Why I Didn’t Stop My Baby from Sucking Her Fingers – And Why You Might Not Need To Either!

I had an interesting encounter at the park the other day that really made me reflect on something I see so often as a parent — and hear even more often from other parents. It was a bright afternoon, and I’d taken my baby out for a stroll. We stopped near the playground, where I found a quiet bench and settled in to enjoy the breeze. A few minutes later, anothe mum joined me. Her toddler was darting around the swings, and we struck up a conversation — the usual friendly chatter about naps, mealtime chaos, and first words. But as we chatted, I noticed her glancing again and again at my baby, who was peacefully sitting in the pram… sucking on her fingers.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of her.

“Don’t you want to stop her from doing that?” she asked, gesturing at my little one’s tiny fingers, now thoroughly soggy.

I smiled. “No, I’m actually okay with it.”

She looked a little surprised! maybe even slightly alarmed. I understood. To many parents, finger-sucking or mouthing looks like something that should be corrected or discouraged. We’ve all heard the warnings: it’ll ruin their teeth, they’ll get sick, it’s a bad habit.

But here’s the truth... mouthing is a completely normal and important part of a baby’s development.

Babies Explore with Their Mouths. In the first year of life, babies are learning about their world through their senses. And their mouth? It’s one of the most sensitive tools they have. Mouthing, whether it’s fingers, toys, or even their own toes, helps them understand textures, shapes, and sensations. It’s how they start making sense of the environment around them.

It also supports hand-eye coordination, builds oral awareness (which is linked to future speech development), and can be soothing during times of stress or overstimulation.But What About Germs? This is usually the first worry. And yes, hygiene is important. But a bit of everyday exposure in safe, familiar settings can actually help build a baby’s immune system. Their bodies are designed to encounter and adapt to the world around them, including a few germs.

Isn’t It a Bad Habit?

Another common fear is that finger-sucking will become a long-term habit that’s hard to break. But in most cases, it’s self-limiting. As babies grow and start to use their hands for more complex tasks, they naturally reduce how often they mouth things.

Of course, if finger-sucking continues well into toddlerhood or beyond, you might decide to gently guide them away from it — but in the early months, it’s generally nothing to worry about.

Back at the Park…

As I shared some of this with the other mum, I watched her face change. She relaxed a little, nodding along.

“I never really thought about it that way,” she said. “I just assumed it was something we should stop.”

We ended up having a great conversation. It reminded me that so many of us are doing our best, often guided by bits of advice we’ve picked up along the way. Sometimes, a shift in perspective is all it takes to let go of unnecessary worry.

And as for my baby, she continued sucking her fingers happily, completely unaware of the little mindset change she’d sparked that day.

Have you ever been told to stop your baby from mouthing or sucking? I’d love to hear your experiences or questions in the comments below.