Question
Children often eat their hands when they are not sleeping, not necessarily because they are hungry. Parents are worried if this is normal and how to deal with it.
Answer
Children often eating their hands when not sleeping may be due to unsatisfied suckling needs. If it doesn’t happen frequently, there is usually no need for special handling. However, if it happens often, it may be necessary to stop it to avoid forming bad habits and affecting the gums. It is recommended that parents spend more time with and distract the child, reducing the likelihood of hand-licking.