Babies tend to frequently change their behavior and start doing things that can cause concern and stress among parents.
One of these things includes a baby sucking on their lower lip. People often wonder what causes babies to do this and why it happens.
For this reason, it is important to determine the different factors that lead to a baby sucking on its lower lip in order to form clear conclusions on how to prevent it or stop it.
Main Points
- Baby sucking on their lower lip is a common change in their behavior which can cause concern and stress among parents.
- Babies might be sucking on their lower lip because it is comforting during sleeping.
- Hunger can be expressed by babies by sucking on their lower lip.
- During the process of teething, babies might be sucking on their lower lip to ease the pain and discomfort of the lower gums.
- Sucking on the lower lip is not harmful to babies, but it can cause problems such as the appearance of rashes on their lips as well as a feeling of frustration.
Why Do Babies Find Sucking on Lower Lips Very Comforting?
The most common reasons why a baby might be sucking on their lower lip is them finding this motion comforting, a sign that they are hungry, or perhaps their lower teeth are starting to grow.
As soon as babies start performing motions on their own such as sucking on their lower lip, it usually means that they have started developing their own instincts and this is one way of finding comfort throughout the night.
The lower lip is an easily reachable area for babies that they can play with when they might be left unattended by their parents. In this way, babies replace the attention and comfort that parents give to them by sucking on their lower lips.
Babies most often suck on their lower lip during their sleep time and this gives them a sense of comfort because it calms them down and soothes their stress of being left alone during the night hours.
Babies sucking on their lower lips may be concerning for parents because they may feel that their baby’s behavior is quickly changing or that the baby’s development process is improper or unsuitable.
Also Read: Shoulder Pain From Carrying Baby
How Do Babies Express Hunger by Sucking on Their Lower Lip?
Babies sucking on their lower lips can also be a sign of hunger. This usually occurs when babies observe someone eating or perhaps the lower lip reminds them of their mother’s breast.
Not every baby will cry if it happens to be hungry. Every baby is different in its own way and certain babies express hunger by sucking on their lower lip. This is usually a sign that the baby needs to be fed regardless of whether they are breastfed or given a baby formula.
A very interesting thing about babies is that they react very obviously when they sense a smell of food or they are watching someone eating. This makes them think about food and they might start performing motions such as sucking on their lower lip to indicate hunger.
As babies start approaching the age of 6 months, it is completely normal for them to be sucking on their lower lip. In this way, they might want to show their parents or people around them that they can sense how the food smells and are eager to try it.
What Drives Babies to Suck on Their Lower Lip During Teething?
A baby’s lower gums can become itchy and provide a comfortless feeling during the process of teething. This may be one of the reasons why your baby is sucking on their lower lip.
Easing the pain of teething can be easily done for babies by them sucking on their lower lip. After babies reach the age of 6 months, that is usually when their teeth start growing and it should not be a surprise for them to change their behavior.
The pain of teething is probably very painful for your baby and one way that they deal with this pain may be sucking on their lower lip. However, this can also cause rashes on the baby’s lips which have to be treated with the use of a proper moisturizer.
Usually, lower teeth start growing first among babies and that explains why they tend to suck on their lower lip specifically.
How to Stop Your Baby from Sucking on Their Lower Lip?
Even though babies sucking on their lower lips may not be as harmful to them as it seems, it can still cause certain problems.
If a baby is constantly sucking on their lower lip, rashes on the baby’s lips can occur which can be painful. Applying a lip balm or a moisturizer can help soothe the rashes on the baby’s lips.
Proper hydration of their lips has a tendency to aid in stopping babies from sucking on their lower lip.
Feeding them often and avoiding stressful situations around them may also help your baby forget about sucking on their lower lip and finding comfort in something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my baby to stop biting their bottom lip?
Biting or sucking on lower lips may be a cause of stress, hunger or a self-soothing strategy. For this reason, babies should be regularly fed and kept away from stressful situations in order for them to stop biting their bottom lip.
Why is my 4-month-old baby sucking on their lower lip?
If your 4-month-old baby is sucking on their lower lip, it may be an early sign that their teeth are starting to grow and their lower gums are probably very itchy.
Can my baby be teething as early as 3 months?
Usually, babies’ teeth start growing when they are around 6 months old. However, for some babies teething happens earlier and it is possible to even as early as 3 months of age.
Also Read: Why Baby Poop Smells like Vinegar?
Final Words
It is very normal for babies to change their behavior in a sudden and unpredictable way. But this does not necessarily mean that they are doing something incorrectly.
Their development process will not appear improper by them performing motions such as sucking on their lower lip.
Babies find such motions as coping mechanisms for things that may make them stressed out, uncomfortable or experiencing a feeling of hunger.
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