Toddler Eating Problems: When Oral Restrictions May Be the Cause: Part 2: Toddlers (1-3 years)

“He chewed one chicken nugget for 45 minutes and then spit it into my hand like it had personally offended him.”

— A very real mom moment.

That’s how one of my toddler moms began her story. She wasn’t even mad — just emotionally drained, holding a cold nugget and a thousand questions:Why is mealtime so hard? Am I doing something wrong?

That same child also:

• Slept only if he was face-down on top of her, like a baby starfish

• Snored louder than his dad

• Only confidently said two words: “No” and “snack.”

It’s funny — until it’s not. Because beneath the exhaustion was a deeper concern:

“Why won’t my toddler eat normal food? Why is he behind on speech? Why won’t he sleep?”

The answer was simple — she wasn’t doing anything wrong. But we did uncover something important: Her toddler had oral restrictions that were impacting how he ate, spoke, and slept.

Toddler Eating Problems: The Messy Middle

By toddlerhood, you’re finally out of the newborn fog — sort of. But now your toddler:

• Refuses anything that isn’t a pouch, puff, or yogurt tube

• Sleeps like a tornado in footie pajamas

• Screams during toothbrushing

• Chews food like it’s made of rubber

• Talks in what sounds like their own personal language

And the advice you hear?

“They’ll grow out of it.”“Try giving them broccoli with a smile.”

(Spoiler: it’s not the smile. It’s their mouth.)

These challenges often trace back to how your child’s oral muscles and structures are functioning. In toddlers, eating problems caused by oral restrictions don’t go away — they just show up differently than in babies.

What Are Oral Restrictions — and How Do They Show Up in Toddlers?

Oral restrictions include things like tongue-ties or tightness in oral tissues that limit how well a child can move their tongue, lips, or jaw. These can impact speech, sleep, and feeding — often in ways that are overlooked.

Common Signs of Oral Restrictions in Toddlers:

Speech Development

• Delayed speech or unclear pronunciation

• Difficulty with sounds like S, R, L, or TH

• Frustration when trying to communicate

• Avoidance of talking in groups or with strangers

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), oral motor

development directly impacts speech clarity.

Sleep Patterns

• Mouth breathing during naps or overnight

• Loud snoring or noisy breathing

• Restless sleep or frequent waking

• Sleeping in strange positions (neck extended or face down)

Mouth breathing can affect not just sleep, but also how the face and jaws develop over time, potentially contributing to changes in dental and facial structure in growing children, including malocclusions and altered jaw posture.

Eating Behaviors

• Struggles transitioning to solid foods

• Frequent gagging or choking on textures

• Extreme pickiness

• Preference for only soft, pureed foods

• Mealtimes that drag on — or end in tears

As one mom said:

“It’s like my toddler is trying to talk to me in a foreign language — and I’m the translator.”

The Good News: Toddlers Are Incredibly Adaptable

Here at Agape Pediatric Dentistry, we believe in early intervention with a gentle touch. Many oral challenges can be addressed with non-invasive, play-based therapies that are fun and empowering for kids.

What We Offer:

• Myobrace® protocol and oral muscle therapy to strengthen tongue, lips, and jaw

• Milestone visits to create personalized oral development plans

• Ongoing support for parents and collaboration with feeding, speech, or myofunctional therapists

You’re Not Alone in This

Whether it’s your child’s first bite of solids or their tenth meltdown at dinner, you deserve answers and support. We’re here to help you understand what’s going on beneath the surface — and guide your child toward happier mealtimes, better sleep, and clearer speech.

FAQs: Toddler Oral Restrictions and Eating Struggles

1. What is an oral restriction in a toddler?

An oral restriction is a limitation in movement caused by tight oral tissues (like a tongue- or lip-tie) that can affect feeding, speech, and breathing.

2. Are picky eating and oral restrictions the same?

No. While many toddlers are “picky,” persistent texture avoidance, gagging, or mealtime anxiety may point to underlying oral dysfunction.

3. Can oral therapy really help?

Yes! Gentle, kid-friendly exercises can improve oral muscle coordination, making eating and speaking easier and more enjoyable over time.

4. Should I see a dentist or a speech therapist first?

Ideally, both! At Agape, we work closely with speech-language pathologists and myofunctional therapists to give your child the best start.

5. When should I seek help?

If you’re consistently struggling with long mealtimes, food refusal, or delayed speech, trust your instincts. An evaluation can bring clarity and peace of mind.

This is Part 2 of a 3-Part Series

• Part 1 — Infants: Baby Feeding Problems: When Oral Restrictions May Be the Cause

• Part 2 — Toddlers: You’re here!

• Part 3 — Older Children: Child Eating Problems: When Oral Restrictions May Be the Cause

Contact Agape Pediatric Dentistry

Agape Pediatric Dentistry5185 Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 325Peachtree Corners, GA 30092678-831-5437 | info@agapepediatricdentistry.com

Now accepting new patients from Peachtree Corners, Johns Creek, Duluth, Norcross, Berkeley Lakes, and beyond.