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Original poster

To ask if you counted fingers and toes when your baby was born?

64 replies

ThatRedBeaker · 19/12/2025 18:09

I’ve always heard people say they check their baby’s fingers and toes right away and I wonder if that’s really something most parents do in the moment? Is it instinct? Tradition? Sentimentality? Or were you too overwhelmed or emotional to even think of it?

Curious what others did and whether it actually mattered to you in that moment.

OP posts:
TY78910 · 19/12/2025 19:51

I did! With both DC pretty much the moment they were put on my chest.

StopGo · 19/12/2025 19:50

I didn't but my dad certainly did. All present and correct.

Superscientist · 19/12/2025 19:44

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/12/2025 19:01

Most people can perceive 4-5 things without counting. I.e. fingers on a hand. So counting isn’t required.

I learnt at the grand age of 37 from my 4 year old that this is call subitising!

DeathBanana · 19/12/2025 19:41

No, I was too distracted by her hairy ears. They had tufts!

Piggywaspushed · 19/12/2025 19:40

I was born with an extra toe . It was the first thing my mum was told! When I told midwives to count my DSs' , they laughed and I had to insist!

mindutopia · 19/12/2025 19:37

No 😂 I literally couldn’t even work out if dd was a boy or a girl. Not even something that would have occurred to me.

Btowngirl · 19/12/2025 19:32

No and a day later I was like ‘has she got baby toes?!’ But they were just curled under 😂

NoTouch · 19/12/2025 19:31

I wouldn’t say it was “instinct” to count fingers and toes.

Instinct is something you do naturally, something you are born with, without requiring learning. Counting requires learning.

It is more likely something sentimental, heard about from other mums or tv

Astrial · 19/12/2025 19:27

I struggled to work out I'd had a girl when they held her up in front of me. (We'd left it as a suprise.)

I think I was too much in "what the he'll just happened to me" after an exceedingly fast first labour.

MatchaTea1 · 19/12/2025 19:22

I didn't specifically count, but it would be pretty obvious if any were missing..

Nicknacky · 19/12/2025 19:22

OverlyFragrant · 19/12/2025 19:21

All mums do, subconsciously.
Studies have shown its pretty universal amongst primates which I love.

Not all mums obviously

OverlyFragrant · 19/12/2025 19:21

All mums do, subconsciously.
Studies have shown its pretty universal amongst primates which I love.

SlowSloths · 19/12/2025 19:16

No I didn't. I did notice the massive sandal gap between her toes though.

ForgottenPasswordNewAccount · 19/12/2025 19:14

I did multiple times!! just to make sure !!

Strictlycomeparent · 19/12/2025 19:12

Yes and I was so sleep deprived I thought that he had 6 fingers and was convinced…. Spoiler: he doesn’t.

Eenameenadeeka · 19/12/2025 19:11

4 babies and I never did this haha

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/12/2025 19:01

Most people can perceive 4-5 things without counting. I.e. fingers on a hand. So counting isn’t required.

CMOTDibbler · 19/12/2025 18:58

No, but tbf they sort of waved him at me and ran off with him. Then I didn't see him undressed for a couple of days till he was under lights and the whole thing meant I didn't have that newborn 'gazing admiringly' bit

ResusciAnnie · 19/12/2025 18:46

No, assumed that’s what the midwives are there for! I was told before my births, ‘the midwife is there for the baby and the anaesthetist is there for you’ so felt both in safe hands!

Nicknacky · 19/12/2025 18:44

Holdonforsummer · 19/12/2025 18:40

There is something called a Newborn Check that midwives do on all babies. I’d be a bit worried if one missed fused fingers!

I was surprised they missed my daughters! A full check was done when I buzzed at 3am to say “errr, my baby’s fingers seem to be stuck together”!

Holdonforsummer · 19/12/2025 18:40

There is something called a Newborn Check that midwives do on all babies. I’d be a bit worried if one missed fused fingers!

BlueMum16 · 19/12/2025 18:30

I didn't but someone did at the hospital and pointed out joined toes and explained we we could choose surgery to have them split. We didn't and DC likes their special toes.

ThisGladGoose · 19/12/2025 18:27

I was lying in my bed on the post natal ward when I heard the midwife ask the woman in the bed next to me if she was aware of her baby's extra toes and fingers and whether there was any family history. I checked after that... 😳

Bearbookagainandagain · 19/12/2025 18:23

Pretty sure the nurses/doctors did. At least for my first I'm sure they did.

danglethedingle · 19/12/2025 18:22

I gave both of mine a good inspection, it was just instinctive. Its a funny thing maternal instinct, I could see they were red squashed ugly little buggers, but also simultaneously the most beautiful babies to grace the Earth.