Possible reasons why a child puts his hand in his mouth
Children put their hands in their mouths as a means of expressing different feelings and needs, that is, eThis behavior is normal in most casesThe following is an explanation of the most prominent reasons that may prompt children to do this:
Teething begins
Teething is one of the most prominent reasons that prompts a child to put his hand in his mouth; It causes irritation and pain in the gums, and sucking hands may alleviate this. It is worth noting that teething begins at approximately 6-10 months of age, although this varies between children. In addition to sucking hands, children may suffer from drooling and nervousness at this stage.
Feeling hungry
During the first months of the child's life, He puts his hand in his mouth as an indication that he feels hungrySince he has become accustomed to sucking the nipple of a milk bottle or breast when he is hungry; He sucks his fingers as a sign that it is time to eat, and often The baby puts his hand to his mouth before he starts crying when he is hungrya.
Feeling bored
Children may use hand sucking as a method To get rid of boredom or to warn that they are boredThey may put their hands in their mouths while playing to indicate their need for something new. On the other hand, hand sucking may be entertaining for many children. Which makes them repeat this often without any clear reasons.
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The child may resort to putting his hand in his mouth and sucking it when he feels sleepy In an attempt to calm himself; This can be explained by their habit of falling asleep while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and the child may also suck his hand He changes sleep times when he feels stressed, for example, meaning he uses this behavior as a self-soothing strategy.
Part of his journey of exploring his body
Children begin in the first months of their lives, that is, at the age of 2-3 months By exploring their hands, bodies and the environment around them; So at this age, they begin to move and wave their hands, put them in their mouths, and use them to pick up things. They also begin to discover their senses and learn that everything has a different texture, taste, texture, and temperature.
Health risks resulting from a child putting his hand in his mouth
Usually, a child putting his hand in his mouth does not pose any health risks. But if this behavior continues after the age of 4 years, it may lead to damage to permanent teeth. Therefore, in this case, you must seek the help of a doctor to help get rid of this habit. Parents must ensure that their children's hands are constantly clean and washed; To protect them from germs Which may reach their hands due to crawling or picking up contaminated toys.
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Every child is different in his development from the other. Some children do not put their hands in their mouths at all, while others continue to do so until they complete their first year, and there is also no specific age at which a child stops doing so.It is worth noting that putting the hand in the mouth is very common among children at the beginning of their lives, regardless of the reason. It is often completely normal and the child stops doing it over time.
But if parents are concerned about their child sucking his hands; They can consult a pediatrician about this, as he can help them stop this behavior, and it can often be easily overcome when the child reaches 18-24 months.
Tips to stop a child from putting his hand in his mouth
There are many ways to prevent a child from putting his hand in his mouth. Here are some ways and tips to help with this:
- Positive reinforcement
Reinforcement may be useful in getting rid of a behavior, by providing small rewards such as a piece of candy for the child when he does not put his hand in his mouth, and a larger reward if he succeeds in stopping this for several days.
Read also:What is the treatment for constipation in children?- Use a pacifier
The child can be given a pacifier when he starts putting his hand in his mouth, but it is necessary to choose a one-piece pacifier, and avoid continuing to use it after the child reaches the age of four.
- Identify triggers
Some children put their fingers in their mouths in response to a stimulus, and in this case appropriate action can be taken based on this stimulus. For example, if a child sucks his finger in response to stress; He can be taught ways to relieve stress, such as giving him a pillow to press on, hugging the child, and other methods.
- Introducing new games
Providing new toys to the child that he has not seen before may help distract him from sucking his hands and relieve him of boredom.
- Reminder
If your child is putting his hand in his mouth and is not paying attention, he can simply be reminded to stop, provided that this is done without criticism, reprimand or ridicule.
- Alleviating teething pain
If teething pain is the cause; It can be alleviated by giving the child a teething toy or a cold towel to bite, and if these pains prevent him from sleeping; He can be given a painkiller after consulting a doctor.
- See a dentist
A dentist can be used to help the child stop putting his hand in his mouth.
Article summary
There are many reasons why a child may put his hand in his mouth, and most of these reasons are normal and not disturbing, such as: feeling hungry, drowsy, and exploring the body and environment, but putting the hand in the mouth may become dangerous if it continues after the child turns four years old, and it can be stopped. About doing this in many ways, including positive reinforcement, using a pacifier and others.
