BF baby chewing fingers-is this always a sign of hunger?

[HappyTangerine]

DS is amost 8 weeks old and in the past few days has started sucking his fingers a lot. He starts about 10-15 mins after a feed sometimes so I offer thye breast again. Sometimes he'll take it, sometimes he will fuss, pull off and go back to chomping on his fingers. He does it a lot more in the evenings and early hours-if he is off the breast in that time, he's geneally v grumpy until he wears himself out at 3am. He also seems to chew his tongue-its like he's got chewing gun or something. Am worried that he could be hungry after feeds still (I do offer second breast after 30 mins on the first).Latch has been checked by a bf counsellor following mastitis and is now fine. DS is gaining wait slowly and producing lots of wet nappies.

Have tried in vain to speak to someone on the bf helplines today but all I get is ansaphone so thanks for any replies.

I think it is more a sign of finding his fingers and discovering the world, plus a way of dealing with tiredness judging from the times when you say he does it. As long as you offer him a feed and let him refuse it, you can't go wrong. You and he are always learning from each other. It's a dynamic relationship. Congratulations for feeding this far.

My DD 11 weeks chews her fingers all the time, and it's definitely not a sign of hunger. She's excl bf too, and I think that all it means is that it's her little comforter. I have noticed she does it more when she's tired, so do look out for that as a sign. But her signs of hunger are far more urgent - bashing her head against my shoulder - wailing in a kind of 'I need some food' way.
I read too that they do start 'discovering' their hands around this age, so as foxytocin says - it's probably part of that as well. HTH.

DS loved his hands from the moment he was born and it WASN'T always hunger, but always worth offering a feed...or not a feed but a comfort suck when he was grizzly...

do keep trying the BF helplines!

Thanks-and apologies for the terrible typos in my post (new mum sleep deprivation )

Same here - DS chews his fingers. It started about a week ago once he worked out how to get his hand to his mouth. He also chews like he has gum - I thougt it was just bits of spit up as sometimes see some.

I don't take as a sign of hunger if it's not long after a feed otherwise I find he just spits up if I try and feed!

i think its a sign baby likes putting things in mouth. especially just after a feed.

the general sign for a newbie wanting a feed, is being awake, and not just having just had one...(o was with mine)

Once they get to about 2 months old it's a sign that they've found their fingers . They like putting things in their mouths, have now got the coordination to put their fingers in there, and can't get manage to pick up anything else and manoeuvre it to their mouths.