Talking Toddlers Ep 126

They Got It WRONG: The Hidden Link Between Feeding and Speech Development
Host: Erin Hyer
Date: October 21, 2025

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Erin Hyer, seasoned pediatric speech-language pathologist, reveals the underappreciated, critical connection between early feeding experiences—especially chewing—and children’s speech development. She dispels common misconceptions, highlighting how modern feeding practices, particularly the overuse of purees and convenience foods, can hinder the physical and neurological groundwork essential for clear, confident speech. Erin’s goal: to empower parents with clarity and science-backed wisdom to nurture language, regulation, and lifelong health, starting at the kitchen table.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Foundation of Speech: It Starts with Chewing (01:20–16:30)

• Speech doesn’t start with words
  • Early speech development begins at birth with sucking, swallowing, and mouthing objects—not repetition of words.
  • “The foundation for clear talking doesn’t begin with words at all. It begins at birth with sucking and swallowing and mouthing.” — Erin (01:32)
• Mouthing is purposeful, not random
  • Mouthing builds jaw, lip, and tongue muscles needed for both chewing and speech.
  • Cooing and babbling further develop essential motor, timing, and imitation skills.
• Physical analogy
  • Chewing and speech are compared to training for rock climbing: strength, flexibility, and coordination come before skill execution.
  • “Without the physical foundation of the jaw and the lips and the tongue, words have nothing to grow on, nothing to be built upon.” — Erin (05:10)
• Sequence of oral development
  • Hierarchical progression: First the jaw stabilizes → then lips gain control → then the tongue moves precisely.
  • Cheek pads in infants are not just cute—they serve a functional purpose by restricting and supporting the jaw and tongue, making feeding and early mouthing effective muscle workouts.

2. Chewing as Neurological & Emotional Groundwork (16:30–26:40)

• Wiring the brain
  • Every chew and mouthing experience supports motor planning, attention, breath control, and self-regulation.
  • Repetitive oral movement is soothing and stabilizing to the nervous system—a tool for both babies and adults.
  • “Chewing is part of that self regulation in action, right? It calms the whole nervous system.” — Erin (21:37)
• Implications for clarity and attention
  • Chewing practice leads to clearer speech, fewer eating difficulties, better focus, and smoother transitions.
  • A lack of early oral exploration can lead to unclear or mumbled speech and other developmental struggles, not due to lack of will, but insufficient physical foundation.

3. Modern Obstacles: Convenience Foods & Their Downstream Effects (26:40–41:47)

• The pouch and puree problem
  • Extended use of purees and squeezable pouches deprive children of vital chewing practice and sensory input.
  • “It literally robs your child of practice that they so desperately need.” — Erin (31:04)
• Processed foods don’t work the jaw
  • Ultra-processed foods dissolve too quickly, provide no resistance, and erode opportunities for developing jaw and oral muscle strength.
• Consequences
  • Weak jaw/lips/tongue → unclear vowels, “lazy” speech, chronic mouth breathing.
  • Chronic mouth breathing (not occasional from a cold) leads to facial development issues, poor sleep, increased risk of infections, and more.

4. The Science: Muscle Building and Structure–Function Connection (41:47–49:44)

• Muscle mass and pressure
  • The masseter muscle (main jaw muscle) is among the strongest in the body; its development requires resistance from real foods—not soft processed foods.
  • The tongue produces significant force, pressing up to 5 lbs per swallow, hundreds of times a day.
• Ideal oral posture
  • At rest: lips closed, tongue resting on the roof of the mouth, jaw gently shut (but not clenched)—this supports nasal breathing, the healthiest pattern for children.
  • “Proper positioning, strength and coordination…is the position that also sets your child up for nasal breathing. And that's one of the most critical pieces to this whole discussion.” — Erin (46:17)

5. Historical Perspective: Then vs. Now (49:44–54:44)

• What did babies eat before purees?
  • Pre-commercial foods: mashed family foods, stewed or soft enough to mush between finger and thumb.
  • Commercial jarred foods arose from convenience, not necessity—baby physiology hasn’t changed over the generations.
• The domino effect of skipping chewing
  • Missing out on chewing means missing out on development of clear speech, regulation, healthy sleep, growth, and more.

6. Reflection and Practical Guidance (54:44–End)

• No guilt, just awareness
  • Erin emphasizes growth, not shame: “It is learning through a lot of trial and error. And I'm trying to give you some clear anchors so you can really evaluate where are you today and then how do we move forward?” (57:05)
• Assessment questions for parents
  • What did your baby’s early foods look like?
  • Did you lean on purees or offer mashed table food?
  • Have you defaulted to soft “convenience” foods due to fussiness, ease, or habits?
  • What’s currently in your pantry/fridge? Is it mostly processed, or whole foods?
• Action steps
  • Swap out processed snacks for real foods.
  • Shop the perimeter of the grocery store for whole ingredients.
  • Involve your child in meal planning and prepping—engagement fosters better feeding and learning habits.
  • Small changes are better than drastic overhauls. Progress is the goal.

7. Community and Support

• Parents aren’t alone
  • Erin encourages listeners to reach out for help, ideas, or sample food lists; join her email group for ongoing support.
  • “You are your baby's first and best teacher… and you’re not in it alone. I’m here.” — Erin (61:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the central message:

  “Chewing is talking in disguise. Think of it that way, right? It's not optional. It's not just about calories or survival. It's really about building that physical foundation for clear speech, better self-regulation, and lifelong healthy habits. It's all interwoven.”
  — Erin (59:05)

• On modern feeding practices:

  “Purees aren’t even necessary because I think it becomes a slippery slope and literally it robs your child of practice that they so desperately need.”
  — Erin (31:04)

• Why chewing is vital:

  “Every bite wires the brain. It's a soothing mechanism, but it's also helping them with motor planning and coordination.”
  — Erin (20:07)

• Encouragement for parents:

  “None of us do this perfectly. … It is learning through a lot of trial and error.”
  — Erin (57:05)

Key Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Introduction to the feeding–speech connection | 01:20–05:10 | | Hierarchy of oral motor development | 09:32–13:11 | | Chewing’s role in brain regulation and calm | 16:30–21:37 | | Problems with modern pouches, purees, processed foods | 26:40–35:20 | | The science of muscle building in the mouth | 41:47–46:17 | | Ideal oral posture and nasal breathing | 46:17–49:44 | | Perspective: What did babies eat before purees? | 49:44–54:44 | | Parental reflection, practical takeaways, support | 54:44–End |

Final Takeaway

Chewing is much more than a feeding milestone—it's a fundamental part of language acquisition, emotional regulation, and overall childhood development. By being mindful of what, how, and when children eat, and prioritizing real, resistive foods over processed convenience, parents can give their children the best possible start toward clear speech, confidence, and lifelong health.