Does your baby or child suck their thumb? Some children suck their thumbs while others do not. Why? What are the consequences of thumb sucking, healthwise? How can you help your child stop sucking their thumb?
I was a thumb-sucker when I was a child and as a result to that I needed to get braces when I grew up because my teeth were a lil crooked.
Some infants begin sucking their thumb while in their mother’s womb. Many babies are born with calluses from sucking their finger, thumb or wrist. Other babies discover finger or thumb sucking after birth. This non-nutritive sucking is done for comfort. The sucking instinct in newborns is for survival. Babies that are born in countries where they have constant access to their mother’s breast have very little incidence of thumb sucking. The infant’s sucking urge is completely satisfied and they do not need to suck their thumbs.
Most children stop sucking their thumb or fingers on their own without parental intervention somewhere around age one. But, some children continue sucking their thumb long after. Hereafter we will refer to finger, hand or thumb sucking as just thumb sucking to simplify the article.
As most infants develop independence they become more mobile and too busy to bother with thumb sucking and therefore quit. When a child continues to suck their thumb many parents start to use punishment, negativity, yelling and frustration to try to stop them. This only makes the habit more entrenched.
A child who sucks her thumb will have dental and speech problems. The top jaw begins to form a gap in the front where the thumb is always placed causing an open bite. Other problems include a cross bite,crooked teeth, malocclusions, lisps, or a tongue thrust.
Prevention of prolonged sucking into childhood is probably the best defense that parents can take. First of all, a parent must meet their infant and toddler's emotional needs. Give your baby and toddler a structured day. Respond to their crying to soothe them. They are either tired, hungry, cold, bored or wet. Find out what it is and meet their needs. Give your child a feeling that they are safe with you at home or in a daycare they will feel safe at.
If your child is still sucking their thumb after age five intervention is necessary. The timing of this intervention is important. Do not try any intervention when they are starting on a new endeavor in their life. This means a new school, home, sibling, parent etc.
The first step is to validate your child’s feelings when you begin to talk to them about their thumb sucking habit.
Make sure you tell them that you know it is hard for them but you are confident they can be successful at quitting.
Rarely does another bad habit replace the thumb sucking habit: your child can be successful with your support, love and encouragement.
6 comments:
normally children will leave this habit sooner or later. i have discovered that my niece of 7th years old had stopped sucking her thumb last nite.when i asked her why, she said it doesn't feel nice aymore hahaha
Sherilyn, my almost 3yo DD is a compulsive thumb sucker. She gets a lot of comfort from sucking her thumb. I've tried stopping her from sucking but to no avail. ANyway, i'll just leave it as it is and I believe she will outgrow it on her own when she's ready :)
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oh... I do not allow my daughters to suck thier thumbs. I will train them from small and pull their hands away from their mouth.
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my little boy shern only wants his geegee. he never likes suckin on his thumb, not even pacifier..
thank God, i know that's one of the hardest habit to break.
ahhh...ashley is a thumb-sucker. She's still sucking it. Like HealthFreakMommy, I think i'll leave it until she outgrows :D
I have no thumb suckers but all of them .. from the eldest to the younges .. has a favourite cuddly toy to sleep with .. :)
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