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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

baby chewing hand - then choking!

21 replies

mufti · 27/10/2006 15:44

HE HAS been chewing his hands s lot i dont worry about that, except today that he has started to choke himself a few times,, VERY SCARY , HOW CAN I DISCOURAGE THIS?

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SoupDragon · 27/10/2006 16:17

He may be gagging on it but he's not going to swallow it and choke

You could put a mitten on I guess but chances are he'll just chew that/swallow it.

mufti · 27/10/2006 16:27

yes or shake it off , as he did with scratch mitts,

the last time it happened i think it scared him too , as he started crying, mind you it hasnt stopped him, hes doing it now. maybe as i determinedly refused to use dummies, then hes found something else to use for comfort.

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erinssleepymum · 27/10/2006 16:46

how old is you baby mufti?

mufti · 27/10/2006 16:47

4 months

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erinssleepymum · 27/10/2006 16:49

is he usually well in himself? happy ect?

mufti · 27/10/2006 16:58

oh hes got a lovely, happy nature. very windy, that and overtiredness are the only things he really cries about

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SoupDragon · 27/10/2006 17:00

TBH, you can't stop or discourage a 4 month old from doing anything. Their mouths are full of nerve endings and sucking/chewing is a hge sensory experience for them. You are going to spend the better part of the next 2 years trying to stop them chewing far more choke-worthy items than then their own hand.

Today, for 8 months old BabyDragon, it was grass and a piece of K'nex. A couple of days ago it was Floam

erinssleepymum · 27/10/2006 17:03

bless him (love the windy bit!!) i only ask because although lots of babies do this, my DD (6months) has silent reflux. she started choking herself too. doc said it was because of the bad taste in her mouth. its probably not related but maybe something to look out for!

NotQuiteCockney · 27/10/2006 17:03

Anyway, if he gags on his hand like this, it will help him learn and/or settle down his choking reflex for when he's ready to start eating properly.

Gagging looks worrisome but really is not the same thing as choking - a gagging baby is still breathing, and is in no danger at all.

TwigTwoolett · 27/10/2006 17:06

you can't choke on your own hand .. that's just silly

its a learning process .. and good for his developmennt

please don't express any fear or over-react to it .. you'll end up scaring him and then you may well have an issue

also I think you need to do a baby first aid course .. because if you have this much fear over something he simply can't choke on then you may have bigger problems when it comes to weaning in a couple of months .. and an anxious parent makes it difficult

mufti · 27/10/2006 17:06

you're right, i'll be keepnig the eyes in the back of my head open then for sure

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mufti · 27/10/2006 17:12

i did a baby first aid course for work a few years back, but itsso different when its your own

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erinssleepymum · 27/10/2006 17:25

you are so right mufti. dont worry yourself too much, tho easier said than done! im on no. 3 an still worry sometimes. its only natural. is this your first?

mufti · 27/10/2006 18:54

yes he is my first, got one adopted, and fostered all ages, but what a feeling. i love him to pieces.

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mamamaaargh · 27/10/2006 19:11

Oh, congrats on your LO, Mufti. I have to say my ds did the same thing - he'd try to get both fists in his mouth at the same time, then would gag and look rather surprised. Now, when he eats (he's 13 months) he sticks his fingers so far into his mouth that the same thing happens. He still seems suprised but does it again the following day. I've learnt just to ignore it - if I react, he thinks it's funny and does it more!

I'm sure it's all part of the learning process - What happens when I do this? etc. Hopefully it's something they grow out of at some point

erinssleepymum · 27/10/2006 20:19

i know that 'loving them to pieces' feeling!!! all being well you will find a thread like this one in a few years and think 'my god what was i worrying about?' its so different when its your own! is he sleeping now?

ilovecaboose · 27/10/2006 20:22

my ds did this for a while - made himself sick once

DId stop eventually though and he wasn't in any danger.

TomsMumLP · 27/10/2006 20:25

My son is 4.5 months old and also does this - sucks his fingers so far in his mouth he gags! I presume he'll learn not to. He's been teething for over a month now and he tries to chew everything he can reach - His hands are probably the safest thing - Just have to keep them clean!

disemboweledbint · 27/10/2006 20:28

it's fine. it helps her learn what her limits are.

mufti · 27/10/2006 20:40

just got him off, usually goes straight down, but a bit overtired tonight i think, screamed every time i put him down, got a bit worked up, poor thing, oh and baby, joke

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mufti · 27/10/2006 20:41

thanks for all the messages from the wise

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