I have a 13 mon. daughter. She did the same thing, often in her crib when she was put down for a nap... when she was bored. She would also do it after she ate, in the high chair at the table while we were having meals. We didn't associate it with teething right away because she wasn't showing any other teething symptoms. Furthermore, she began doing so long before she had her first tooth (from 8-12 mon., first tooth at 10 mon.) We thought she was doing it to get our attention, to get a rise, we would jump up and grab her fingers saying "no, no." After reading and researching, and talking with other moms we just learned not to make a big deal of it. If she did it at naptime, I could hear her gagging on the monitor (I knew she wasn't ready to go to sleep and was just bored or she just wanted me to come in,) I would go in (often times having to clean up the mess...not talking to her) put her back down with pacy and blanket and firmly say "It is time for you to sleep" and walk out. It only took me one time going in there for her to settle down. At meal times we wouldn't jump up or say "no," we just gave her something else in her hands. I also took this as a sign of her being finished.... she seemed to do this when her tray was empty. Eventually, when she started to teethe, and still doing so, I gave her ice. Crushed ice is great for this. I do think you need to not make a big deal of it to him. Maybe that is what he is looking for. I have 4 nieces/nephews that lived at home, but I had not scene this behavior before. I did not know that it was common/natural behavior. I agree with the other comments that you just need to redirect his attention more so redirect his hands. It will stop. Our daughter did it about 4 mon.
