Why does my baby put his hands on his face while breastfeeding?

Understanding Baby Behavior During Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a deeply intimate experience between a mother and her baby, and it often comes with a variety of behaviors that can seem puzzling to new parents. One common behavior is when babies put their hands on their faces while nursing. This action can be attributed to several factors, all of which are rooted in the baby’s natural instincts and developmental needs.
Instinctual Behavior and Bonding
One of the primary reasons babies touch their faces during breastfeeding is to establish a bond with their mother. This behavior is part of a natural instinct known as “cross identification,” where the baby, while receiving nourishment, instinctively wants to give something back to the mother. This can manifest as reaching out to touch her face or even putting their hands in her mouth. Such actions are not only a way for the baby to connect physically but also serve as a means of exploring their environment and the person they rely on for sustenance.
Stability and Comfort
Another reason for this behavior is related to the need for stability. Just as adults might use their arms to stabilize themselves while eating, babies use their hands to help them latch and maintain their position while breastfeeding. This instinctual movement helps them feel secure and comfortable, allowing them to focus on feeding without the distraction of balancing themselves.
Exploration and Curiosity
As babies grow, their natural curiosity drives them to explore their surroundings, including their mother’s face. This exploration is a crucial part of their development. When a baby touches their mother’s face, it can be a way of learning about their environment and the person who is nurturing them. This behavior is completely normal and signifies a healthy developmental stage where the baby is beginning to understand the world around them.
Stimulating Milk Flow
Interestingly, babies may also use their hands to stimulate milk letdown. By kneading or squeezing the breast, they can encourage the flow of milk, which is essential for their feeding. This behavior is instinctual and helps ensure that they receive the nourishment they need.
Conclusion
In summary, when your baby puts their hands on their face while breastfeeding, it is a multifaceted behavior rooted in instinct, comfort, exploration, and the physiological needs of feeding. Understanding these actions can help parents appreciate the natural bonding process that occurs during breastfeeding. Rather than viewing these behaviors as distractions, embracing them as part of the nurturing experience can enhance the connection between mother and child.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

These increases occur around the same time for all babies, hence the term “3-months breastfeeding crisis”. This crisis is the most well-known because it is the most challenging for mothers. One reason is that this crisis, unlike others you may experience before, can last up to a month.

Why does my baby bury her face while breastfeeding?

Not enough milk at the moment.
Baby isn’t getting as much milk as they would like at that moment. A baby popping on and off for this reason tends to bury his head into the breast, then yank back with the nipple still in his mouth before popping off and crying.

Why does a baby touch its face while nursing?

When your baby puts their hand to your face/mouth, while breastfeeding, it is known as ‘cross identification’ According to Zeljko Loparic (professor of philosophy at Unicamp and Winnicott scholar), The baby realizes that mum does something for her . Gives her something (milk, snuggle, affection, safety, relief,..).

Why do babies put their hands on their face when feeding?

Ultrasounds show babies bringing their hands to their faces before swallowing amniotic fluid. This is actually a process in the feeding pattern, which explains why babies bring their hands to their mouths when they are hungry.

Why is my baby constantly kicking his legs and moving his arms while breastfeeding?

For the baby, they feel like they are falling away from the person they most want to be next to – and then because they are unstable, they do things that make latch harder – flailing their arms, “breast boxing”, crying, head bopping, shaking their head back and forth, kicking their legs, arching away, and so much more.

Why does my baby move his hands a lot while breastfeeding?

The authors observed that infants use their hands to push and pull the breast to shape the breast and provide easier access to the nipple. Newborns and young infants also use their hands to push the breast away, possibly to get a better visual sense of the location of the nipple.

Why does my baby put his hands in his mouth when trying to feed?

It’s a form of play for them and also a way to self calm and also a way to communicate that they are either hungry or sleepy or just overwhelmed. They learn to put hands in mouth and later learn to put food with those hands into mouth. So avoid stopping them or guide them other ways of regulation. For eg.

How to get baby to latch deeper?

With your baby’s head tilted back and chin up, lift him or her to touch your nipple. The nipple should rest just above the baby’s upper lip. Wait for your baby to open very wide, then “scoop” the breast by placing the lower jaw on first. Now tip your baby’s head forward and place the upper jaw well behind your nipple.

Why does my baby keep his hands by his face?

This is the normal resting position for most babies. As your baby is still very small she can’t do much. Finger and hand movement require a lot of muscular and cognitive development that will happen over time.

What are four signs of good breastfeeding?

When your baby is well attached:

• their chin touches your breast.
• their mouth is wide open.
• their cheeks are round and full, not sucked in or dimpled.
• their sucks become slower and longer.
• you can see some of your breast above your baby’s top lip.
• you feel a strong, drawing sensation.