Birth–11 monthsFine Motor SkillsPhysical Development: Moving and Handling
Explores objects with mouth, often picking up an object and holding it to the mouth.
Observe whether the child: explores objects with mouth, often picking up an object and holding it to the mouth.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
Infant sometimes mouths objects placed near the lips or brought close by an adult, but does not consistently pick up objects to mouth independently. Mouthing is brief or inconsistent.
What you might see
Given a safe teether in hand, does not move it toward mouth within 30 seconds.
Looks at a toy but keeps hands away from mouth and does not attempt to mouth it.
Turns head away when a safe toy touches lips (no exploratory mouthing).
Mouths a toy only when the adult holds it at the lips; stops when the adult moves it away.
Brings hand near mouth but the object does not reach the mouth (misses repeatedly).
Mouths for 1–2 seconds, then drops the object and does not reattempt.
Expected
On track
Infant picks up a safe object and brings it to the mouth to explore in familiar play, though coordination may be clumsy and they may drop it. Mouthing happens occasionally across the day.
What you might see
Picks up a toy from the mat and brings it to mouth once during play.
After dropping a teether, reaches again and brings it back to mouth.
Alternates briefly between looking at the toy and mouthing it.
Exceeding
Going further
Infant frequently explores safe objects with the mouth, picking them up and intentionally bringing them to the mouth across settings. They sustain mouthing briefly and may switch between looking, mouthing, and handling.
What you might see
Consistently brings a safe object to mouth soon after picking it up.
Mouths a toy for several seconds, then removes it and mouths again during the same activity.
Chooses a teether over another toy by reaching for it and bringing it directly to the mouth.
Turns the object to mouth different parts (end, side) with clear intention.
Selects a preferred object for mouthing and rejects another (pushes away) during supervised play.
After mouthing, offers the object to a caregiver (holds out) and then returns it to mouth when given back.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
Play mat (supervised): Offer two safe teethers—notice whether your baby picks one up and brings it to their mouth without you guiding their hand.
Pram/crib time: Hang a soft toy within reach—observe whether your baby grabs it and then mouths it.
After a feed: Place a safe teether in their hand—do they move it to the mouth and explore for a few seconds?
Bath routine: Give a clean bath-safe toy—watch whether your baby brings it to the mouth during play (supervised).
Transition time: When you hand your baby a small safe toy, notice if they immediately bring it toward the mouth versus just holding/looking.
Connected behaviours
Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the EYFS (2012), Physical Development: Moving and Handling (birth–11 months).
Oral exploration is a common observable behaviour in infancy that supports sensory learning and early object exploration routines.
Developmental research
Piaget, J. (1952). The Origins of Intelligence in Children.
Sensorimotor development accounts emphasize mouthing and manipulation as primary means of learning about objects in early infancy.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
Infant does not bring objects to the mouth to explore and rarely mouths toys, even when objects are safe and offered. They may look at objects but do not coordinate pick-up to mouth.
Given a safe teether in hand, does not move it toward mouth within 30 seconds.
Looks at a toy but keeps hands away from mouth and does not attempt to mouth it.
Turns head away when a safe toy touches lips (no exploratory mouthing).
Emerging
Infant sometimes mouths objects placed near the lips or brought close by an adult, but does not consistently pick up objects to mouth independently. Mouthing is brief or inconsistent.
Mouths a toy only when the adult holds it at the lips; stops when the adult moves it away.
Brings hand near mouth but the object does not reach the mouth (misses repeatedly).
Mouths for 1–2 seconds, then drops the object and does not reattempt.
Developing
Infant picks up a safe object and brings it to the mouth to explore in familiar play, though coordination may be clumsy and they may drop it. Mouthing happens occasionally across the day.
Picks up a toy from the mat and brings it to mouth once during play.
After dropping a teether, reaches again and brings it back to mouth.
Alternates briefly between looking at the toy and mouthing it.
Secure
Infant frequently explores safe objects with the mouth, picking them up and intentionally bringing them to the mouth across settings. They sustain mouthing briefly and may switch between looking, mouthing, and handling.
Consistently brings a safe object to mouth soon after picking it up.
Mouths a toy for several seconds, then removes it and mouths again during the same activity.
Chooses a teether over another toy by reaching for it and bringing it directly to the mouth.
Reflexive
Infant varies oral exploration (gnawing, licking, mouthing different parts) and purposefully selects objects to mouth (e.g., reaches for teether). They coordinate pick-up to mouth smoothly and may offer objects to an adult after exploring.
Turns the object to mouth different parts (end, side) with clear intention.
Selects a preferred object for mouthing and rejects another (pushes away) during supervised play.
After mouthing, offers the object to a caregiver (holds out) and then returns it to mouth when given back.
