Why do babies like to eat hands? Do you know the pros and cons of eating hands?

"Finger-eating" is almost a must for every baby as he grows up. Starting from the age of 3 or 4 months, babies will put their little hands in their mouths to suck intentionally or unintentionally.

At the beginning, some parents may still think that the baby is so cute. However, as the baby grows up, if the baby continues to have this kind of "hand-eating" behavior, mothers will inevitably have to Start to worry.

I felt that this was unhygienic and unhealthy, would eat bacteria into the stomach, and would also affect the baby's tooth development, so I started to stop the baby from sucking his fingers.

So why do babies like to suck their fingers?

In fact, finger-eating is a period that every baby will experience. It can be said that the baby’s first introduction to the world begins with his lips. Because sucking is a "skill" that babies learn from birth, babies will have a natural sucking reflex when their mouths come into contact with anything.

When the baby is 3 or 4 months old, his nervous system gradually develops and he can slowly control his little hands. Putting his hands into his mouth and eating "with relish" is exactly an exploratory behavior. Mom They don't need to be overly discouraged.

Including that when the baby grows up, he may also have the behavior of "eating toys". The baby can distinguish the difference between hands and toys through the feeling of the mouth. This is a manifestation of the baby's brain development and exploration of the outside world. .

Why do babies like to eat their fingers?

1. Normal sucking reaction

Sucking is the most important physiological reason why children love to eat their hands. Since babies are born to suck, any object that comes into contact with the baby’s mouth will cause the baby to suck. natural sucking reflex.

2. Improper feeding methods

For example, when feeding a child with breast milk or milk powder, the baby does not have enough sucking time and the physiological need for sucking is not met. They will suck their fingers to satisfy their needs.

3. Relieve discomfort during the teething period

During the teething period, the baby will feel sore and swollen gums. Eating hands is a way to relieve this discomfort and help eliminate this discomfort. brings irritability.

4. Feeling bored

Many parents think that when their children are still young, they just need to let them eat well, sleep well, and not cry or make trouble. But in fact, children also long for attention and communication. of.

So when no one is playing with the child, the child will entertain himself by eating hands.

5. Improve the baby's sense of security

Newborn babies are unfamiliar with the whole world. Eating hands can give the baby a sense of satisfaction and security. Just like we rub our hands when we are nervous, it is a habitual behavior.

Are babies who like to eat their fingers smarter? The benefits of "eating fingers" for babies

Promote brain development. Children are born with the ability to suck, so they will naturally respond when their hands touch their mouths. They explore the outside world through their hands and mouths, and put whatever they see into their mouths to stimulate the oral cavity and promote brain development. From this aspect, it is not unreasonable that babies who like to eat their hands are smarter.

Stimulate nerves. When the baby eats from his hands, he completes the stimulation of touch, taste, and smell, which can stimulate the neurological development and strengthening of the brain.

The dangers of "eating your fingers"

1. The disease comes from the mouth

There are many bacteria and viruses on our hands. If we do not wash our hands in time, the baby will be When you eat from your hands, you can easily swallow bacteria and viruses, which will have an impact on your health.

2. Dental deformities

After the baby has teeth, he still chews on his hands for a long time, which will cause the upper and lower teeth to not bite properly and the teeth to protrude. If you continue to eat your hands for a long time until you are 5-6 years old, it may seriously affect your face shape.

Should we stop babies from eating their hands?

Although there is no need to be too anxious about children’s hand-eating behavior before the age of 4, parents still need to observe more to prevent their children from excessive hand-eating.

Finger-eating is a necessary step for every baby in his or her growth process. Parents must first understand the baby's psychology of finger-eating.

When a baby reaches a certain age, he still chews on his hands for a long time. You can use other things to attract the baby's attention and keep the baby's hands busy, and the chances of chewing on the baby's hands will naturally be reduced. Special attention should be paid to communicating and playing with the baby more, and not letting the baby get bored and eat his hands naturally.