Chewing on hands

sarbear2177

DD has recently started "chewing" on her hands. I know it's a normal developmental thing and she's just figured out she has hands, but I try to give her the pacifier instead when she starts doing it. Do I need to give her the pacifier, or should I just go ahead and let her put her hands in her mouth? I don't think she cares either way, so I'm just wondering what everyone else does. TIA!

CodyGH

We let him chew.  When they start to discover other things, they will always end up in their mouths.  It's just a given.  There's no harm in them chewing on their hands.  Like you said, it's just a normal developmental thing.

JJ1973

I let our LO chew on his hands...it is developmentally appropriate and I view it as better than a pacifier (he's using and exploring his own body). I don't encourage it, but when it happens, I don't at all deter it.

JuliaJ

When she starts trying to put her fist in her mouth, I give DD her pacifier, because I want to avoid her sucking her thumb, since I can take a pacifier away later, but harder to break the thumb habit.

april hall

My DD started this a few weeks ago . I say let them chew on their hands . It's a great way for them to learn self soothing . It keeps me from having to get up and give her a paci in the middle of the night if she get upset . It has also help her learn to go to sleep by herself . I know people will tell you that it will be easier to break them of a paci later but that is a road I am willing to cross when the time comes . 

sarbear2177

april hall:

My DD started this a few weeks ago . I say let them chew on their hands . It's a great way for them to learn self soothing . It keeps me from having to get up and give her a paci in the middle of the night if she get upset . It has also help her learn to go to sleep by herself . I know people will tell you that it will be easier to break them of a paci later but that is a road I am willing to cross when the time comes . 

 I didn't even think of that- good point!

egeiger

JuliaJ:

When she starts trying to put her fist in her mouth, I give DD her pacifier, because I want to avoid her sucking her thumb, since I can take a pacifier away later, but harder to break the thumb habit.

 

Mostly this. We let her play with her hands in her mouth, until it turns into straight sucking instead of investigation. Then we go to the paci, b/c you can take it away someday.

TiaTia

My DH used his paci until he was able to speak...and I was a thumbsucker into grade school.  Neither of us still have this habit.  DD uses a paci and i let her suck on her hands, both for all reasons previously mentioned. Whatever the vice, she will grow out of it in good time.

1ht