May 3, 2000 - Wednesday
I have to concede it really annoys me when Harry sucks on his hands and makes his loud slurping noise. I'm not sure whether it's because I dislike the noise so much or whether it's an echo of my own clean hand (guitar, etc.) neurosis, but it bothers me. I know it doesn't do Harry any harm. In fact, the advice books say sucking on fingers or hands is a convenient and always available way for babies to calm themselves. Further, since Harry hasn't particularly taken to his thumb specifically - he tends to go for the fingers or the entire hand - he is unlikely to carry this habit much past infancy or toddler age. Unfortunately, that's a lot of days of listening to him slurp.

I find it even more disturbing when he sucks on his shirt or coat and gets it all soaked with saliva. I used to think that his shirt or coat just happened to be getting in the way of his hand as it laid a path toward the mouth, but now I believe he purposefully wants more than just his hands in his mouth. I suppose with an infant that should be no great revelation.

I know that I should just let him go ahead and suck his hand, but I can't resist trying to get him to stop. Usually I do that by distracting him into doing something else, admittedly often with a simultaneous tug to dislodge hand from mouth, but sometimes when I'm a little shorter of fuse I just remove it. Ultimately as I do that I always remember that it's the wrong thing for me to do and generally let the hand go right back where it was...well, unless I can think quickly of something else for Harry to think about.

And, there's one other noise he makes that I hate. It happens when he tries to yell but works the sound way too far back in his throat. It turns into this raspy, growling sound that is the antithesis of how one should treat their voice. If I did it as much as he, I'd be hoarse for a week, but then I have to remind myself that babies aren't that fragile. I have noticed that this noise is usually associated with frustration, boredom, or fatigue and so, ultimately, if it gets me to take action, it has done its job.


Comments, opinions?