Babies who are becoming adults often stick their fingers down their throats because they are still trying to understand certain parts of themselves and their surroundings,
Also, life still seems like an adventure to them at that age. Infants and toddlers gag themselves, though it’s less frequent than infants faking cough. At first, they act in this manner out of curiosity.
However, most parents find it uncomfortable to see their toddler sticking his fingers down his throat. Some parents may even become anxious as a result of this, making them nervous.
I understand how disturbing it seems especially for a first-time mom. So, we put this guide together to help parents understand why toddlers usually stick fingers down their throats.
Is It Normal For My Toddler Sticking His Fingers Down His Throat
It’s common for babies to put their fingers down their throats.
It is one of the prevalent behaviors that could be categorized under some of the annoying behaviors displayed during childhood.
It is quite normal for infants to put their fingers down their throats, so there is no need to be alarmed. However, It might be as a result of them eating something they don’t like or experiencing some sort of discomfort.
Surprisingly, some babies will notice that you give them more attention when they do this and will be motivated to continue irrespective of your response; positive or negative.
Although your baby doesn’t intend for you to feel upset at all. It’s because they enjoy the attention your response gives them.
But it’s a bad idea to overreact to this kind of conduct because you’ll end up encouraging it. This age group of kids cannot tell the difference between good and poor attention. All they really want is your attention.
The majority of infants yearn for the chance to experiment, improve their emotional expression, and attempt something new. They have no idea why they do what they do and can only understand its moral right or wrong from your response.
What Causes My Toddler Sticking His Fingers Down His Throat?
1. Gag Reflex
Oftentimes, a toddler may stick his finger down his throat while eating, resulting in gag reflex. Also, your infant may experience the gag reflex if you push him to consume more than he can eat at that moment or when he eats something he dislikes.
This gag reflex action might be an attention-getting tactic or just a way for him to express disapproval of whatever it is that bothers him.
Whether you spoon-feed your infant or use baby-led weaning, gagging is common when they first start eating solid food. Gagging helps your infant learn how to chew by bringing food forward into their lips.
Rarely, a toddler sticking his fingers down his throat due to gagging can be associated with silent reflux, persistent nausea, food allergies, or other digestive and gastric issues.
An infant may decide to continue performing this instinctive action after practicing it once because it makes him feel better. If not managed correctly, such a finding connects readily and develops into a habit.
Being worried and concerned about the gag response is acceptable and given that, if precautions are not taken, it could develop into a more severe problem.
2. Danger Alert
When they have something stuck in their throat, babies may also put their fingers down their throats.
Since children are fond of putting anything found around them in their mouth, a toddler sticking his fingers in his throat may have just swallowed something nearby, like a toy, and it got stuck in their throat.
You can see them putting their fingers in their throats, attempting to assist themselves by removing the object and making gagging noises at that point.
This explains why it’s important for parents to keep a close eye on their infants at all times, particularly once they begin to move because they could easily access dangerous objects on their own and you might not be able to intervene in time.
3. Moving to a New Crib and Room
In the toddler period, many kids are switching to new beds or rooms. Your young child may be choking themselves because of this. Therefore, observe the time of day or the circumstances surrounding their actions.
For instance, you may have a new infant on the way, but your child may not like the new toddler bed and want the crib back, if you notice your kid only does this before bed, you may need to establish a more relaxing bedtime routine.
How to Stop My Toddler From Sticking His Fingers Down His Throat
Certainly, It’s true that a toddler sticking his fingers down his throat is solely a behavioral act, so an immediate alert may not be required.
While there isn’t a straightforward method to stop a child from gagging or acting in any other strange ways, there is always at least one workaround for a common issue.
1. Remain Calm
The reasonable course of action at this point might not be to act dramatically and loudly. With a calm and compassionate approach toward your toddler, the outcomes might be improved.
Pretend nothing important occurred if your kid vomited after he shoved his fingers down his throat. Simply play emotionlessly and tidy up. This way your child will learn not to behave in such a manner next time.
2. Make Sure to Look for Obstructions or Underlying Allergies
If something gets stuck in your baby’s throat, your kid might occasionally gag or throw up, allergies can also cause it.
In either case, keep your calm. You might need to assist your kid if they are attempting to get something out of their mouth and are choking.
3. Study Your Baby Feeding Options
By learning how to avoid overfeeding your infant and being aware of the foods that he or she hates, you can further prevent this behavior from occurring.
In this manner, your infant wouldn’t have to put his fingers in his throat in response to consuming something he doesn’t particularly enjoy or want to consume right now.
4. Avoid Spanking the Baby as a Repercussion
Some parents tend to raise their hands and spank the infant on the bum with ease, but this may not be the best form of punishment because some children will cry and then keep doing the same thing.
They don’t stop because they are resistant to spanking but because some of them don’t even know why you beat them in the first place. Hence, beating cannot be the optimal course of action in this circumstance.
5. Manage Toddler Hand Movement (Why Is My Toddler Sticking His Fingers Down His Throat)
Your toddler from sticking his fingers in his throat can be stopped by keeping his hands occupied with adorable toys for kids and other secure objects.
If you see that your toddler is about to bring his hands to his mouth, try playing with his hands or getting him to clap instead of being overbearing about your toddler sticking his hands down his throat.
The idea is to carefully distract him from his mouth with their hands.
6. Keep an Eye Out for Sickness
Some infants will put their fingers down their mouths when they are sick because mucus irritates them.
They usually show signs of sickness, such as a temperature, a runny nose, and other symptoms, so you will know this.
7. Carefully Choose Your Baby’s Toys
Don’t purchase toys for your toddler that will fit in their mouth because most babies attempt to eat their toys, which can result in choking and causing the toddler to stick his finger down his throat.
Not just with toys, but with everything else around your toddler should be kept out of reach, because if they manage to get a grasp of anything that fits in their mouth, it can be dangerous.
Is Choking and Gagging the Same Thing?
Choking differs from gagging. A kid who is choking can’t breathe because their airway is either fully or partly blocked.
How to distinguish between choking and gagging:
- Gagging
To bring food forward while gagged, a kid may retch while pushing their tongue forward or out of their mouth.
They might have watery eyes. They might cough or even throw up. Continue to allow your kid to spit up and cough; this indicates that their airway isn’t entirely obstructed.
Usually, coughing can successfully open up their airway. Don’t give them a pat on the back or attempt to take the item from their mouth.
Either action may result in whatever they are gagging on entering their airway further. It’s best to patiently remain with them and see to it that they fully recover.
- Choking
Children who are choking are unable to speak, scream, or breathe because their airway is obstructed.
When opening their lips, they might wheeze or inhale, make strange sounds, or make no sound at all. They might grab their neck or appear panicked.
Also, because they aren’t receiving enough air, children who are choking may turn blue.
They might require back thrusts and torso thrusts as first aid for suffocation (for children over age 1, abdominal thrusts).
However, it is advised this is done by an expert, so it’s best you learn first aid treatment for choking a toddler, likewise, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if needed.
When Do I See a Doctor When My Toddler is Sticking His Fingers Down His Throat
One of the most irritating toddler habits is when a toddler sticks his fingers down his throat and this happens frequently.
However, you can assume that your toddler is simply experimenting with all the odd and amazing things that our bodies are capable of doing as long as his pediatrician says there is no medical issue.
Additionally, your kid may need urgent assistance if choking occurs as a result of gagging.
Choking often results when an item, typically food or a toy, is trapped in the child’s airway. When this occurs, oxygen cannot pass regularly into or out of the lungs, which prevents the infant from breathing normally.
A tiny tissue patch known as the epiglottis typically covers the airway to provide protection. The stomach and airway have a common opening.
Every time someone breathes, the epiglottis closes over the airway like a lid. It permits food to enter the stomach but stops it from entering the airway.
An item may occasionally enter the trachea and obstruct the airway. Choking can develop into a life-threatening situation if airflow into and out of the airways is obstructed and the brain isn’t getting enough oxygen.
If a child exhibits any of the following symptoms, they may be choking and require immediate assistance:
- Can’t breathe
- Is gasping or wheezing
- Can’t speak, scream, or make noise
- Turns blue
- Grabs their throats
- Wave their arms
- Becomes limp or unconscious
- Appear Panicke
How Do I Know If My Toddler Has Something Stuck in His Throat
Coins, plastic pieces, batteries, or pins are the most common items that kids swallow.
In addition, some substances can get stuck in the esophagus. These consist of crunchy candies, chips, fruits, popcorn, and bits of hot dog. Likewise remote control batteries.
A foreign item in the esophagus can make it difficult to breathe. The kid might gag, throw up, or not want to eat anything. He or she might complain of pain in the neck, chest, or throat.
However, your child might show general signs that indicate something is stuck in his throat like drooling without feeling distressed. But, the esophagus could become injured if the item is not taken out. This might seriously make your kid sick
If something gets stuck in your baby’s stomach, it can quickly erode the esophageal membrane. Seek urgent medical attention if you believe your kid may have swallowed something harmful.
Conclusion (Why Is My Toddler Sticking His Fingers Down His Throat)
There are a variety of reasons why your toddler is sticking his fingers down his throat, both safe and risky ones.
Therefore, as a parent or caretaker, it’s crucial to constantly keep a close eye on any infant in your charge because things can change very rapidly with them.
Remember that how you respond to your toddler sticking his fingers down his throat can make or break your success in getting them to break this practice.
You risk hurting your toddler if you try to force him to stop such behavior, and this could cause vomiting or excessive crying. You don’t want your baby to experience the stress that results from this, so you shouldn’t try to force it, take it one step at a time.
However, if you notice your baby acting in this way, it’s crucial to find out why, so that you can determine whether a doctor should be consulted.
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