Many parents will find that their babies are eating their hands, which is a normal phenomenon in their development. It usually starts at five or six months and disappears on its own by the age of two. But some children may experience redness and swelling when they suck on their fingers. So, what causes redness and swelling of the baby's thumbs when eating, and what are the hazards of excessive eating of the baby's hands?
What's the reason for the baby's swollen and red hands and thumbs when eating
Eating hands is a very normal thing for children and is a way for them to comfort themselves. Even studies have found that regularly eating hands can stimulate children's neuronal development and may make them smarter, as long as they keep their hands clean. If eating hands causes redness and swelling of the thumb, it may be due to the baby sucking excessively. Generally, the symptoms will improve after a few hours. When a baby experiences excessive sucking, parents should correct it.
What are the hazards of babies overeating their hands
Although it is normal for children to eat their hands, there are certain limitations. If they eat too frequently, it may cause deformation of their hands and have varying degrees of impact on their teeth. Long term eating can also affect the normal development of a baby's teeth, mainly causing teeth to protrude and affecting bite. If the habit of eating hands continues until the age of 5 or 6, it will even affect the development of the jawbone, and this impact may last for a lifetime. Besides being ugly, it may also affect language expression.
It is normal for babies to eat their hands, but excessive sucking can be abnormal, and sucking fingers can also cause harm to children over two years old. Many people want to know what causes redness and swelling of their baby's thumb when they eat their hands. This is a typical sign of sucking, and although the redness and swelling will quickly improve, it is time for parents to correct their child's hand sucking behavior.
