My son is 5+ months old and has been on his first foods for almost two months. The last few weeks he has started sucking or chewing on his thumb in between sponfulls. He will suck his thumb for just a few secons and then open his mouth for more food. My mother-in-law told me that all of her kids did the same thing, but could not come up with a solid reason why. She thought that maybe they are just so hungry. Has any one else had this issue or something similar to it? My son normally just sucks his thumb when he is tired or is trying to go to sleep.
Thanks to all the responses. I think the texture thing may be his issue. He does put everything in his mouth, but then again the pushing of the food to the back of his mouth to swallow is also a good explanation. I am glad to have such great information from some great moms. I will just let him be for now and he should grow out of it just like the thumb sucking. Thanks again.
My son is now 5 months old as well. He sucks his thumb whenever he can too. He also does it while eating. I just think he likes to suck and is happy to do so whenever he can mauevuer it into his mouth! When he puts it in while I am feeding him, I gently take it out and say "no-no". I know it's a little early to be saying "no", but I think I don't think it can do any harm either.
If I remember correctly when my first was at this age he would do the same type of thing. I remember reading somewhere that it is just another way for them to explore the food. When my son was able to start feeding himself I would give him food on his tray and he would play with it at first. He would smash it up and then he would put it in his mouth with his whole hand and suck. He isn't a finger or a thumb sucker and broke himself of the pacifier around 12 months or so. So I wouldn't worry to much about it. You know that babies put everything in their mouth to explore, I think this is just one more way for him to explore the new foods he is eating.
Could he be teething? Maybe his gums are sore and this gives him some relief from it.
Both of my kids did this too. We decided that the thumb sucking helped them swallow the food since it is something new they must learn to do.
My son went through that stage too around that age!! I'd almost forgotten about it! lol He is almost 9 months old now. He only did it for about a month or two. We can only guess why they do the things they do. Don't worry, though it's a little annoying now just get humor out of it because he probably won't do it for long. I thought it was pretty funny.
I agree with Amanda. My son was born with a cleft lip and palate and did the same thing before his palate surgery. The doctors told us he may be doing it to help move the food around. The opening in his palate was minimal but they said he may use the fingers to push the food far enough back to swallow since he didn't have a complete palate for his tongue to push off of. When he had the palate surgery at 9 months, he is now 10 months, he had to wear arm restraints and could not have his fingers in his mouth for a week. That seemed to break him of the habit. He has not done it since. Every once in a while he will start to and we just say no and he will pull them back. Eating is much cleaner and quicker now. I am sure it is a phase he will outgrow but until then just be prepared with wipes when meal time is done!
He is doing this because its his bodies way of digesting his food.
I don't know why they do it, but my son does that too.
My daughter does that same thing. She sucks on anything she can find between feeds, thumb, bib, spoon, etc. She is 8 mos old. My only take on that is that they are trying to feed themselves at least that is what my daughter does. I don't think it is anything major to worry about.
I was told by my pediatrician that it's because they are used to bottles/nipples and liquids so when they get a thicker substance in their mouth, they're unsure how to get it down- sucking is what they understand about eating and they need something physical to suck on... so they stick a finger in their mouth to "suck" the food down.
L.
my daughter is 8 1/2 mo. old now & ever since we started spoon feeding her she's been doing that & still does. babies are like most adults, they get impatient & it's more like a comfort to them until they get that next bite...i'd much rather have her take a few sucks off her fingers or thumb than scream til she gets the next bite..lol. good luck & god bless.
I don't think he is trying to eat his thumb. I think he is just curious about what it is and if one item that goes in his mouth (food) tastes so good, what does his thumb/fist taste like. It is also a texture thing. He has more feeling in his tongue right now than the rest of his body and that is way Babies put everything in their mouth. They are exploring it and learning how it feels/tastes/smells etc. I have a 2.5 year old that did that and I have a .5 year old. My six month old puts a lot more stuff in her mouth than the older child. After a few months my son grew out of it. It was when his sense of touch developed in his hands and his fine motor skills improved.
he's probably teething because my son never really sucked his thumb or chewed on it except for when he was really tired but now he is going to be 7 months old and he steadily has his thumb in his mouth it seemed to start around 1 month before he got his first teeth
This is totally normal. There can be a couple of reasons for it happening.
First, they are exploring their environment. There is something new in their mouth and they want to feel it with their tongue and hands.
Sucking on their hands is also a natural reflex. My babies suck ed (one still does because he's just a little guy) their hands as a comfort thing and to explore. That's why babies put EVERYTHING in their mouths. They like to explore and learn with all senses.
The other reason is to help them move food from their mouths down to their throats. Babies at that age are not able to transfer food to swallow it easily. Babies' digestive systems are not really prepared to break down food easily until they are about 6ish months of age. That's why they make such a mess during feedings as well.
Don't worry. Other than it being messy (and gross, lol) it's completely normal.
God bless,
A.
I don't have a solid reason but all my kids did this as well as did the infant i babysit for. I have always figured it was a texture thing, and the normal hand to mouth reflex, basically the food feels neat in their mouths and since you are putting something in their mouths they want to as well. other than it being very messy it just seemed like yet another part of babyhood.
My daughter is 7 months and does the same thing. She has sucked her thumb since she could get it in her mouth. When she started eating solids she put her thumb in her mouth every time I gave her a bite. I think maybe to help with the swallowing motions (which is similar to sucking). Now, I have noticed that she does it when she is starting to get full. Who knows why your little guy does this but I don't think it's a problem.
Is your son theething? I have a 6+ month old who just popped his first tooth a week ago. He also is a thumb/finger sucker but really began to chew or gnaw on his hands in the past few weeks. Before I knew it, there was a tooth! I also agree with the other moms. Textures are new to them and they explore through feeling and tasting. Good luck!
