#asktheexperts my baby has got a habit of keeping food in mouth and not eating. He sometimes sleeps with it too. How to tackle with this. Tried everything.

A. He may be lacking the sensory awareness or tongue coordination to fully chew and swallow certain foods. The children enjoy playing and tasting the foods. Shoe him how to swallow by swallowing a bit of your own food while running your hand from your lips, along your throat, and down to your stomach. Give soft, well cooked foods. Avoid giving dry textures of food. Offer oranges or lemons, blackberries, and sour foods. Such foods wake up the muscles of the mouth and lead to increased saliva flow which will prepare your baby to swallow. Keep motivating him to chew by telling stories.