Thumb-Sucking: Is it Time to Break the Habit?

It's cute that your child likes sucking on her thumb. Still, it worries you. Should you stop her? Will her teeth be ruined? How do you break the habit?

Babies love to suck. They may suck their thumbs. In fact, some babies suck their thumbs in the womb. Usually this stops at around 6 or 7 months of age. However, thumb-sucking often continues beyond that age. If so, kids aren't likely to suffer any psychological problems.

You should be worried if this continues beyond the age of 6 because it can affect teeth and mouth development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. You should be concerned if you notice it affecting your child's teeth or mouth at any age.

The need for sucking tends to go away as the child gets older. If your child is still sucking his thumb by the time he goes to school, he may stop because of peer pressure. Other kids, siblings and relatives may tease your child, but that's usually enough to break the habit.

Your best bet is to ignore the problem since this habit is likely to stop on its own. Don't tease or punish your child. This may worsen the problem.

Because children who are older than age 3 may use sucking to relieve boredom, distracting your child with a toy may help. Also try praising and rewarding your child when she doesn't suck on her thumb or pacifier. Offer her daily or weekly rewards, such as a new toy. Don't punish your child for "relapses." Keep it positive.

If this still doesn't work, talk to your child's doctor about using something called a thumb guard, which goes over your child's thumb. This serves as a reminder to your child to stop sucking.

Try to reduce stress in your child's life. Some children use thumb-sucking as a way to comfort themselves when they are upset. Don't pressure your child to stop thumb-sucking. Talk to your child's teacher about reducing stressful situations in the classroom.

Source:

The American Academy of Pediatrics

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.