In addition to traveling during the holidays, there are inevitably some parties to attend, and of course some with babies. At this time, a lot of the so-called past people, especially like to “teach” the new mother experience. “Why doesn’t your baby take calcium?” “It’s good for your baby to eat that stuff!” “Your baby is so fond of eating fingers, it must be a zinc deficiency!” A good party turned into a “for your baby’s sake” experience sharing session. Does finger eating mean zinc deficiency? Today we will talk about the relationship between finger eating and zinc deficiency! Why do babies like to suck their fingers? First of all, finger sucking is a common habit and mothers should not worry too much about it. Most babies suck their fingers when they are young for soothing and calming purposes, and after 3 to 4 months of age, babies have a physiological need to suck and often self-soothe by sucking their fingers. There are several common reasons why babies like to suck their fingers: 1. Babies can calm down by sucking their fingers when they feel stressed and tired; 2. Babies often show finger-sucking behavior when they are hungry or at bedtime; 3. Babies also show this behavior when they feel lonely and bored. More than half of babies who suck their fingers stop after 6 or 7 months, and some babies still suck their fingers occasionally until they are about 8 months old. Every baby has different habits, so mothers should not worry too much unless their babies are still sucking their fingers at the age of 4 or 5 and it affects the shape of their mouths or the alignment of their teeth. How can I correct my baby’s finger-sucking habits? Babies often grab this and that, and then stuff them into their mouths and eat them, and mothers are especially worried about bacteria getting into their babies’ bodies. Correcting this habit of the baby makes the mother exhausted, all methods are used, but it does not work, what can be done? Before 1 year old, this is the “oral period”, mom only needs to clean the baby’s fingers diligently, no need to stop the baby’s finger sucking action; 1 to 4 years old, find the reason why the baby loves to suck fingers, and solve the problem; explain to the baby the consequences of doing so, it will affect the upper jaw of the mouth and the arrangement of teeth (a bit like the teeth of beavers and bunnies) Over the age of 5, by which time it may already be affecting the baby, the mother can seek help from the pediatrician; use gentle reminders, especially during the day; some pediatricians recommend several “aversion therapies”, applying something bitter to the finger, wrapping a bandage or finger guard; set a series of possible goals (e.g. Set a series of possible goals (for example, no finger sucking for an hour before bedtime, then no finger sucking after dinner); you can also purchase some aids to correct the problem. Either way, remember not to deliberately put a lot of pressure on your baby to change the habit compulsively, it may backfire. Why is finger sucking a zinc deficiency? This statement comes from the fact that babies with zinc deficiency will exhibit heterophagia, often eating things that are incomprehensible to normal people, most often eating fingers and biting nails. In addition to omnivory, zinc deficient babies also show symptoms such as loss of appetite, growth retardation, reduced immune function, delayed intellectual development, and dermatitis. How can I know if my baby is zinc deficient? Zinc deficiency is diagnosed by combining feeding history, clinical manifestations, signs and serum zinc measurement results. Treatment principles for zinc deficiency: active treatment of the primary cause; dietary treatment (eating foods containing zinc such as liver, fish, lean meat, eggs, oysters, etc.); zinc supplementation (follow the doctor’s instructions for dosage) Breastfeeding and a balanced diet are the main measures to prevent zinc deficiency and to eliminate the habit of picky eating, partial eating and snacking. Although babies like to suck their fingers and zinc deficiency are slightly intertwined, they should not be confused with each other. Especially for babies with zinc deficiency, simply correcting the finger-sucking habit will never work, and the cause must be identified and actively treated. If you suspect that your baby has a zinc deficiency, it is best to go to the hospital for a professional consultation with a pediatrician, and it is forbidden to give your baby any supplement.