Should You Stop Baby from Putting Hands in Mouth? Parent Tips

Worrying about your baby putting their hands in their mouth is common for new parents. You might wonder if this behavior is something that needs to be stopped. The short answer is no; it’s a normal and healthy part of development. Babies use mouthing as a way to explore their world, soothe themselves, and even help strengthen their immune systems.

While it can be concerning, this behavior helps your baby learn about different textures and shapes, which is crucial for their overall growth. It’s also a way for them to self-soothe, especially during times of stress or when they are trying to sleep.

That said, it’s important to ensure that what they put in their mouths is safe. Offer safe alternatives like teething toys and keep small objects out of their reach to prevent choking hazards. By doing this, you can let your baby continue their natural development while keeping them safe. For more detailed tips, visit Baby Putting Hands in Mouth – Causes and Tips to Deal With It.

Understanding the Developmental Milestones

Babies putting their hands in their mouths is a natural part of their growth. It’s crucial for learning about their surroundings, aiding in sensory development, and supporting oral and speech growth.

Exploration and Infant Development

Your baby uses their mouth to explore and understand the world. This phase is known as oral exploration. They will put objects in their mouth to feel the texture and shape.

This behavior helps with development as your baby learns to distinguish different objects. This exploration boosts cognitive growth and is an essential part of their early learning journey.

Stages of Oral Development

Oral development begins with reflexes like the sucking reflex and rooting reflex. These are important for feeding. Over time, this evolves into more deliberate actions like chewing and biting.

As your baby grows, they might start teething. This can cause discomfort, so they might chew on their hands for relief.

Sensory Learning: Touch and Taste

The mouth is a powerful sensory organ for infants. By sucking and chewing on hands or objects, your baby learns about taste and texture. This sensory experience helps develop their sense of touch and taste.

Ensuring that your baby explores safe and clean objects can prevent potential choking hazards and infections. This sensory learning also aids in speech development and language skills as they grow.

Addressing Safety Concerns

When babies put their hands in their mouths, it can sometimes lead to issues with safety, cleanliness, and exposure to dangerous objects. It’s important to keep your little one safe while letting them explore.

Identifying Potential Hazards

One of the main safety concerns is choking hazards. Small parts, old food, batteries, and other tiny items can pose a risk. You should regularly inspect your baby’s play area and keep small objects out of reach.

Sharp edges and corners on furniture and toys can also be dangerous. Make sure to cover sharp edges and remove any broken toys. Poisonous substances like nail polish, medicine, bug spray, and e-cigarettes are particularly dangerous if ingested.

Power cords and blinds with long strings can lead to suffocation or strangulation. Ensure that these items are securely out of reach. Dialling down risks in your home plays a crucial role in making a safe space for your baby.

Ensuring Cleanliness and Hygiene

Babies are naturally curious and putting their hands in their mouths is part of how they learn. Keeping their environment clean can help mitigate the risks of germs and bacteria. Disinfect toys and surfaces that your baby frequently touches.

It’s also important to wash your baby’s hands regularly. While frequent hand washing is vital, you also need to find a balance that supports their immune system. Encouraging a hygienic environment helps reduce the spread of germs and keeps your baby healthy.

Using safe alternatives, like teething toys or clean washcloths, can provide comfort while keeping hands out of the mouth. Choose items that are easily washable.

Strategies to Avoid Dangerous Objects

One effective strategy is to provide comfort with safe alternatives like soft toys or teething rings. These should be large enough that they can’t be swallowed and free of small parts and sharp edges.

Always supervise your baby closely to ensure they’re not interacting with dangerous objects. Create a baby-safe area where potential hazards are removed.

Be mindful of items like power cords and blinds which can cause suffocation or strangulation. Storing objects like nail polish, medicine, markers, and other small items in high cabinets can prevent accidental ingestion.

Maintaining a vigilant watch can help prevent burns, and keeping poisonous substances securely stored will ensure a safer environment for your baby.

Healthy Habits and Comfort Measures

Understanding how to help your baby develop healthy habits while providing comfort is important. Key points include finding ways to ease teething pain, handling pacifier and finger sucking habits, and teaching safe mouthing practices.

Teething Solutions and Comfort

Teething can make your baby uncomfortable. There are several ways to help with this.

One common method is to use teething toys. These toys can be cooled in the fridge to help numb the gums.

You can also offer cold objects, like a chilled washcloth, which babies can chew on safely. Make sure these items are always clean to avoid infections.

Massaging your baby’s gums with a clean finger can also provide relief. Breastfeeding can offer comfort as well, as the sucking reflex is soothing to babies.

Pacifiers and Finger Sucking: Pros and Cons

Pacifiers and finger sucking come with both benefits and downsides.

Pros:

• Pacifiers can help soothe your baby and satisfy the natural sucking reflex.
• They can also aid in distracting your child during tough times or help them fall asleep.

Cons:

• Long-term use can cause dental problems, like misaligned teeth.
• Finger or thumb sucking can be harder to wean off than a pacifier.

Keeping pacifiers clean is crucial to prevent germs from entering your baby’s mouth.

Encouraging Appropriate Mouthing

Mouthing is a natural part of your baby’s development and helps them learn about their world.

To ensure safety, give your baby clean and safe items to mouth. Keep small objects and choking hazards out of reach.

Encourage your baby to grab and mouth appropriate toys that promote sensory development and comfort. If your baby has a habit of hand-sucking, redirecting with a teething toy or gently guiding their hand out of their mouth can help.

Creating a safe and clean environment will allow your baby to explore mouthing in a healthy way.

Seeking Professional Advice

Seeing a pediatrician can help when your baby’s mouthing behavior seems unusual or if you have concerns. Additionally, transitioning to solid foods can play a role in reducing hand mouthing.

When to Consult a Pediatrician

It’s essential to know when to consult a pediatrician. If your baby continues to put their hands in their mouth past 6 months of age, it could be due to reasons beyond typical development. Dental problems can arise if the habit is persistent, affecting the growth of teeth.

Look for signs like sores or redness around the mouth. These can indicate issues that need attention. Speech development may also be impacted if your baby forms a strong attachment to sucking.

Your pediatrician can check whether your baby’s hunger cues are causing them to put their hands in their mouth. Sometimes, they might advise starting or modifying feeding schedules. Talk to a pediatrician if you notice unusual behaviors or if you just need reassurance about your baby’s development.

Transitioning to Solid Foods

Transitioning to solid foods can help reduce the practice of putting hands in the mouth. Usually, babies can start this process around 6 months of age. Introducing new textures and tastes can distract from hand mouthing by keeping their hands busy with food.

Pay attention to the size and shape of foods. Safe options are important to prevent choking hazards. Soft, bite-sized pieces that are easy for little hands to hold can be a good start.

During this time, provide a variety of food options. Different textures and shapes not only keep your baby interested but also help them learn to chew and explore new flavors. This can reduce the likelihood of hand mouthing as they focus on new sensory experiences with food.