When you see your baby sucking bottom lip, what comes into your mind regarding why they do it?
Would you like to know whether your guess is usually right or wrong?
If yes, keep reading as we discuss why children develop such behaviors and whether you have reasons to worry about it or not.
Baby Sucking Bottom Lip
A baby is usually busy most of the time making a long list of things.
But, if it is not kicking the air, it is smiling or doing something with its face. You might even spot your baby pulling its hair, among other things.
In most cases, you will wonder why they are doing so.
Other times, all you will do is smile, especially if they are making cute, funny faces.
If you think that they are hurting themselves, you will try and stop them from doing so.
However, there is one that’s quite confusing, and it is finding your baby sucking bottom lip.
On one side, it is a cute thing to witness as your kid sucks their bottom lip.
But, on the other hand, you tend to think that something must be wrong with the child to act that way.
That can’t be far from the truth. However, there are reasons behind that, and you need to fix them before it is too late.
That’s because as much as the behavior is expected, doing it for a long time could affect your kid adversely in the long run.
However, you can only stop it after knowing why the baby is sucking the bottom lip. So, without further ado, let’s see why.
1. Teething
When you notice a baby sucking its bottom lip, the chances are that they are teething.
In most cases, the bottom teeth start growing before the upper ones. It is a process that causes irritation and soreness.
Consequently, the baby sucking bottom lip behavior begins as an attempt to deal with discomfort.
If that’s the case, there are several ways of coming to the kid’s rescue. One of them is putting a pacifier in their mouth at all times.
You can also purchase an excellent baby teething solution. Finally, look for a non-toxic cream if you notice a chapped area.
The good thing is that the situation is temporary and will soon go away.
Read more in a related post: Baby Latching and Unlatching Repeatedly – 5 Smart Fixes
2. Soothing Themselves
It could also be due to a habit in the past. In case you are wondering how, yes, it is possible.
When in the womb, unborn children have ways of playing, and one of them is sucking the thumb. We all know that a habit is a disease.
Therefore, even after being born, the kid still wants to do it.
However, they often find it hard to reach the thumb and consequently finds an alternative. In most cases, they will settle for the bottom lip.
They are usually soothing themselves as they suck their thumbs and bottom lips. But, unfortunately, there is very little that you can do about it.
However, you can always soothe the lips with a kid-safe lip balm.
3. Hunger
It could also be a sign that they are hungry. You are most likely expecting kids to cry when hungry, but some have other ways of communicating.
One such method is the baby sucking bottom lip. It is more of their instincts telling them that they need to feed.
While some do it by sucking hands or thumbs, some simply suck the bottom lip.
Upon noticing such behavior, it would be best to feed them.
If you doubt that it’s hunger because you fed them not long ago, try feeding them and see how it goes. You may be surprised to find out that they want more.
Summary
A baby sucking bottom lip can be a result of a couple of things. It could be that they are soothing themselves, a habit they can’t stop, the need for food, or teething.
In some situations, there is something you can do. In other cases, you have to wait for it to pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Three-Month-Old Be Teething?
Yes, because some kids will start teething even as early as two months. As a matter of fact, it is normal; hence no need to worry about it.
Some kids do things before the expected time, including sitting, standing, and walking.
Teething is no exception, and a three-month baby teething is a possibility and quite normal.
Do Babies Get Blisters on Their Lips from Breastfeeding?
The answer to that is a resounding yes. As babies breastfeed, the sucking action could cause some blisters, usually in the inner side of their lips.
In other instances, they develop blisters way before they are born. However, it usually happens due to sucking their wombs while still inside the womb.
Can A Three-Month-Old Sit Up?
Just like in the case of teething, the age at which a child sits up varies from one baby to the other.
However, very few people sit up on their own by the time they are 3. On the contrary, they sit with the support of a person or seat between 3 and 5 months.
Related Post: How Many Pacifiers Do I Need?
Mo Mulla is a work from home dad who enjoys reading and listening to music, He loves being a dad and husband to a growing family. He also loves writing about his passions and hopes to change the world, 1 blog post at a time!