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 won't drink formula, and when eating breast milk, they keep putting their hands in their mouths. Sometimes they even cry when they don't eat 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 the baby comfort and reduces anxiety; on the other hand, babies are naturally born with a sucking reflex and need. The satisfaction from sucking fingers is different from that of breastfeeding—it's two distinct phenomena and needs. Therefore, even if a baby is full, they may still suck their fingers.