3 ways to help your child stop the habit of thumb-sucking
Thumb sucking can be a difficult habit to break in a child. Here’s how you can assist your baby in quitting sucking his or her thumb.
Thumb sucking is a common childhood habit. “Enough is enough,” you may think at some point. Here’s some advice to help you persuade your child to stop the behavior.
What causes some children to suck their thumbs?
Even before birth, babies have natural rooting and sucking reflexes that cause them to put their thumbs or fingers into their mouths. Because thumb sucking makes babies feel somehow secure, some babies may develop the habit of sucking their thumbs when they need to be soothed or fall asleep.
What is the average duration of thumb sucking?
Many children stop sucking their thumbs on their own by the age of six or seven months or between the ages of two and four.
However, even a child who has stopped sucking his or her thumb may revert to the habit in times of stress.
Thumb sucking has seven surprising benefits:
Emotional Support
Immune Enhancement
Digestion Aids
Teething Comfort
Declaration of Independence
Improved sleep
Peace of mind for parents
When should you actually step in?
Thumb sucking is usually not a problem until a child’s permanent teeth appear. Thumb sucking may now start to affect the roof of the mouth (palate) or how the teeth line up. The frequency, length, and intensity with which your child sucks on his or her thumb are related to the risk of dental problems.
Although some experts recommend addressing thumb-sucking habits before the age of three, treatment is usually limited to children who continue to thumb suck after the age of five.
What can I do to get my child to stop sucking his thumb?
Discuss thumb sucking with your child. You’re more likely to succeed in breaking the habit if your child wants to stop and helps you choose the method.
Paying no attention to thumb sucking can sometimes be enough to stop it, especially if your child uses thumb sucking to get attention. If ignoring it isn’t working, try one of these techniques:
Make use of positive reinforcement:
When your child isn’t sucking their thumb, praise him or her or give him or her a small reward, such as an extra bedtime story or a trip to the park. Set attainable goals, such as not sucking your thumb an hour before bed. Stickers on a calendar can be used to track the days when your child successfully avoids thumb sucking.
Determine your triggers.
If your child sucks his or her thumb in response to stress, address the underlying cause and provide comfort in other ways, such as a hug or reassuring words. You could also give your child a stuffed animal or a pillow to squeeze.
Provide gentle reminders.
If your child sucks his or her thumb without thinking about it, rather than to get your attention, gently remind him or her to stop. Don’t chastise, criticize, or mock your child.
Can the dentist assist you?
If you are concerned about the impact of thumb sucking on your child’s teeth, consult a dentist. A conversation with the dentist about why it’s important to stop thumb sucking is more effective for some kids than a conversation with their parents.
Some doctors may advise you to use some rather unpleasant techniques, such as covering your child’s thumbnail with a bitter substance or bandaging the thumb or covering the hand with a sock at night.
What happens if nothing works?
Thumb sucking can be a particularly difficult habit for some children to break. Try not to be concerned. Excessive pressure on your child to stop thumb sucking may only delay the process.
