Everything in the mouth 5/5 (1)

Why does a baby put his fingers in his mouth?

The opinion of experts on this matter is clear - satisfaction of the sucking reflex. The baby is accustomed to taking fingers and fists into his mouth even in intrauterine existence. Psychologically, this is perceived as a memory of a carefree period under the protection of the mother’s body.

On the other hand, the baby sucks his fist for a reason: the output of three powerful receptors is concentrated in the mouth. The nasopharyngeal, vagus and ternary nerves are three fundamental mechanisms for the development of the baby’s body, which provide:

• brain development;
• normal digestion;
• absorption of nutrients;
• psychological comfort.

During breastfeeding, simultaneous development of the baby’s body occurs due to the activation of the activity of these receptors. If the child does not breastfeed, he is offered milk in a bottle with a nipple. Thus, the sucking instinct is partially satisfied.

Why does a breastfed baby also suck his thumb and fist? This may indicate that the mother is weaning him too early. The child was unable to fully satisfy the need for sucking, so he pulls his fist into his mouth.

Sense organ

In addition to its main purpose, the mouth, in a certain sense, turns into another and very important organ of touch. With its help, the baby gets a taste of this world. Literally. Using the tongue and lips, the child learns about the properties of objects, and experiences both positive and negative emotions depending on their taste and texture. Relationships with the mother and the ability to meet the child’s needs at this stage form basic trust or distrust in the world and in people.

CHILDREN START PULLING EVERYTHING THAT JUST FALLS INTO THEIR MOUTH AT 5-6 MONTHS. SO THEY GET TO KNOW THE OBJECT WORLD, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE BEGINNING OF INDEPENDENCE.

Other causes of fist sucking

There are several other reasons that encourage a baby to put his finger in his mouth. These include:

1. teething;
2. lack of mother's attention;
3. way to calm down;
4. boredom.

When teething, the baby will pull not only a finger or fist into his mouth, but also any objects at hand. This enthusiasm can be explained by the desire to scratch the gums. It is much worse if a child sucks a finger or fist due to lack of attention from the mother. With this simple action he simply calms himself down.

Here the main role is played by the fact of remembering the intrauterine period, when he was comfortable and cozy. A natural self-defense mechanism is triggered. Older children may put their finger in their mouth simply out of boredom: it serves as entertainment.

Sometimes older children use the sucking reflex to calm down when nervous. A finger in the mouth is a symbol of protection and peace. Psychologists have noticed that in some adults, under nervous stress, the memory of intrauterine existence is triggered - they lie down in the fetal position, curling up into a ball.

What to do to wean your baby from thumb sucking?

If a child of 2 months constantly sucks his finger or fist, parents can try to wean him from this addiction. Especially when it comes to the hygienic side of the issue, because there are also germs on the baby’s hands, no matter how carefully the mother monitors their hygiene.

For this purpose, you can use the following simple, effective, and most importantly, absolutely safe methods.

Dummy

Probably the easiest way to wean a child from putting his fist or finger in his mouth. For tiny babies, you can purchase a pacifier that is cut off on one side. Firstly, it will be easier to accustom them to a new object, and secondly, such a pacifier will fit into a baby’s tiny mouth without any problems.

Does your baby need a pacifier?

Using the patch

Of course, not the best option. But if the pacifier does not help the child get rid of the habit of putting his finger in his mouth, or he simply refuses it, you can use a patch, which should simply be stuck on the baby’s fist in the place on the hand that he often puts in his mouth. The hard and tasteless surface of this product is unlikely to be to the taste of the baby, so he will gradually begin to give up his habit.

Harm or benefit for the baby?

We have looked at the benefits of the sucking instinct. What is the harm? The baby begins to pull his fist into his mouth when he learns to coordinate his movements. This happens by the age of three months: this is when the fist and finger enter his mouth.

Satisfying the sucking instinct between the ages of three months and one year is not harmful or dangerous.

However, many parents strive to wean their child from this habit, which is harmful from their point of view.

If a baby under two years old sucks his thumb, there will be no harm from it. But strengthening this habit and the need to suck fingers at an older age can provoke dental problems. At the age of five, a child’s teeth begin to change, and fist or finger sucking will negatively affect the formation of the bite.

Causes of thumb sucking

With the birth of a baby, his reflexes and instincts are born. Many of them are quite understandable to the mother: she cries - she wants to eat or it’s time to change the diaper, she rubs her eyes - it’s time to sleep. Why does a baby suck his thumb? There are several reasons for this:

1. Hunger. One of the most obvious and common reasons. How can you show your mom what you want to eat? That's right, put your finger in your mouth, then mom will guess that it's time for a snack. Watch your diet. If you use an adaptive milk formula when feeding, then prepare it according to the instructions, taking into account age-related characteristics, and do not increase the intervals between meals. When breastfeeding, feeding on demand is considered a priority, because breast milk has less calories, and it is impossible to accurately calculate the volume of milk that the baby sucked.
2. Lack of contact with mother. Many specialists in the field of pediatrics note that up to one year, a child needs 70% of his mother’s love and care and only 30% of toys and educational toys. Sucking at the breast is not only a way to get food, but also calming, a manifestation of feelings, the main sign of the emerging attachment between mother and child. After 9 months inside, the next 9 months outside are called the “gestation” period, when for the baby there is nothing more reliable and desirable than the mother’s arms and breasts, if this contact is broken for some reason, if the time spent together is negligible, a feeling of discomfort grows - the baby sucks his finger in response to this. This situation can be found in families where it is decided not to accustom the child to handling, so as not to spoil him. Only “smart” adults don’t understand that this is not pampering at all, but a vital necessity - to be caressed, to be sure that you are loved, that you are needed.
3. Emotional discomfort, stress. As already mentioned, instincts rule the actions of a newborn. The instinct of self-preservation is the most important. The vision of one- to three-month-old children is blurred; they cannot distinguish faces, but they perfectly recognize voices and smells. If there are often scandals at home, conversations in a raised voice - the child experiences stress, if a stranger takes you in your arms - stress, going to the clinic where you are carefully examined - stress again. Who will come to the rescue and relieve you from worries? Either mom's breast or thumb.
4. Teething. This is a physiological process accompanied by severe itching and profuse salivation. The baby seems too capricious. He can put everything he can get his hands on in his mouth, suck on toys, corners of blankets, pillows, and the side of the crib. Most often you can find your own fist in your mouth: you definitely can’t lose it and no one can take it away. Help your baby, offer him safe silicone chewers or special cooled rings; they will not only help alleviate suffering, but will also serve as a good toy.

And in this short video, pediatrician Yulia Rogozina will tell you about the main reasons for thumb sucking and ways to get rid of this habit.

How to wean a child off the fist

We have found out the mechanism of fist sucking: satisfaction of instinct. To wean your baby from putting his fist in his mouth, you need to provide him with the opportunity to pump during feeding. For this:

• extend breastfeeding time;
• breastfeed your baby more often;
• change nipples on the bottle more often;
• do not leave the baby alone for a long time;
• Protect your baby from stress.

A baby who is not rushed during breastfeeding is less likely to put his fingers in his mouth. Usually, the baby is satisfied with milk in 10 or 15 minutes, the rest of the time he just sucks for pleasure. Do not stop him from enjoying this procedure: he satisfies his instinct.

If a child is given breastfeeding not according to a schedule, but on demand, he does not need fist sucking. A strict feeding schedule does not always pay off and can lead to chronic stress from unmet needs.

Artificial babies should often replace old nipples with new, tighter ones. If the baby absorbs a portion of the formula in 12-15 minutes, the sucking instinct will not be satisfied. A tight nipple forces the baby to work to obtain milk, which ensures a longer feeding process. However, you should not offer very tight nipples: the baby gets tired quickly and remains half-starved.

What to do when your baby's gums itch? During this period, offer him special rodents; he will be happy to use an interesting toy and pull it into his mouth.

Sucking reflex

By the way, one observant mother noticed an interesting thing. Her son is on a mixed diet - that is, he is fed formula from a bottle along with breast milk. So, the child copes with the bottle much faster than with the mother’s breast, and after that he immediately puts his fist into his mouth. This example is a vivid illustration of the fact that thumb sucking is required by an infant precisely in order to satisfy the sucking reflex. In babies whose mother breastfeeds for a long time (and not according to a regimen, but on demand), such a habit, as a rule, is not observed.

The fact is that for an infant, the concepts of “suck” and “exist” are very close. They suck not only for saturation, but also for development. Studies have shown that when sucking, natural processes that have been established for centuries are launched: nutrients are absorbed, digestion improves, the brain develops, and the child feels psychological comfort.

What not to do

Under no circumstances should you tie your baby’s hands or scold him for his finger! These measures cause active opposition on the part of the child and do not wean him off the finger. Grandma's old "bitter" finger method may work, but there is a danger of harming the baby's stomach.

In addition to the discomfort and moral damage from the “bitter” finger, there is another reason not to use this method. The baby can scratch his eye with his finger! How much suffering will this cause the baby? Therefore, such a method is simply unacceptable in a civilized society.

Instead of restrictions, tying your hands and bitter ointments on your fists and fingers, eliminate the cause of fist sucking! What this reason could be, the mother must figure out for herself. If the instinct is unsatisfied, prolong feeding; if there is stress, soothe; if the gums are scratched, give a rubber teether.

Try to give your baby more attention, affection and tenderness. Often, the rooting of the habit of sucking fingers up to five, or even seven, years is facilitated by a nervous situation in the house and a lack of affection from the mother. Remember that a finger in the mouth is a symbol of security and peace for the child.