Why do babies chew their hands – 5 Simple and clear reasons

Babies are born with an inherent need to explore the world around them. They begin learning about their environment from the moment they’re born, and this process continues for many years until they become adults. There are many developmental milestones that your child will reach in their first few months of life, such as when they will begin to laugh or crawl. The way they use their hands to explore objects around them begins very early on, with some research suggesting that it’s even one of the first things a baby learns about. This article looks at why do babies chew their hands, as well as some benefits of letting them do so.

Does baby chewing hands mean hungry?

It’s a common misconception that babies who chew on their hands are always hungry. Baby chewing hands may be a sign that your baby is hungry. If your baby is always chewing on her hands, she may be experiencing a hunger sensation, which is why it can be an early warning sign.

Make sure to check for any signs of dehydration such as dry lips, decreased urine output, and/or sunken eyes. As tempting as it may be to continue letting your baby eat and drink when they are hungry or thirsty, doing so could lead to unhealthy eating habits, weight retention, and in some cases, even promote eating disorders.

Read here about why do kids eat dirt?

The Importance of Exploration

Exploration is a developmental milestone that begins at birth. Babies explore their environment to learn about it, and this is thought to help them develop new neural pathways. These pathways are essential for healthy neurological development, which in turn will help with your child’s social and language skills, as well as their problem-solving skills. As babies explore the world around them, they learn concepts like cause and effect. This means that if they knock over a block, they’ll understand that the block was knocked over because they pushed it.

This will help them to develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Exploration isn’t just important for cognitive development, though. It also has social and emotional benefits, too. The more your child explores their environment, the more they’ll interact with others and be exposed to different emotions. This helps them to understand the world around them and prepares them for future social interactions.

Why do babies like chewing on their hands

There are many reasons that your baby may like to chew on their hands, but most of them are completely normal. Hand chewing may indicate that your baby is ready for new developmental milestones. Your baby might chew on their hands for several reasons, but the most common one is teething.

As your baby’s teeth begin to grow from their gums, they may like to chew on something to soothe the pain. Teething can cause tender gums and be painful, so it’s no wonder that babies often choose to chew on their hands. Other reasons that your baby may like to chew on their hands include a need to self-soothe, a way to show you that they’re hungry, or even a way to release energy.

Should I let my baby chew on his hands? Developmental benefits of hand chewing

As your baby explores its surroundings, it will likely start to chew on its hands. While this may look like an annoying habit, there are many developmental benefits to letting them do so. You may want to help your baby explore their hands and mouth by providing them with a textured teething toy. This will help them explore their hands and mouth simultaneously while preventing them from putting their fingers in their mouth.

Teething toys can be frozen, which may provide your baby with even more relief. Hand chewing has many developmental benefits, such as improving your child’s dexterity and hand-eye coordination, as well as finger strength. This chewing practice also helps babies learn about textures and how certain materials feel and taste. Your baby may also develop their fine motor skills as they explore their hands before they’re ready to crawl.

Tips for helping your baby chew on their hands

Hand chewing is an important milestone, but you can also help your baby explore their hands in other ways, too. Other ways that you can help your baby explore their hands include helping them explore different textures and letting them explore toys that have different textures.

Your baby may like to explore a toy with different textures, such as a furry stuffed animal or a crinkly toy. You can also try to tune into your baby’s needs and offer them a teething toy when they show signs of needing to chew on something. Baby leg rattles are another great toy to explore textures, as they have a variety of different materials and textures on them. You can also help your baby explore their hands by playing hand-based games with them. This may include playing with toys that have buttons or other items on them that they can press.

Limiting the time your baby chews on their hand

While hand chewing is an important developmental milestone, it’s also something that should be done in moderation. You should be careful to watch your child’s hand-chewing time, as it can become a compulsion if allowed to go on for too long. Your baby may naturally decide that they’ve had enough chewing on their hands after a short period, so it’s important not to put a time limit on it.

If your baby is chewing on their hands for long periods, though, you must encourage them to explore their environment in other ways. This can include playing with toys that have different textures or even looking at pictures in a book. You can also try distracting your baby by asking them to play with other toys around them, or even by singing to them.

When Your Baby’s Hand Chewing is Problematic

If your baby is chewing on their hands excessively, you must take action. Excessive hand chewing can be a sign of an oral exploration disorder (OEB). An OEB is when a child compulsively chews on their hands, fingers, and toys, even after they’ve learned how to use their hands. This can be a sign of a disability and should be discussed with your child’s doctor.

There are different treatments for OEBD, including things like changing your child’s diet to reduce their need to chew, medication, or even wearing a special device to prevent them from chewing. If your baby is chewing on their hands excessively, try to tune into their needs and see if you can help them explore their hands in other ways.

At what age should a baby stop chewing hands?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies stop chewing hands around age 1 year. A child may continue to chew on hands when they are teething, but it should not be done as a way to comfort them. For babies , the safest time to stop hand-chewing is around three months of age.

*Study by AAP on chewing hands and food

Summary

There are many benefits to letting your baby chew on their hands, but this should be done in moderation. If your baby is chewing on their hands excessively, you should try to help them explore their hands in other ways. You can also help your baby explore textures by providing them with toys and books that have different materials. If you notice your baby chewing on their hands excessively, you should speak to your doctor.