Why Do Babies Chew on Their Hands?

Q: My 3-month-old baby keeps chewing on their hands. Are they teething?

A: At 3 months your baby might be teething, although most babies usually start teething between 4 and 7 months. At this age, a more likely possibility is that your baby has started to "find" their hands, which may become their new favorite playthings. Once that happens, putting them in their mouth is a form of self-exploration; they are discovering that their hands belong to them and are under their control. It's a great sign of growing up. Just one word of warning: Once your baby's mastered the hand-sucking thing, that means they'll soon be skilled enough to hold other things and put those in their mouth, too. You'll need to start being more vigilant about babyproofing and monitoring your little one.