Kitten Chewing Fingers

Hello, new here and first time kitty mom.

I'm caring for kitten I found on our front porch Friday afternoon. The vet estimated his age to be 2-3 weeks, though underweight. Things are going fairly well, but after being fed and cleaned, he clutches onto my hand with his claws when I put him into his carrier and chews on my fingers for awhile before he dozes off. If I take my hand away he cries for quite awhile, but does eventually go to sleep. I just feel so bad to have him cry like that. I've tried holding him until he falls asleep, but the second I put him down he starts the clutching and chewing again. I don't mind of course as I assume it comforts him, but I'm concerned it will lead to him being a biter when he grows up. What to do? Should I stop letting him do this or is it just a kitten thing that he will outgrow?

He is too young to worry that this is going to be a learned behavior. He is missing his mom and littermates.  Try putting warm water (like his body temp, 101F) in a water bottle and cover it with a sock and give it to him as a substitute.

What a great idea! Thank you very much for your help, it is so appreciated.

Rice in an old sock works well too (microwave for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.) I have also heard others on here that use an intact nipple (no hole) as a "pacifier" for their young bottle babies.

I use a rice sock for our aches and pains, didn't even think kitty might like one too. Softer for him to curl up to. Excellent idea about the nipple as well! I'm happy to report that he took very well to the hot water bottle in the sock. I held it upright for him for a bit and he latched right onto it, climbed to the top and began chewing on the knot. Reheated it after his midnight feeding and he is now sleeping with one leg thrown up over it. Even my hands feel better having been saved from another bout of claws and teeth. Mom and little Reedus thank you both very much for your advice!

Just a quick update ...Reedus is still loving his baa-baa (bottle in the sock), very rarely do I not find him curled around it or gnawing on the knot. The rice sock was perfect for keeping him warm at the vet's office Sat. without the heating pad as the wait was nearly 4 hours. He slept cozily through, completely oblivious to the chaos going on around him in the waiting room. Thank you both again so very much for your help!

Aww!  I'm glad that worked for him and hes doing well!