Question
Why does a 2-week-old baby always drool?
Answer
A baby’s mouth is small and shallow, and their swallowing reflex is not fully developed, so they cannot regulate the flow of saliva. The baby might get accustomed to suckling on their fingers or pacifiers, which stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Saliva is harmless to the skin inside the mouth, but if it drips onto the skin, it may cause inflammation. It is recommended to frequently wipe away the saliva to keep the area dry.