My baby put hers hands in my mouth for comfort!

[lizzyttc2017]

My 8 month old fiddles around inside my mouth or with my lips, teeth, sometimes nose etc as a comfort twiddle while she falls asleep or nurses.

It's not only a little unhygienic I guess but it's also annoying and can be very painful 😖

I've tried giving her a soft toy, a comforter, a Muslin to fiddle with instead and she's not interested.

I try and pull her hand away but she gets upset and reaches back for my mouth.

She will do it to anyone who is rocking or holding her as she is falling asleep.

I wondered if anybody else baby has a habit of doing this for comfort and if anybody has any top tips to get her to stop??

I could have (and was going to) write exactly this! I try to avoid it but often it's a last resort to getting her to settle down to sleep. It can be really painful because she yanks at my lips, feels like she is trying to rip them off. Afraid I've got mo words of wisdom but I'm in the same boat and watching with interest.

@Cheeseandapple it's so painful sometimes isn't it, I get cuts on my gums, sore skin around my lips after putting her to bed haha it's crazy! 😅

Haha yeah it's an odd little habit. She really whines if I don't let her so no matter how resolute I am she always manages to get a few fingers in.

I've just realised I've got spots either side of my mouth and that's probably the reason!

My daughter has been doing this from when she was 4 months and I agree it can be painful I wonder why she is doing this to

We went through this stage. I used to just suck on her fingers quite firmly, as that provided the comfort but meant she wasn't exploring my mouth which was weird.

That sounds painful - mine slaps me to sleep. I wish I was joking why are they so angry?!

Ouch slaps you to sleep that must be a nightmare for you

My wee one used to do this, although it was more at the annoying than painful level. I had some luck holding her hand in mine and playing with her fingers instead. Also got quite meticulous about keeping her nails short and well-filed!

If you're trying to redirect her to a toy, I wonder if something more rubbery, a teether or a bath toy or something like that that she can squeeze and pull might give a more similar sensation than something made of fabric?