At what stage do self-calming devices begin to appear?

Self-calming devices, such as sucking on a thumb or using a transitional object, begin to appear at birth. Newborns instinctively engage in self-soothing behaviors as a way to regulate their emotions and respond to stress. These behaviors are crucial for infants who are learning to cope with new and often overwhelming sensory experiences.

During the early weeks of life, infants may explore self-soothing through reflexive actions, such as bringing their hands to their mouths, which helps to create a sense of comfort and security. This natural tendency to seek self-comfort lays the foundation for more complex self-calming strategies as they grow older, but the initial behaviors can be observed right from birth.