ABSTRACT
Sucking on the hand is one of the most common behaviors in fetal development and in the newborn. Some infants are born with abrasions on their wrists from rigorous sucking in utero. Newborn distress is often followed by handsucking. This behavior is less organized in preterm infants, so nurseries sometimes provide pacifiers. However, in many nurseries, premature infants require a physician’s prescription for a pacifier. Research and anecdotal reports show that infant non-nutritive sucking helps calm babies across a broad spectrum, from the tiniest preemie undergoing an uncomfortable procedure to the toddler adapting to an unfamiliar situation. In this way, non-nutritive sucking provides comfort, promotes physiological organization, and even facilitates growth and development.
