Infants waking up in the middle of the night to eat their hands may be caused by physiological factors such as hunger and teething, or it may be caused by diseases such as zinc deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.
1. Physiological factors: babies may eat their hands in the middle of the night because they do not eat enough at night, and wake up at night because of hunger, and eat their hands to alleviate hunger as well as to attract the attention of adults. In addition, babies will also eat their hands during teething to relieve the discomfort of teething.
2. Zinc deficiency: Zinc deficiency is caused by insufficient zinc intake and absorption disorders. Patients often show symptoms such as lack of appetite, slow growth and heterophagia. Infants with zinc deficiency will have hand eating in the middle of the night.
3. Iron deficiency anemia: Iron deficiency anemia is caused by insufficient iron intake and increased iron consumption. Patients will show symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, anorexia, xerophagia, and flatulence. If an infant suffers from iron deficiency anemia, he or she may also wake up in the middle of the night to eat his or her hands to relieve discomfort.
There may be other reasons for infants waking up in the middle of the night to eat their hands, so it is recommended to go to the hospital in time, improve the examination to clarify the cause of the disease, and then give targeted treatment or therapy under the guidance of the doctor.