Hey, mouth – what are these?
Your baby's physical, sensory and cognitive development are closely linked, and they can now bring their feet to their mouth to learn about themselves.
You might wonder why your baby puts their feet into their mouth and the simple answer might be: because they can! They are developing a sense of their own body and have discovered that their feet are there. Not only that, but their physical skills can now facilitate these movements to happen. Their arms can now reach their feet and they are able to grasp them. Babies tend to explore their world with their mouths, and this is why their feet end up in their so often!
Wow, these feet are mine!
Research suggests that not only are babies becoming aware of their own bodies, but they are also working out that their own body parts are different to the ones that belong to other people. When your baby brings their feet to their mouths, they create a different tactile stimulation to that of mouthing toys and other people's body parts. Your baby will enjoy the sensory input received in both their feet and in their mouth when they do this.[2]
You baby’s lips have played an important role in their survival, they have been used for early communication and feeding strategies.[3] Their lips and tongues are also ready-made for exploration, with touch, pressure and pain sense receptors, so your baby's mouth is an important area for them to gather information.
What happens if I press them down?
Your baby will soon be using their hands and feet in different ways and their movements will continue to become more controlled. When your baby is lying on the floor, you might see them press their feet against the floor and push their pelvis up slightly. As they develop strength and control, their feet will help them with their first movements and will in the future be their firm base as they stand and walk.
References:
[1] Noreen Iftikhar, MD . (2020). Baby Mouthing — AKA Why Do Babies Put Everything in Their Mouths?. Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/baby-mouthing.
[2] J. E. Leed, L.K. Chinn, and J.J. Lockman (2019). Reaching to the Self: The Development of Infants’ Ability to Localize Targets on the Body. Psychol Sci. 2019 Jul; 30(7): 1063–1073. Available online at: Reaching to the Self: The Development of Infants’ Ability to Localize Targets on the Body (nih.gov)gm Published online 2019 Jun 7. doi: 10.1177/0956797619850168