Question
A ten-month-old baby frequently bites their lower lip. How should this be handled? Some suggest using a pacifier to correct this habit; is there scientific evidence for this approach? Or are there other methods that can be tried?
Answer
Biting lips in infants is often a self-soothing behavior caused by itchy gums. If parents do not correct this habit in time, it may have adverse effects on the growth and development of milk teeth and the oral and facial skeleton. Generally, there is no need to deliberately prevent the baby from biting their lips; toys can be provided to distract them, or food can be given to alleviate the itching in the gums. If the baby shows negative emotions while biting their lip, parents should pay attention to these emotions and provide comfort and support for specific reasons, thereby helping the baby break the habit of biting their lips.