storing food in cheek

[Mama2boys]

hello all,

DS has in the last week developed this wierd habit of stuffing some food in his right cheek and just keeping it there for ages. he will keep stuffing his mouth without swallowing or swallow less than he takes in resulting in a huge blob of food stuffed in the cheek.

Would love some thoughts and ideas on why and what to do.

Thanks

[marensmama]

No idea what to do, but had to post since apparently I was a chipmunk at meals.  Both cheeks, stuffed full, wasn't allowed to leave the table till I swallowed, there are stories told of me sitting there for an hour and a half like that.  (I might be a bit on the stubborn side).  I was (am ) a slow, picky eater and there was a lot of fuss made about meal times.  I often felt very picked on, so perhaps that was my way of being 'in control'. 

If I were you, I'd ignore it.  If you make an issue out of it, it'll become an issue.  He's old enough to handle his food well in his mouth, he's probably just experimenting with how it feels, maybe it gets a reaction from you, etc.  That's my 2 cents, and worth about that I'm sure! 

[Tonya]

Fellow Chipmunk here

Same thing - made to eat each bite of food before getting up from the table.  Sat for hours, mostly crying, cheeks full.  Must of been horrible!!!

Likely a stage.  Make sure to brush teeth/gums well afterwards though!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Colin has done the same thing, as long as he's been eating food. I don't get it at all but whatever.

[lilmonkey]

Just ignore it.  DD did this and then she suddenly stopped after a couple of weeks.  I remember dd telling me that she likes to get the juices out first and then swallow (which she seldom did).  At the time, I thought I have a tobacco chewer in the making.  

[woopster]

Dan does this! We've travelled home from days out with food stored in his mouth!! The only reason I knew it was there is because he wouldn't breastfeed. 

He's not too bad now though. He will take it out himself if you ask him what he's got in there! 

[Mama2boys]

thanks ladies, I thought I ha dthe only squirrel around here, especially as we have a piar who eat on our deck and DS like sto immitate them IYKWIM.

but will take to ignoring it. And also we never ever force him about food as soon as he says finished he is off and running so hopefully he won't associate stuffing cheeks with a way to get out.

But thanks ladies as always its good to know I am not alone

[Tonya]

They do look cute with those big ole puffy cheeks though, don't they!!

[Mama2boys]

yup and DS only favours his right cheek for some reason and I need to poke around to make sure its empty and I think he thinks its funny and cheeky when I aks him to show me an empty mouth and he shows me a stuffed one