly asking him to swallow only fuels that. Then you offer him soda to swallow. He has learned how to get what he wants.

If you want to turn this around, start ignoring how long he takes. If it means he can't go somewhere, tell him, "If you don't eat quicker, we won't be able to do x" and then stick to it. If you all sit down to eat together, don't wait for him to finish. Tell him "We are finished eating now so we are getting up to do x" He may not want to eat all alone and will finish so he can join the family.
If you still feel you want to give him a drink as a treat, try seltzer water and juice. Much better for him and it fizzes so he will still get the effect of soda without the health risks involved.
Best Wishes
J.

My son is 2 and does the same thing! I noticed for him it's with certain textures. Nuts and meat tend to make him do it. He is chewing it enough because I can see it in his mouth it turnes into a powder like substance after a while. I just make him spit it out afte too long. Liquids don't make him drink it. I'm sure it will pass.

On the other hand my son shoves food in his face and swallows without chewing!! Maybe try not reacting and don't offer any sweet beverage to help him get it down. It sounds like he may be a little stubborn and like mom's reaction.

Have you had his teeth checked to see if they are effectively grinding his food? Perhaps it is not pulp even after 5 minutes. Is it possible that the food he is eating is causing an allergic response causing his throat to close? Does this happen with every food or just some of them? Taking liquid to encourage swallowing may be helpful but I suggest a better beverage, one that has no carbonation, no neurotoxins (see Russell Blaylock, MD and his book EXCITOTOXINS for why it's best to avoid aspartame and MSG or Joseph Mercola, DO and his book SWEET DECEPTION), no refined sugar, coloring, or additives. Freshly made pure juices are good.

You can make some lacto-fermented coolers using a book called NOURISHING TRADITIONS by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, PhD.

He may have an eating disorder, caused by too much intervention on your part. You may want to try taking him to a behaviorist, who can guide you, or just try backing off a bit and letting him eat on his own. We had a similar issue with my son (he would store food in his mouth and not swallow), and it wasn't until I convinced my husband to back off and just let him be that he finally started eating and swallowing on his own.

PS: I'm sure you know this already (and have probably already taken a beating about it), but diet sodas are highly contaminated with chemicals that preschoolers just shouldn't have.