Infant’s Discovery of Their Hands
Why does my baby chew on his hands? The answer lies in their discovery phase of body exploration and the joy of having control over their movements. Chewing on hands is usually indicative that the child has “discovered their hands”. This indicates a significant advancement in their fine-motor and visual-motor skills. Notably, post this discovery, hands morph into an object of intrigue, leading to incessant exploration via mouth-based examination.
As part of their self-revelation process, your infant gains the cognitive realization that their hands are part of their command, bolstering a positive developmental progression. However, a word of concern notifies that mastery in hand-mouthing signifies the coming skill of grasping objects, inevitably leading to more oral examination. This calls for stringent baby-proofing and constant monitoring of their actions.
Teething Phase in Infants
One of the significant reasons that infants resort to hand-chewing is teething. This phase typically emerges between the ages of 4 and 7 months. However, some infants exhibit early onset teething signs as young as 3 months of age. Comprehending when your baby is teething can sometimes be challenging due to the sporadic process.
To discern teething’s genesis with certainty, look for accompanying symptoms such as excessive drooling, ear tugging, or swollen gums, along with the chewing activity.
Probable Indicator of Hunger
Chewing their fists can also serve as a precursor symbol of hunger in particularly newborns and young infants. Unlike the common misconception, crying is an advanced stage of hunger. Thus, recognising hunger cues like hand-chewing, mouth-opening, or head-turning motions (akin to searching for bottle or breast, termed as rooting), can assist in determining feeding times efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions About Infants’ Hand Chewing
- Why do newborns chew their hands?
Newborns may chew their hands as a signal that they are hungry or as part of their exploration and discovery process. - What do hand cues signify?
Hand cues like hand-chewing, mouth-opening, and head-turning usually signify hunger in the baby. - What are signs of teething in infants?
Signs of teething in infants include excessive drooling, ear tugging, swollen gums, and intense hand-chewing.
Seeking Soothing Comfort
At times, the motive behind hand-sucking for infants is entirely comforting. In the absence of immediate access to feeding and the need for comfort due to fear, boredom, or exhaustion, infants resort to their hands as a soothing agent. In such scenarios, pacifiers can replace hands as a comforting object but should be introduced only after establishing a sound feeding schedule.
Chewing for Fun and Sensory Experience
Lastly, hand-chewing doesn’t necessarily always indicate an issue or demand; sometimes, it’s purely a source of amusement and sensory experience for the baby. In times of boredom, introducing baby-friendly toys or activities can divert the focus from hands to these items, enhancing developmental growth and fun at the same time.