Hand chewing

[jasperc163]

in a 3 month old. Is this a sign of hunger or is it just a developmental phase ?

[Olihan]

Developmental, ime. They've just started to gain some control and awareness over their limbs and the hand to mouth is a fairly instinctive movement.

[tiktok]

Signs of hunger in a baby are crying and distress. Hand chewing is a normal phase of development which all babies are 'programmed' to do.

Has someone suggested your baby is hungry because he is doing this, jasper?

[jasperc163]

thanks both - no, and she is not distressed, hence my feeling that it was probably developmental. Just wanted to check though :-)

[Powdoc]

I agree with the others. However, I have also noticed that my DD sometimes starts what I can only describe as a frantic hand-suck if she's hungry. The rest of the time it's more like a gentle slobber!

[tiktok]

Powdoc, prob what's happening here is that she has sucking on her mind, knows a feed is coming shortly, finds her hand and/or fingers, and just gets going

[Powdoc]

Sounds right. She once gave me a large lovebite on my collar bone by sucking frantically whilst I was unclipping my bra!

[fifitot]

Ah tiktok that's such a nice thought.

I wish you were around when I was learning to bf....

I am only on this board to complain about Coronation Street and have been on here too long now. Stopped ebfing about 4-5 months ago and now feel really broody and missing it...Poor old me.