To be afraid of baby getting sick from putting everything in mouth?

[August24Mama]

Hi everyone, I have an 18 week old DD who has just recently learned if she sees something, she can grab it. Most of the day is spent stopping her from putting whatever object in her reach in her mouth. I'm not sure if its teething or just exploring things. It's never anything crazy or dangerous, just usually either a blanket, bib or muslin cloth. I give her teething toys but they seem to make her upset after a minute or two, I'm not sure why.

Before I can take whatever she's grasped off of her, it's usually in her mouth already. Should I be more strict with making sure she doesn't do this? I don't want to inhibit a natural thing to do, but I'm terrified of her getting sick off something unsterilized. She's exclusively BF and obviously nipples aren't sterile, so I think I may be overreacting. But it's still lingering in my mind that it'll make her sick, AIBU?

YANBU normal part of development and its good to get illnesses and build that immune system. Unless she's picking up stuff off the floor in the street and putting it in her mouth then she'll be fine.

YABU, literally all babies do this. It does no harm.

Clearly I meant YABU 😄

It’s a totally normal part of baby development.

This helps for the really gross floor drops

My son once grabbed a piece of bread from a pigeon and ate it, he was fine.
It’s what they do.

I listened to a Zoe podcast about allergies recently and this behaviour is apparently really important in training the immune system so don't stress about it and don't go mad on sterilising everything.

It will help her get less sick. She needs a healthy microbiome and that comes from rolling around in the dirt a bit. Too sterile and environment has been linked to allergies and even childhood leukemia so I wouldn't worry a bit.

My DS's favourite hobby atm is to go round licking chairs. It's a good job he's my second because I'm so much more chilled this time around. They all do it and I think in some ways it must build up their immune systems. Try not to overly worry about it.

I've had this and really liked it! I ran out you've just reminded me to grab more, thank you! 😁

It's an important part of development. Not only do they learn by exploring and putting things in their mouths, it also builds immunity. You don't need to sterilise things so much.

It's very difficult to get your head round having spent so many months sterilising stuff to be then watching your child stuff everything in their mouth!
They all do it though.

This comment has me dying of laughter😂😂😂
thank you for easing my worries

She's only 18 weeks so presumably she can only grab things you leave within her reach?
Wait till she starts crawling!

This is how they learn about the world and will get worse before it gets better. You just try to keep the things they grab clean, non harmful, not gross etc 😨

Yeah exactly, she can't even roll over yet! It is only things like muslins blankets and stuff, you're right I can't imagine what she'll be grabbing when she's crawling 😂

I mean, it's actually quite healthy for babies to do this, isn't it? Builds up the immune system. Small children should be slightly grotty, it's an indicator of interest and discovery.

I guess this is your first baby OP.

In a couple of years if you have another one you will be saying ‘oh kid is eating the dog food? Yeah he does that a lot’ 🤣🤣

slight exaggeration but you get the idea. Babies find even the grossest stuff appealing. They tend to survive. Just keep medicines and cleaning products out of reach.

Thank you all for the help! It is strange going from sterilizing everything to letting her have at it, I remember searching how to sterilize my nips when I was newly PP hahaha

I won't worry about it as much, thank you all again!😊

My son once picked up a Haribo from the pavement and ate it. I went sort of "nooooo" in slow motion. Too late. He is a big muscular sportsman now.

@August24Mama she will be fine. Just keep an eye out for small things that could be a choking hazard (which is why Playmobil etc is for 4yrs+) but otherwise no worries. FWIW I never sterilised a thing for DS2 (him with the Haribo) and he was the only one of my DC never to have eczema.

One minute you have a teeny tiny baby that you have to sterilise anything that comes within a mile of her. The next you have a crawling demon whose favourite hobby is to lick the cat. And people wonder why the mothers of small children are often a bit anxious! 😱

Totally normal development phase. I once turned my back for a few seconds to see to
my older child, and turned back to find my toddler drinking from a puddle next to an animal enclosure at a zoo. See was totally fine and kept trying to do it with every puddle she saw for several weeks afterwards.

You've guessed right😂

I do think I have a touch of PPA tbh, but trying slowly to not get so flustered over every little thing. Will definitely always make sure nothing she can grab could be harmful.

Here’s a secret no one knows (ok - Dh doesn’t know - all my friends know as I told them 😂.) On the day dd hit six months we started weaning her. We have a film of it and everything. Carrots and broccoli were her first ever meal.

Except a week before she had eaten a massive handful of cold, dyed spaghetti that she and her mates had been sitting in as part of sensory play.

I only looked away for 3 seconds I promise! 😂