Drooling in Developmentally Healthy Children

Drooling is widely recognised in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, yet its occurrence in developmentally normal children remains underexplored and is often considered self-limiting. Physiological drooling typically resolves by 18 months of age and is considered acceptable through age 4, coinciding with the maturation of oral sensory-motor control and swallowing coordination. Persistent drooling beyond this age during wakefulness warrants further evaluation. Emerging evidence suggests that drooling can occur in otherwise healthy children, although its true incidence remains unexplored, as saliva control is not routinely assessed as a developmental milestone. Contributing factors include immature oral-motor coordination and impaired oral sensation, while delayed saliva control may occasionally signal subtle developmental concerns. Importantly, drooling significantly impacts psychosocial well-being and quality of life for both children and caregivers. This chapter reviews current evidence on the mechanisms, clinical implications, and management of drooling in developmentally normal children, emphasising behavioural therapy, oral-motor interventions, and reassurance as first-line approaches.