An infant's sucking instinct develops as early as 15 weeks into pregnancy, and continues outside of the womb; usually as a cue to hunger and feeding.
But there is another form of sucking, referred to as 'non-nutritive sucking' -- being able to suck one's fingers, even when not feeling hungry.
'Non-nutritive sucking' is a newborn's ability to get their hand to mouth - not a cue to hunger, but as an exploratory behaviour - as they experience their surroundings and gain knowledge through their senses and motor movements.
This is a key milestone for children's cognitive development in the 'sensorimotor stage' (birth to 2 years).
When babies experience pleasurable sensations with self-touching actions such as sucking their fingers, attempts to successfully recreate this behaviour will be repeated often – thereby establishing a self-settling or self-soothing habit.
Studies have shown that this has a calming and soothing effect on babies and help them sleep better and longer.
To support your newborn's self-soothing behaviours early on, allow your baby to get his/her hands to face and mouth as much as possible while swaddling.
That's where the Fetal Flex Swaddle comes in! Designed in Australia, the patented Fetal Flex design helps your baby settle faster, sleep longer, self-soothe, and transition smoothly.
What is Non-Nutritive Sucking?
31st Dec 2024
