How to Decrease Drooling in 1 to 2 Year Olds: Simple Speech Therapy Tips to Use at Home

If you’re noticing your 1 to 2 year old drooling, you’re not alone and in most cases, it is completely normal. As a pediatric speech therapist, I see this all the time and it is usually just a sign that your child is still developing oral motor control, strength, and awareness.

The great news is there are simple, playful things you can do at home that naturally support better lip closure, swallowing, and oral awareness without pressure or “therapy drills.”

Why drooling happens in toddlers

Drooling at this age is typically related to developing skills, not something “wrong.” Toddlers are still working on:

• lip strength and closure

• tongue control and coordination

• swallowing saliva more consistently

• oral awareness and sensory awareness

As these skills develop through play and daily routines, drooling usually decreases naturally.

1. Blowing activities to build oral strength

Blowing games are one of my favorite ways to support oral motor development in a fun way.

Try:

• blowing bubbles

• blowing cotton balls across a table

• pinwheels

• blowing through a straw into water to make bubbles

• Age Appropriate Whistles

These activities help strengthen the lips and improve control, which supports reduced drooling over time.

2. “Kiss face and smile face” games

This is a simple but powerful way to build lip closure.

Play:

• big kiss faces

• big smile faces

• switching back and forth in front of a mirror (A great time to practice this is during teeth brushing since you’re in front of a mirror!)

This helps your toddler strengthen the muscles around the mouth in a natural, playful way.

3. Encourage chewing for oral awareness

Chewing helps organize the mouth and supports better saliva control.

Good options include:

• soft crunchy foods like crackers

• age appropriate chewy foods like soft meatballs, or shredded chicken

• foods that require consistent chewing patterns like peach slices, soft mango chunks, or green beans

Chewing increases oral awareness, which can help reduce drooling throughout the day.

4. Straw drinking and open cup practice

Drinking skills are closely connected to oral motor control.

Try:

• straw cups

• small open cup practice with help

• frequent sips during meals

• drinking thick foods like applesauce, pudding, and yogurt through a thicker straw for extra cheek/lip exercise

Straw drinking in particular helps strengthen lip rounding and oral stability.

5. Build awareness with gentle cues

Instead of constantly wiping drool without notice, try pairing it with awareness:

• gently say “wipe mouth”

• pause and help your child feel it

• make it part of a routine moment

• wrap an ice cube around a soft washcloth and wipe drool with that for extra sensory stimulation/awareness

The goal is awareness over time, not perfection in the moment.

6. Pause and play blowing games

Simple pause games are very powerful for oral control.

Try:

• blow bubbles

• pause

• wait

• then blow again

Those little pauses help build regulation, awareness, and control.

When to check in with a speech therapist

Drooling is usually part of normal development in toddlers under 2. However, it can be helpful to check in if you also notice:

• limited chewing skills

• difficulty with drinking from a cup or straw

• very open mouth posture most of the time

• speech or feeding delays

Early support can be really simple and reassuring.

Final thought

Drooling in 1 to 2 year olds is usually just part of growing oral motor skills. With playful, everyday activities like blowing, chewing, drinking, and imitation games, you can support your child in a natural and stress free way.

If you ever have questions about your child’s speech, feeding, or oral development, a quick speech therapy consult can give you clarity and peace of mind.

Melanie Cap M.S.,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist Pediatric Specialist and Owner of CAP Speech Therapy