How to stop your baby’s thumb-sucking

Thumb sucking is normal in babies and young children. A natural sucking instinct leads some babies to suck their thumbs during their first few months of life, or even before birth. Babies may also suck their fingers, hands, or items such as pacifiers. They have a natural urge to suck, which usually decreases at the age of six months. Many babies suck their thumbs to soothe and comfort themselves when they are hungry, afraid, restless, quiet, sleepy, or bored.

Many parents feel that thumb sucking at a late age is a sign of emotional immaturity or lack of self-confidence. It is interesting to note that many well-meaning parents have actually encouraged thumb sucking by trying to forcibly take the thumb out of their children’s mouths. Most babies will stop thumb sucking all by themselves. Some will stop at an early age, while others much later.

Prolonged thumb-sucking may cause a child to develop dental problems. Thumb-sucking can cause a child’s teeth to become improperly aligned or push the teeth outward but this usually corrects itself when the child stops thumb-sucking. However, the longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that orthodontic treatment will be needed to correct any resulting dental problems.

A child may also develop speech problems, such as mispronouncing Ts and Ds, lisping, and thrusting out the tongue while talking.

In rare cases, thumb-sucking after age five is in response to an emotional problem or some other disorder, such as anxiety. A child with this type of problem needs to be evaluated by a health professional. Other children stop sucking their thumbs after simple treatment measures are introduced.

Many experts recommend ignoring thumb-sucking in a child who is of pre-school age or younger. Most young children stop sucking their thumbs on their own.

Children who suck their thumbs may need treatment when they:
 Continue to suck a thumb often or with great intensity after the age of four or five.
 Develop dental or speech problems as a result of the behaviour.
 Feel embarrassed or are teased by other people because of the behaviour.

Usually, treatment can be done at home and it may include parents setting rules and providing distractions. It may be helpful to limit the number of times and places that your child can suck his or her thumb. Put away any items your child associates with thumb-sucking. Offering praise and rewards for not thumb- sucking may also help your child to break the habit. As your child matures, usually around age five, he or she may be able to take a more active role in treatment.

Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking. Put gloves on your child’s hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.

Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar or recording each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.

Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting coating on her thumb. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.

Tips on dealing with habitual thumb-suckers

 Don’t make your child conscious of sucking her thumb.
 Don’t nag your child.
 Don’t worry about it. Your child will pick up on your concern, which will in turn cause him or her to worry.
 Try to distract him or her with a toy when she begins to suck her thumb. But do it as subtly as possible.
 You can try rewarding an older child for not sucking her thumb.
 Corrective measures such as restraints, and bad-tasting substances painted on the fingers, etc. usually backfire.
Pulling the child’s thumb out of his mouth will only serve to make him rebel against this restraint and encourage him to continue the habit.
 Encourage the child to give up the habit in a friendly, non-judgmental manner.

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