[fophyfam]

I need a little help. We have been home 1 month with our new addition. Our daughter just turned 5 months old. As most of you know, they do not "believe" in pacifiers in Guatemala. Because of this, our daughter has developed a habit of licking (yes, licking) her hand/wrist at bedtime and during the day. She does not suck on her fingers or thumb, but licks her hand. She is beginning to develop dry skin on these areas. I have TRIED and TRIED to offer the pacifier, but she does not suck it. She just rolls her tongue around it and spits it out. I need some advise and help.

I have never seen a baby do this annoying and weird habit. We would like her to stop, because of it causing the dry skin. Any ideas?

Thanks,

C.

[mary594]

OK, thank goodness someone is posting this. Since we got Juliet home at 4.5 months old she does this weird thing also, except she doesn't lick. It looks as if she is just kissing the back of her hand. But her lips are almost in a sucking motion. She will also do this on her arm, bend down over her leg and if I am anywhere around she goes after me and will do this on my face, arm, leg anywhere there is exposed skin. I spoke to the Dr. about this because actually we were in his office one day and she started doing this all over my face. I find when she is tired is when she does it. He said to just ignore it and redirect her. But it is hard to because she get very addiment(sp) about it. I don't know what it is all about, it is very strange to see. So I would love to hear if anyone has this. Juliet also would not take a pacifier.

Mary

[kdlee]

Yep, my son too. He sucks the back of his hand and wrist, but only when he's tired. He also will make a sucking sound when he can't reach his hand (when it's in his mitten) or when he wants his bottle. It is strange! He won't take a pacifier either. I just thought it was a quirky habit he developed. Guess others have it too!

[Sambo4561]

I have a freind whose babies both did this. She used olive oil with vinegar or lemon on their hands to get them at least healed up. The olive oil moisturized them, and the lemon and vinegar kept them from doing it for a while, because of the taste. You could also add salt, as I don't think babies generally like the tast of salt.
Hope that helps.
Michelle.

[dspakowsky]

My daughter (6 months) is always sucking and licking her hand and everything else. She'll put her fist in her mouth too. Sometimes she just has her toung (sp) out and licking all over her mouth and face (does that make sense?). I also thought it was kinda weird, but it's just what she does. She won't take a pacifier either. But, she will shove any and all objects into her mouth to chew on.

I don't think it's anything for us to worry about. I bet if our culture took away pacifiers the babies would all be doing this. We're just not used to seeing it.

[avoel]

My daughter has always done this too. She used to suck on her wrist but ever since winter came along she has fallen in love with sleeves... the fleece sleeves of her blanket sleeper are just heaven for her. I was actually kind of glad the photographer caught this picture of her at her 9 month photo shoot because I am sure someday I will have forgotten about this little habit but now I will have this reminder

[seania]

This is such an adorable picture!!!
I love the little shawl she has on!

[jlcoffey1274]

Yes, thank god I am not alone... I did post this a while back when we first returned...home.!! natalia has always licked... she wont' fall asleep unless a piece of blanket is near her face so she can lick it.. or her sleeve.. i thought something was wrong with her.. But we have since pushed a pacifyer and took about a month.. not she sucks that all the time..

maybe I created a monster... Hhehehehe

[mattecook]

It isn't uncommon for children to find something that soothes them. For my Emma it is sucking on 2 or 3 fingers and with the other hand pinching the hand she is sucking on. I wouldn't worry about it at this point it is her way of calming herself and putting herself to sleep. You most likely will have no luck getting her to take a pacifier as her hand is what will calm her.

Ami

[cbpwife]

I'm just in process, but I can speak from my experience with my biological babies who never took a paci. I would guess what you are seeing is a result of the babies not nursing, not the lack of a paci. They are sucking on their hands because they are warm and have a 'give' that paci's don't have - it's a different sensation. Maybe try offering a warm washcloth or your finger (knuckle more specifically).

Just a thought..

[MrsKringle]

Our baby is just 5 months old and we came back from Guatemala last weekend. He does this too, and I am teaching him to nurse using a Lact-Aid nursing supplementer. The bottles give them milk so fast that I don't think their need for sucking is satisfied at all.
Beth

[Devora]

We have a photo of our son sucking the back of his hand when he was about 3 months old. We were glad to see that as it was a good indication that he could self-soothe. Developmentally, this is something you want to see. When we visited him at 4.5 months he didn't do it much -- would suck more on his fingers. When we brought him home at 7.5 months he had stopped sucking on himself and instead sucked on his rattles, toys, etc.

Self-soothing is a good thing, even if it's without a pacifier. I can understand why this particular form of it is problematic. Just remember...it probably won't last much longer. Until then, keep offering her other things to chew/suck on Maybe try a damp washcloth -- this is something our son still loves to do! We have to be careful about leaving the washcloth within reach in the bathtub because he'll suck on it, soap and all, the entire bath time if you let him.

Best wishes,
Stephanie

[mary594]

I don't want to discourage anyone but I can tell you Juliet is 21.5 months old and still doing it. This has not slowed down let alone stopped. Infact one night she was sleeping with us and in the middle of the night I could feel something on my shoulder of course I am thinking ok, it's the middle of the night don't even think about it , when I finally woke up I realized it was Juliet sitting up in our bed kissing my shoulder (now don't get the wrong idea she has never witnessed anything)!!! Or doing what she does, I made her lay down and she fell back asleep. I told the Dr. he said just ignore it. When she goes for her 2 year check up I will ask him again.

Mary

[PattyR]

My daughter who is 20 months old still does this as well. Her younger brother also did this when he first came home, but I was successful in getting him to transition to a pacifier. (I know, I know some of you don't like pacifiers, but personally I prefer this habit to the sucking on his clothing and arm habit). He didn't care for the pacifier at first, but I just continued to offer it when I would notice him sucking on his clothing or arm and within just about a week or so he loved his "binky."

I don't make a big deal out of this habit with my daughter, but I do try to redirect her.

Patty

[ManyTimesBlessed]

One thing that might help is if you pull her sleeve down so that it covers her hand (you may have to secure it with a hair band or something so that she can't pull it off her hand). The shirt will get wet, but since it has a different texture, she won't get the same feeling from it and after a while she will probably stop and break the habit. You could also use a mitten or a sock.