Can Putting Fingers In Mouth In An Infant Lead To Loss Of Appetite?

Posted on Fri, 11 Mar 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 Answered on

Mon, 16 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : our daughter is 5 months old and she is putting fingers of both the hands into mouth very very frequently. when we are trying to remove, in the next second itself she is again putting the fingers. is it normal? we are scared that her hunger might be decreasing and it might end up as a habbit. do we really need to stop it? if yes, could you suggest how to stop it.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It's normal till 5 years

Detailed Answer:
Hi...
1. It's normal till 5 years age.

2. It won't reduce hunger. It's only a self satiating behavioral issue.

3. You need not force stop it.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar