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Is Your 2-Month Old Drooling a Lot? When to Be Concerned
Updated: May 10
Are you finding your baby’s bib drenched in drool more often than not? Drooling is a common occurrence among babies and even toddlers, but it can be frustrating for parents who are trying their best to keep them clean and dry.
Although it may seem like an endless problem, there is usually a simple explanation for why your little one might be drooling more than usual and there are ways to help both of you cope. In this article, we'll take a look at why babies drool as well as offer some useful tips on what you can do to make life easier (and less messy!).
In this article
Typical reasons why babies drool
Dealing with excessive drooling
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
When to be concerned about baby drooling
What is drool?
The function of drool
Just like adults, babies' salivary glands produce saliva (also called spit), a clear, watery liquid.
Saliva plays several important roles in your baby's body. It aids their developing digestive system by helping to break down solid food before it enters the stomach and making it easier for them to swallow. Saliva also helps to keep your baby’s mouth healthy by protecting their new teeth and gums from bacteria.
When excess saliva runs out of your baby's mouth, it's known as drool.
Around 4 or 5 months, you may notice that your baby has started blowing bubbles with their drool. This is because your baby has started noticing and trying to imitate the sounds that you make, including blowing raspberries. This is an important communication milestone!
To learn more about the milestones and why they are important, see #MilestonesMatter: Don't Underestimate Developmental Monitoring.
Your baby's salivary glands
A baby's salivary glands develop when they are in utero, but they produce very little saliva for the first couple of months. Around 2 months of age, your baby will likely start drooling as their body begins preparing to digest semi-solid foods in a few more months.
Your baby's mouth muscles
Children don't develop full control over their swallowing muscles until they are approximately 18 to 24 months old. This means that most babies have plenty of saliva flowing but little control over it.
Peak drooling ages
As discussed above, most babies start drooling around 2 to 3 months of age.