Being a mother is always joyful, but mothers may have experienced the stage of being annoyed by their little ones' habit of "sucking their hands". Some say that there are many benefits to babies sucking their hands, and encourage it before the age of one, while others harshly discourage it. So why do babies love to "suck their hands" and should we do something about it?
【Sucking fingers is a sign of intellectual development in babies】
When babies reach 2-3 months old, they begin to slowly perceive the outside world. The mouth and facial nerves develop earlier in these young infants, so for them, the mouth is a tool for exploring the world. The process of sucking fingers is not only their way of learning and playing, but also a sign of their intellectual development. They first learn to stare at their own little hands, then clumsily stuff their entire hand into their mouth, and then progress to sucking two or three fingers, eventually developing the dexterity to suck on one finger. This helps with the coordination and development of their eyes and hands, laying the foundation for accurate grasping in the future. Parents don't need to prevent their children from sucking their fingers.
【Babies suck fingers to relieve pressure and boredom】
Don't think that stress is something only adults experience. In fact, babies also experience stress. When they lack the comfort of their parents, they may feel anxious or lonely, and sucking their fingers provides self-comfort. That's why babies appear calm and quiet when sucking their fingers. Finger sucking is actually a psychological need in their growth process. Parents can give their little ones more loving touches.
【Sucking fingers beyond the age of two needs to be corrected scientifically】
If a baby is over 2 years old and still likes to nibble on their fingers, parents should find the cause and help them correct it. If there is a zinc deficiency, finger nibbling may occur, often accompanied by poor appetite and delayed growth. In this case, parents should take the baby to see a doctor and follow the doctor's guidance to supplement zinc appropriately.
When ruling out any medical conditions, psychological factors that may cause finger sucking should also be considered. For example, lack of attention or communication from parents, excessive emotional reactions, and excessive dependence on the mother can increase the likelihood of anxiety in children, leading to abnormal behaviors such as biting nails, grinding teeth, sucking fingers, or biting or sucking clothing. When dealing with these abnormal behaviors, adults should guide children patiently based on respect and care. Parents should pay more attention to parent-child communication, spend time chatting or playing games with their children every day, give them encouragement and praise in a timely manner, listen patiently to what the child has to say, and understand their inner needs. When a child makes a mistake, parents should not rush to blame them, but instead, find the reason together and give the child an opportunity to correct it. With the loving attention of parents, children can gradually grow up and correct these bad habits.
