One of my DDs did it from about 10 months to around 2. Her daycare teachers told me that she got her whole class of one year olds to pick up the habit when they ate lunch. We thought it was cute, but occasionally I worried she wouldn't stop either. She did though, on her own. Funny thing is, while my DH doesn't hum, he sways from side to side when he likes his food. Totally subconsiously.

Hi, I'm a 28 year old male who still to this day Hum's while eating. However, I don't do it consciously, nor all the time, but I find that it occurs the most when it is food that I really like combined with a place or people with whom I am very comfortable, ie: I will be humming when eating food I like around my close friends at my home or their homes, but if I'm out with strangers or at a public restaurant etc. then I generally don't hum. Most of my friends find it hilarious, especially since they can call me out on it when I'm doing it and I will stop for a few minutes till I forget about it while I'm eating and start up again and then they all start laughing and I realize it again. I have heard all kinds of different explanations ranging from food releasing Dopamine in the brain, to it being a sign of schizophrenia. I don't really know what it means, but I have been doing it for this long without any negative effects, so I consider it to be mostly harmless. I don't know that this is relevant, but I have a six year old son who does not (and never has) hum while he eats, none of my other immediate family members do either, so I don't think its something that is genetic or learned behavior.

Thanks for all the replies. I do feel better that there are more hummers out there. Nobody in our family does this. But, the two people I did know who did this were father/daughter.

I also wanted to add that she is almost 4, so we are going on three years of this. I have tried to stop her a could of times in the past when she got loud at formal settings. She stops for about 20 seconds and then goes back at it.

A PP brought up a good point that she might just need to be made fun of to want to stop. She also picks her nose, and I'm thinking that is the only thing that will stop her from doing that, too. Hopefully, she will develop the social awareness to stop this behavior and not suffer too much. But, if she doesn't, we'll still love her!

My son did this from day one of solids until around age 3. Now at 3.5 he only breaks out the hum for very special treats. I kind of miss the hum!

My daughter did this from infancy to about 3. She's 4 now and does it only about once a month.

No, but I do, when the food's really good - can't help it, people laugh, but never maliciously, and I laugh too when I realize it. Have never been teased about it, and I was one of those kids who was shy and smart and teased about a lot in life.

I wouldn't worry about. All kids do something with food they like -- most hold it out a bit and look at it intently while they're eating. It's natural.

My husband's sister does this. He says that he teased her about it mercilessly when they were teenagers. Didn't stop her. I have to work really hard to surpress a laugh when we dine together.

My 5 yo son has started doing this recently. Actually he hums while playing too, it drives me crazy. Nice to hear it's not as uncommon as I thought! I have no answers, though...

My niece did this for a while but grew out of it by the time she was 5 years old. I wouldn't worry about it. Your DC will probably give it up if she gets made fun of.

Relax mom, your DD is just being *gasp*- cute. Someday that cute hum will be replaced with eye rolls, sighs, and "You don't understand!" being shouted at you. So, take time and enjoy her sweet innocence.

Relax mom, your DD is just being *gasp*- cute. Someday that cute hum will be replaced with eye rolls, sighs, and "You don't understand!" being shouted at you. So, take time and enjoy her sweet innocence.

Yes, OP, my son always hummed when he was happy with his food! My husband joked about it at the time. It happened less as he grew older, but he is 10 and STILL has a little happy hum he does when he is pleased with his food options.

I just think it is sweet.

I'm sorry the teachers laughed at your daughter in a way that felt to you like they were making fun of your girl, though.

My DD did this too at that age. Our daycare teachers also thought it was hilarious, but it didn't bother me one bit that they thought so -- we did too! She just sort of stopped doing it closer to 18 mos. Not a big deal.

My DD did this - as did I as did my father as did his father.

I don't know if this is healthy, but I broke her "habit" but stopping her mid hum around 18 months or 20 months or so. I would say her name and catch her attention while she was eating. And, make a smile or a joke. We'd laugh and she'd go back to eating. If she started to hum - I'd say her name, or tickle her until she'd laugh and stop humming.

The bad part is - dinner takes A LOT longer and is very distracting. But, at 2 years.....no humming (we called it 'singing')

My DD has hummed while she eats since about 13 months old. She probably does it 50% of the time. We have never addressed it.

So, I was talking to her preschool teacher the other day and she commented that DD really liked her cupcake at snack. Then another teacher piped up, "we always know when she likes what she is eating," like it was this big inside joke. I didn't get it at first, and they must of realized this. So, then everyone starts laughing, and the first teacher explained about the humming. I was able to chuckle, but my heart sank. It is a joke.

Truthfully, I don't think these women have done anything wrong. I think they just think it is cute. But, it has got me thinking about kids making fun of her. What can I do? I have known two other people that did exactly this (monotonous, tuneless humming while eating), and they continued to do it until adulthood. I remember trying to always keep one of them talking at lunch to get them to stop humming, because I felt bad for him. I can't believe I now have my own little hummer! How weird is life?