How to Get Your Baby to Stop Thumb Sucking
All babies are born with the instinct to put down roots and suck – this, of course, is what helps them eat even a few seconds after birth. This instinct can also cause them to suck their thumbs or thumb during a feeding break, because it is soothing and helps them feel safe. If they develop the habit of thumb sucking, most children will eventually quit smoking on their own, but if they are 2 to 4 years old and still gaining strength, you may want to consider intervention.
Thumb sucking is most troubling when the baby’s permanent teeth begin to erupt. The American Academy of Pediatrics states :
If your baby sucks heavily on the nipple or thumb or fingers between the ages of 2 and 4, this behavior may affect the shape of his mouth or the way his teeth align. If your baby stops sucking on a pacifier, thumb or other toe, or fingers before the permanent front teeth appear, there is a good chance that their bite will go away on their own. However, if the bite does not correct on its own and the adult’s upper teeth protrude, orthodontic treatment may be required to straighten the teeth and prevent broken front teeth.
However, convincing a child to give up a calming habit — especially when the calming thing is with him literally all the time — is easier said than done. But there are several ways to help them break the habit in a positive and healthy way.
Talk about it
Until it really becomes a problem, the best way to deal with thumb sucking is to ignore it; more often than not, the child simply outgrows this habit. However, when it comes time to intervene, the first thing to do is talk to them about it. This may sound simple enough, but it is a step that should not be skipped. When they are old enough to become a problem with thumb sucking, they are also old enough to understand why . And why isn’t it because they look childish teasing doesn’t help here, but because you want to help make sure their big baby teeth grow in the right way.
If your child understands why it’s time to quit this habit and takes responsibility for choosing a method with you, he has a better chance of success. You can start by asking them to choose a cute sticker to stick to their thumbnail, or choose a patch to wrap around their thumb for a physical reminder every time it touches their tongue.
Identify their triggers
Once you start to really pay attention, you will probably notice that they have specific triggers for thumb sucking. Whether they do it to fall asleep while watching TV, or as a way to deal with stress, figuring out what often triggers the habit can be helpful in identifying specific tactics to curb it.
If they tend to mindlessly suck their thumb while watching TV, find another way to keep their hands or mouth occupied. You can offer them a stress ball or buy a chew necklace to help them break the habit. If they suck their thumb to sleep, you can buy them a new blanket or stuffed animal to cuddle with. If they tend to suck their thumb to calm them down in times of stress or sadness, think of other mindfulness techniques to help calm them down.
If stress or anxiety is a trigger, make sure you also don’t try to break the habit when they are already going through a stressful time, such as during a big move or at the start of a new school year. They will be more successful if they don’t deal with the added stress.
Harder than positive reinforcement
Especially when you start helping them break the habit, if they have had it for a significant amount of time, they will find that they do it often without even realizing it, so they need you to be more alert. and offer them gentle, encouraging reminders.
But as with any problematic behavior you want to fix, it’s even more beneficial to acknowledge and praise the behavior you really want to see whenever you catch them doing it. Verbally acknowledge that they are doing a good job of not sucking on their thumb, especially when you know timing is the trigger for them.
For extra rewards, you can also try customizing a sticker table or some kind of reward system. For example, if they don’t suck their thumb all day, they might read an extra book with you before bed. If you’ve tried all of these and still haven’t had any success, it’s time to ask your pediatrician or dentist for additional advice on safe, worry-free methods you can try.