We all know that our little ones are curious about everything, and touching is their way of exploring the world.
But why is a toddler holding objects in hand constantly? This phenomenon is more than just using their hands to learn about objects.
What are the underlying facts behind this conduct? Does it indicate that your baby has some mental or behavioral problems?
These questions will be solved in this article, which also provides further information about the issue of extreme toy attachment. Stay tuned!
Your Toddler Holding Objects In Hand Constantly – Is It Unusual?
You should not be worried about the act of your child’s holding objects constantly because he might get stimulated and enjoy the stuff at that time.
However, this practice can also be a sign of some mental problems, like autism or extreme toy attachment, that you should know.
Be Stimulated By The Object
Sometimes, some objects stimulate your baby so much that he just wants to keep them. This is a good way for your little nugget’s development during toddlerhood.
Thanks to this stimulation, the healthy growth of immature muscles will be facilitated.
In addition, it also supports the coordination of hand movements, and your baby could gain more awareness of the object’s properties through contact sensations.
In other words, this stimulation makes your child hold an object for a long time because he wants to discover what the thing looks like and learn its properties, like angles, surface, etc., by touching.
Be Attached To A Particular Object
Another possible rationale behind this matter lies in your child’s attachment to the toy.
When he takes much interest in one object, the toddler always wants to keep it close and starts to cry if you take the toy out of his hand.
Sometimes, the attachment becomes too extreme, causing your child to hold the object without letting it go.
This is quite dangerous because he is willing to skip the meal and form a mental protest when the toy is taken.
Indicate Autism
Autism spectrum disorders are a worrying scenario. Numerous experts say that a child with autism holding objects loves to be alone or spend time with himself.
He finds it hard to communicate with others and join social situations.
When your child constantly holds an object, he may regard this as one of his friends and form a close bond.
Instead of making contact with other people, like friends or parents, he feels more comfortable when playing with this object.
If you are worried about this issue, you can take your baby to a reliable hospital; a professional healthcare provider will perform an autism diagnosis and determine the root of this problem.
Facilitate Sensory Development
Holding objects in hand constantly might be related to your child’s sensory development.
It denotes the brain’s process of receiving signals from other body parts, like the tongue, ears, skin, nose, eyes, etc.
Due to the immature development, its brains could be hypersensitive (overly sensitive) or hyposensitive (not sensitive enough) to external factors or a series of sensations.
If your toddler has tactile hyposensitivity, it may seek the sensations more often than usual with the purpose of facilitating sensory development.
And the behavior of keeping an object on hand for a while is one of several signs.
Gain Body Awareness
Keeping personal objects on hand is a good way of feeling the sensations.
When interacting with the surface, the brain transmits several signals to the hands to notify your baby that he is touching the object.
Hence, your child starts to be aware of its action and comprehend its hand’s movement. However, this process does not take a short time due to the limited sensory development.
That’s why you’ll see he’s standing still and holding an object while the eyes open. It could be in the procedure of being receptive to the body’s movement and sensations.
Is It Necessary To Concern Your Baby’s Toy Or Object Attachment?
Absolutely yes. Although the stronger attachment to a toy helps facilitate your baby’s feeling of sensations and boost his sensory growth, this act could be counterproductive if everything becomes extreme.
Indeed, when your child forms an extremely close bond with the object, you may struggle to take it out, as your toddler keeps it tightly within the hand palm and cries whenever he cannot hold the thing.
The endless crying is very annoying, right? It easily makes your blood boil and ruins your mood. The baby’s throat is also prone to damage because it’s still weak.
Some children are even willing to skip meal times or refuse to abide by their parents’ rules, forming a bad habit in the future.
How To Cope With Extreme Toy Or Object Attachment Of Your Toddler?
You must notice the objects’ characteristics that your child is attached to. What materials are they made of? What do they look like? Why do they evoke so much excitement in your baby?
When understanding these aspects, you try to find an alternative with nearly the same properties. Then, try to capture your child’s attention.
When he begins to hook on this new toy, you enforce the rule of punishment and rewards before giving it to your child.
Punishing him for bad behaviors is necessary, yet don’t forget to treat your child with some rewards to boost his positive conduct and encourage him to do so next time.
Hiring a good childcare provider is also recommended. She becomes a new friend of your baby, understanding his interest and playing with him all day.
Gradually, the toy attachment will loosen.
However, this approach is unsuitable for the budget if you are a middle-class household.
How To Choose Safe Products For Your Baby To Hold?
Below are several criteria you should consider before purchasing something for your child.
Notice The Product’s Age Requirements
Every toy manufacturer highlights the suitable age for playing with this toy on its package.
Suppose your child does not meet the minimum age requirement; don’t purchase it. Hold the ground firmly even if your toddler cries endlessly just to pick this toy.
Such products may contain elements of violence that are inappropriate for children under the required age.
Given choking hazards, the toy may seriously threaten these under-aged children because they are still unaware of the problem’s seriousness.
Don’t Choose Most Crib Toys
Many parents place toys in their children’s mini cribs or cribs; hence, they no longer feel bored when lying alone.
However, it is very dangerous because you can’t keep an eye on them 24/24, right?
Suppose they play these toys improperly; the risks of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment are unavoidable.
Accidents often occur at unexpected times, especially when you are sleeping and unable to hear the baby’s crying.
Opt For Non-Toxic Toys
It would be best to select toys made of unharmful chemicals.
Some plastic toys with a low cost are notorious for bad quality; they are the main culprits behind numerous diseases when your child curiously takes these toys to the mouth.
Here are some tips for you to choose a safe toy:
- The product should be made of natural materials, like wool, uncoated wood, cotton, etc.
- The fabric toys can be washable.
- Avert buying hand-me-down and vintage wooden toys, which contain a high lead level.
- Take close notice of some words, such as PVC-free, BPA-free, or phthalate-free.
Check For The Choking Hazards
The choking hazard is always present, jeopardizing your child’s health greatly.
To address this issue, you’d better separate your baby and round, small toys (or anything prone to choking) and never let them alone with sharp toys.
For toys with many small parts, like leggo, you are advised to keep them in a container after watching your child play and put them on the top of a fridge, a wardrobe, or anywhere out of the children’ reach.
If the toys show some symptoms of rusting, it’s best to get rid of them and purchase a new one with good quality. Consequences induced by the ingestion of rust are horrible.
Check For The Recalls
There is one organization called the Consumer Product Safety Commission that has enforced numerous guidelines and rules about the toy’s safety to protect the child’s health.
It will issue a recall to ensure that bad-quality, dangerous, and unsuitable products are not allowed to be traded on the market.
You should frequently update the recalls on its website to see whether the toys at your house are good or not.
What Are Other Soothing Behaviors Besides Holding Objects For Your Baby?
Besides holding an object, you can develop other positive behaviors for your child by creating a stimulating and nurturing environment.
There are some alternative tips for you to consider.
- Using a baby gym is advisable to enhance your child’s health development.
- Form a sleeping routine consistently by forcing your child to fall asleep by themselves (This is also an effective way of tiring out an autistic child).
- Make an incentive for your toddler to explore the environment and interact with the surroundings by providing it with cards, images, etc.
The Bottom Line
This article has discovered the mystery about your toddler holding objects in hand constantly.
In most cases, your child has experienced great stimulation; nurture this stimulation to facilitate its growth.
Saying so doesn’t mean you can be free from worries. Pay close attention to other accompanied behaviors to determine the underlying issue.
Thanks for reading and supporting this article!
