Development of Chewing Motion: Strengthening Baby’s Little Jaw with CERELAC®

At around nine months, mas adventurous na ng iyong little bulilit sa table! You may notice them making chewing motions even without teeth!

That’s because chewing is about much more than teeth — it’s about jaw strength, tongue coordination, and oral awareness. And with fun, gentle options like CERELAC® Nutripuffs® and CERELAC® Infant Cereals, your bulilit can safely practice these motions while enjoying BIG Sustansya that supports growth and speech development.

Here’s how CERELAC® helps you encourage this milestone with confidence and playful, nutritious support.

What’s Behind the Chew?

Chewing is a whole-body skill for the mouth — and with CERELAC®, every little bite becomes a learning moment. Around this age, babies start mimicking chewing motions as they explore thicker textures — from the gentle crunch of CERELAC® Nutripuffs to the smooth, creamy spoonfuls of CERELAC® Infant Cereals.

Practicing with CERELAC® helps your baby:

• Strengthen mouth movements through age-appropriate textures
   
• Get used to transitioning between soft bites and gentle crunches
   
• Enjoy familiar CERELAC® tastes in new, exciting ways as they grow

Encouraging Chewing Through Food Play

The best way to encourage chewing? Keep it playful with CERELAC®:

• Offer soft, mashable textures like CERELAC® infused snacks that require effort to chew
• Encourage self-feeding with hands or soft spoons, and their favorite CERELAC® variant
• Sit face-to-face and model chewing motions for baby to copy
• Introduce variety by pairing CERELAC® meals with soft, baby-friendly textures like mashed veggies or fruit purées for added fun and flavor.

These moments don’t just build skills; they create joyful, shared experiences at the table.

Powering Growth: Protein as a Building Block

Chewing goes hand-in-hand with nutrient-rich CERELAC® meals that provide protein, iron, and other BIG Sustansya essentials to support your baby’s growth. Protein supports:

• Muscle growth and repair
   
• Jaw and oral development
   
• Steady, lasting energy for your little bulilit’s busy day

From soft-cooked meats to beans and tofu, many textures are both chewable and packed with BIG Sustansya.

Textured Bites to Try

Here are some tasty, texture-rich ideas:

Bulilit’s Pakbet
A baby-friendly take on the Filipino classic: soft-cooked veggies and gentle flavors that introduce variety in both taste and texture.

Carrot Cookies
Soft-baked and full of fiber + protein. Easy to hold, fun to chew, and a great way to practice independence.

CERELAC® Nutripuffs® Banana & Orange
Melt-in-the-mouth snacks that are gentle on gums while encouraging chewing motion and hand-to-mouth coordination. Fun, fruity, and packed with yummy taste, and comes in Banana & Strawberry flavor, too!

Always supervise during mealtimes and serve foods in safe, age-appropriate pieces.

Let Baby Build the Motion at Their Pace with CERELAC®

Not every baby masters chewing right away, and that’s okay! CERELAC® helps make practice enjoyable and safe.

• Safely offer practice throughout the day with CERELAC® Nutripuffs® — easy to hold and melts in the mouth
   
• Build skills even if baby drops some stars! With Nutripuffs®, it’s the motion that matters
   
• Celebrate effort, not perfection — even a messy attempt with CERELAC® is progress
   
• Your patience and encouragement during CERELAC® time help your bulilit feel confident to keep trying

Every chew, smush, and playful crunch counts. And patience and encouragement help your little bulilit feel confident to keep trying when eating CERELAC®.

Conclusion

At nine months, chewing is more than a new skill—it’s a developmental power move that strengthens muscles, builds independence, and paves the way for speech and real-food adventures.

With protein-rich meals, playful textures, and fun snacks like CERELAC® Nutripuffs®, you’re giving your baby BIG Sustansya with yummy taste while supporting growth, confidence, and joy.

Kaya naman ang little bulilit na #LakingCerelac ay may cereLAKI, cereLAKAS at cereLISTO, with proper diet and exercise.

Ang little bulilit na laki sa BIG Sustansya, laking Cerelac yan!