5 Things to Stop a Baby From Putting Hand in Mouth Right Now

The baby puts their hands into their mouth… How to get rid of this habit?

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Of course, a baby putting hands in the mouth looks incredibly cute. Everybody admires them and smiles at these little ones.

But the impression is completely different when it’s already a 3-year old child who is doing the same thing. Such behavior of a pretty grown-up kid raises many questions. So, where is the connection?

Normally, a baby pulls their finger into their mouth or is used to sucking their thumb. This reflex is forming in the womb. In such a way, the baby is learning to suck mom’s breast after birth. The sucking reflex helps them to calm down, relieve stress, etc.

After birth, when the baby puts their fingers into their mouth, it’s a kind of progress. It means that the baby’s movements become more coordinated, and the baby can easily move their limbs on their own.

However, if this habit remains when the baby turns one year old, it raises fear, as it can cause an improper bite of teeth. And in general, it doesn’t look aesthetic either. This habit can also make the child sick as there are germs on their hands. That’s why parents try to wean the baby away from this habit, but sometimes they don’t manage it.

The matter is that this sucking reflex doesn’t bother the baby until a certain time. However, it would be wrong to ignore this situation. Psychologists proved that constant finger/thumb sucking might indicate some psychological diseases.

First of all, you need to find out the reason why the baby pulls their fingers into their mouth and get rid of it.

You have to understand which situations make the baby put hands in mouth. Probably, it happens when the baby is worried about something or upset. In this case, try to distract them with something else, so that they don’t even have a thought of sucking their fingers to calm down. Very soon, the baby will forget about this habit.

Sometimes, kids suck their fingers, following an example of their younger siblings or other children from the playground. In such cases, parents themselves can be the root of the problem. Most likely, they don’t pay enough attention to their baby.

You shouldn’t shout at the baby for this habit. Otherwise, they will simply start doing it on the sly. It’s even more dangerous because parents won’t be able to take any action in this case. You should talk to your baby more often, explain to them why it’s not good, distract them. Just try to understand the reason for this behavior. And eventually, when they are in stressful situations, the baby won’t have a desire to calm down in this way.

Did you get some ideas to stop your baby from putting hands in their mouth? Check out our other related articles.

Ways to Stop Babies From Eating With Hands Every Parent Should Follow
Simple Ways to Wean the Baby Off Pacifier Every New Mom Should Follow
Simple Ways Parents Can Ensure Your Child’s Biting Isn’t Getting Out of Hand

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Liliana

Liliana is a Licensed Montessori teacher known for her passion and dedication to education. She's been a teacher in the United States for many years, and she truly believes that education is the key to making the world a better place because today's students are tomorrow's leaders. Her experience with Toddlers, Beginners, VPK with Montessori methodology approach; Kindergarten, and first grade made her an authority and trusted resource. Liliana's family taught her important qualities like love, a positive attitude, strong motivation, and leadership. These values have guided her on her journey to becoming a professional and expert teacher. Her mission is to help children grow and contribute to a brighter future for the country.