Toddler Chews with His Mouth Open

It depends on how verbal the child is. If the child is really verbal, just start talking a lot about manners and rude behavior. This needs to be done everywhere not just the dinner table. I have a daycare and didn't notice all the chomping going on until school started this fall. My 2 1/2 yr old is a little resistant, but that is her personality, but I have 2 girls almost 3 that will tell their parents to chew with their mouth closed!! It can be done, but it's a process. Be patient and watch out for those teachable moments!

I don't remember how old my kids were, I just know we still have to remind three of the four to chew with their mouth shut. The oldest who is almost 16 has finally caught on. Just keep reminding him to chew with his mouth shut becuase nobody wants to see that.

My daughter is now 3 and also chews with her mouth open, we have a sign - I close my lips, and I put my pointer finger and my thumb on my upper/bottom lip (they start apart and I bring together on my lips) she will then close her mouth. It's an overexaggerated closed mouth chew (which is humorous), but she will now sign that to to others who chew with their mouths oopen. She doesn't like being reminded verbally, but this appears to be different to her. Whatever works, huh?

I don't remember exactly what age my son was when he learned for the most part, I know we worked with him when he was that age but he didn't catch on right away. We still have to remind him often to chew with his mouth closed and he is almost 8. He gets excited and starts talking with food in his mouth or starts daydreaming and his mouth will open. I think you start young and keep teaching for a long time...

Constant gentle reminders and setting an example.
Also, maybe his nose is plugged and he can't breath.

Hi B.! There is a book called "Soup Should Be Seen and Not Heard" It's a great manners book. It's set as a story. My mom did it with us when we were older but she used it with my nephew and nieces when they were that young. It worked really well! I am going to start using it. It fun to do as a family and even adults benefit from a nice manners refresher! :)

Does he have problems breathing a chewing, etc. I knew a little boy who did this all the time and he had problems with his tonsils and adnoids. Eventually he had to have them removed.

Sounds like he's a mouth breather. Does he snore at night, or appear to breath through his mouth rather than his nose. It's not a big deal at all. Tell your husband to give the little guy a break. Chances are, if he's doing it on purpose to get a rise out of dad, he'll soon stop it once the behavior is ignored. Plus, 2 1/2 year olds brains don't have good impulse control to even remind themselves not to due it.

yeah, have fun with this one.
first question; does he have a cold, allergies or other nasal obstruction? thats a main reason for kids chewing with their mouths open.
also, kids learn best by example... soooo if you routinely chew or talk with your mouths open your son will too! its a proven fact! :P
also, a more personal question, do you (or anyone else)smoke around your child? smoking is very unsafe for young kids lungs (which im sure you know, i dont want to guilt trip you) but also it is SO easy to plug those little noses up with smoking. kids breathe twice as fast as adults, so not only do they get more into their bodies and lungs, but they get stuffed up twice as fast. soooo... caution there.
:D
anyway,
just keep showing by example. this also drives my husband crazy, and i had a child care kid who did this for over a year before he got the hint. mom smokes so him and his sister are ALWAYS stuffed up. we just have to not sit at the table with them, however, now that they are almost 5 and 5.5 yrs old... they do much much better, with some occasional reminding.
getting mad isnt going to help, so just be patient, and keep showing good table manners. :D

My son also did this. When we had his tonsils and adnoids removed, the ENT asked us if he chewed with his mouth open or always seen to want to eat things that were easy to swallow, like mashed potatoes (which he loved to eat). Because his T&A were so big, he couldn't chew and breath at the same time. Once these were out, the problem stopped. Still had to remind him once in a while, just because it has become a habit. His appetite increased too.