What should I do if my 3-month-old baby likes to suck their hands?

Under normal circumstances, a 3-month-old baby's tendency to suck on their hands may be due to curiosity, hunger, zinc deficiency, or other reasons. This can be managed through general care measures or medication as directed by a physician. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Curiosity

Three-month-old babies are naturally curious about the outside world and may explore it by sucking on their hands. This indicates normal brain development and is considered a normal physiological phenomenon that typically does not require special treatment. However, parents should ensure the baby's hands are frequently washed.

2. Hunger

If feeding frequency is insufficient, resulting in inadequate food intake, the baby may become hungry and suck on fingers to relieve hunger. Parents are advised to pay attention to feeding frequency and ensure a balanced nutritional intake.

3. Zinc Deficiency

Zinc deficiency may lead to pica (abnormal appetite), causing hand-sucking behavior, along with symptoms such as decreased appetite, rough skin, and brittle, discolored hair. Under medical guidance, treatment may include medications such as lysine zinc granules, zinc gluconate oral solution, or zinc sulfate oral solution.

Besides the above causes, hand-sucking may also result from intestinal parasitic infections, oral thrush, or mouth ulcers. If the baby shows any abnormal symptoms, parents should promptly seek medical attention to avoid delaying diagnosis and treatment.