Parents eagerly await their infants' development during the first few months. From their baby's first babbling to their first smile or laugh, hearts melt as soon as they witness these developments, becoming a momentous event worthy of being photographed and shared with family and friends.
But among the developments in infant behavior that many may not understand the significance of is their sudden act of putting their toes in their mouth. Parents may consider this a comedic scene, without realizing that it signifies many things. So what is the reason for this behavior and what are its benefits for the child's development?
Exploring the world through the mouth
Your baby learns about the world around him through his senses, including taste. That's why he often puts everything he can get with his hands into his mouth. This includes his feet, too.
According to experts, this cute scene is a completely normal and healthy development. Your baby's mouth contains many nerve endings, and when he wants to know how something feels, he will often put it in his mouth and chew it repeatedly to discover more about it.
Nerve endings in the mouth carry sensory information to the brain. According to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, when babies put their hands, feet, or even something like a small toy in their mouths, they are actually trying to learn about the object, its dimensions, and its nature.
As your baby gradually learns more about his body, it's natural for him to also try to learn more about his tiny toes by putting them in his mouth, a development that often occurs between 4 and 8 months of age.
No need to stop it
Although it may be a bit strange to see your baby sucking their toes, there's no need to stop them. This amusing-looking developmental milestone helps your baby develop an awareness of their body and the world around them.
This is because oral foods help your baby get used to different sensations and textures, which may help when it's time to transition to solid foods and begin the gradual weaning process.
It appears that sucking your toes has benefits for developing your child's appetite. According to experts, it's possible that by experiencing the non-liquid texture of "tasting" hands or feet, babies are becoming accustomed to solids, which helps them learn to eat.
What about foot hygiene?
Additionally, your baby may find sucking their soothing toes, similar to thumb sucking. However, try to keep your baby's feet as clean as possible, which may not be possible after crawling and rolling over.
While it may seem unacceptable to watch your baby sucking his or her feet passionately, it's important to keep in mind that infants' feet are much less dirty until they start walking. If you really can't bear the thought, wash your baby's feet regularly to prevent buildup.
Generally, by the time a child is running and his feet are really dirty, he will often outgrow the habit of putting his feet in his mouth on his own.
As for whether it is safe for a child to bend their body so sharply, it turns out that children are extremely flexible, because their bones are largely made up of cartilage that has not yet fully calcified, and therefore, it is not as difficult for their feet to reach their mouths as adults might imagine.
Training phase ends automatically
The foot-sucking stage is not a cause for concern; On the contrary, it demonstrates a child's developmental milestones and readiness for new skills. Then, by around 24 months of age, the child develops a firm understanding that only food enters the mouth.
In general, it's important to keep in mind that most children will continue to put things in their mouths until around age 3. Once your child is mobile, it's especially important to be aware of their surroundings so they don't grab onto anything they could choke on and put it in their mouth.
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