When newborns put their hands in their mouth, it's a normal, key developmental behavior meaning they're exploring, self-soothing (hunger, tiredness, discomfort), learning about their body, and sometimes starting to teethe, as the mouth is their primary way to understand the world through touch and taste. It signals they've discovered their hands and can bring them to their mouth, a big step in motor skill development, but it can also be an early hunger cue.
It's perfectly natural for your baby to seek comfort or a way to communicate their needs by sucking their hands. Hand sucking is not usually a cause for concern. If your child continues hand-sucking beyond the age of 4 or you're concerned about their oral development, consult your GP or dentist.
Ultrasounds show that your baby has been putting his hands in his mouth since he was still in utero. This movement happened while your baby was swallowing amniotic fluid. So your baby has learned to put his hands in his mouth when he wants to swallow. This is one reason why he sucks on his fist when he is hungry.
Not only is it okay if her hands are clean, it's also okay if they're not (within reason, obviously). Putting their hands into their mouths is one of the first ways they get exposed to germs to build their immune system. You don't want your baby kept form away from all germs.
It's normal to worry when your baby does things you can't understand. Your baby could be chewing their hand for many reasons, from simple boredom to self-soothing, hunger, or teething. Regardless of the cause, this is a very common behavior that most babies exhibit at some point during their first months of life.
This might include your baby stiffening their arms or extending their fingers at an angle. What if they're pointing and gesturing much less than their neuro-typical friends? It might mean your baby is developing differently, or it could be an early indicator that your child is on the autism spectrum.
2-Month-Old Developmental Red Flags
No response to loud noises. Won't smile at people. Cannot hold head up while on tummy. Doesn't bring hands to mouth.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
Importance of Hand to Mouth Behaviour: It is one of the earliest developmental milestones which indicates that the bay is growing well. It helps form an early body image (body awareness and mapping) in the baby's brain. It is one of the first steps in establishing voluntary muscle control.
Cues that your baby is content and ready to interact with you:
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
That wide-eyed, round-mouthed “O face” your baby pulls isn't just for dramatic effect—it's actually part of newborn talking. This funny little expression usually means your baby's intrigued, alert, or trying to make sense of what they're seeing. It's their way of saying, “Whoa, what's that?”—without the vocabulary.
So… the rule of three refers to time - ie 3 hours, 3 days or 3 months. 3 hours: If you pump and plan to use your breastmilk straight away, you can leave it out at room temperature for 3 hours.
By 2 months, most babies will look happy to see you, and they'll smile when you talk to them. For many parents, those smiles are a heartwarming first glimpse of true affection. By 4 months, your baby will be smiling unprompted, hoping to catch your attention with a little "I love you" from across the room.
– Elbow splints can be used to stop the child putting their hands into the mouth but still allowing the child to use their hands. Some children love to suck their fingers and when their hands are in their mouths their dribbling problem gets worse.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
Babies start in 'active sleep' (with faster, uneven breathing) and move into a deeper sleep after about 20 minutes. That's a good time to transfer them into their sleeping place. Many babies don't like being put down into a cot.
Crying or irritability that does not get better with cuddling and comfort. A sleepy baby who cannot be awakened enough to nurse or bottle-feed. Signs of sickness (such as cough, diarrhea, pale skin color) Poor appetite or weak sucking ability.
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
Beyond the cuteness explosion you can expect when Baby starts smiling around 6 to 8 weeks, it's also an exciting time for their development. Baby's vision and facial recognition is improving, and they're outgrowing their early reflexes. They're also beginning to express feelings, such as excitement or contentment.
Pediatricians recommend that by about 2 months of age, babies be getting 15 to 30 minutes of total tummy time daily. The following ideas can help you and your baby enjoy tummy time: Spread out a blanket on a clear area of the floor. Place a rolled-up towel under baby's arms to help prop them up slightly.
Hold your baby as much as you can (in your arms or in a sling). When you cuddle your baby, they feel safe and loved, building on that bond between you both. You cannot spoil a baby, with 'too much' cuddling – it is what they need. Find out more about your baby's development, and how they learn to communicate with you.
Behavior and development
Your baby may be starting to smile this week and trying to fix and focus their eyes on your face. The best time to look for smiles is in the morning when your baby first wakes up or after they have been fed. Talk gently and get up close.