At what age did you expect your DC to chew with their mouth closed?

[JimbosJetSet]

DD is 2.8. Should I be trying to teach her to chew her food with her mouth closed yet or is she too young to be able to learn to do it consistently?

DS is starting to at 4. I don't think at 2.8 they can, their mouths are too small to chew without opening them.

Actually I've just asked him if he can do it and he said no, and then tried and he could. He's 4.5.

Thank you. I thought she was a little young - DM disagrees!

Tell your DM to back off. Don't give the kid a complex.

I can't remember with dd but the two girls I look after at 2 1/2 can manage it very well.

DD is 2.6. If she is eating with mouth open we sometimes gently ask her to chew with her mouth shut and usually she then will. We also discourage talking with food in mouth.

I don't think I've ever noticed DS eating with his mouth open - although if his mouth is very full I've seen him with finger poised to poke escaping food back in

I didn't have to teach him though - this was just how he's always eaten. I don't know if I could teach him to eat differently yet (if I wanted to)