Patient's question:
My baby started sucking their fingers since they were one and a half months old. Now I see them getting more and more addicted to it. Whenever I take it out, they cry. They don't drink formula, and when they are eating breast milk, their hand goes to their mouth. Sometimes they cry even when they are not eating breast milk.Doctor's answer:
For newborn babies, sucking their fingers is perfectly normal. The reason this behavior persists is twofold: on one hand, it brings comfort to the baby and reduces anxiety; on the other hand, babies are naturally born with a sucking reflex and need. The satisfaction derived from sucking fingers is different from that of breastfeeding—it is two distinct phenomena and needs. Therefore, even if a baby is full, they may still engage in sucking their fingers.