Things to Know About Thumb-sucking

Thumb-sucking is one of the major concerns of parents. Thumb-sucking is generally viewed as a problem that has to be solved. It is usually associated with lack of attention, lack of love, unhappiness etc. This makes the parents overtly concerned. However, today's doctor's say that thumb-sucking is not a problem at all.

Babies naturally tend to suck at objects. Sucking helps them to obtain their food and so the act of sucking is associated with their physical and emotional satisfaction. During the days when they are teething, sucking the thumb, biting fingers is observed. By the time the baby is six months old she would have grown out of this. However, parents become concerned when their child continues to suck his thumb.

Sucking in such children will be observed only in certain periods of time, especially when they are sleepy, bored or tired. There is no need for concern if your child sucks his thumb at some particular times and is happy and playful otherwise.

There are no major health problems directly related to thumb sucking. Some of the minor ones are:
- The skin of the thumb becomes thick and whitish in color. This disappears as soon as the child gives up thumb sucking.
- The teeth of the upper jaw are pushed forward and the teeth of the lower jaw are pushed behind. This problem persists only in the first set of teeth. The permanent teeth are not affected as, generally, the child stops sucking his thumb by the age of six.
- If the thumb is not kept clean sucking it would lead to infections of the digestive tract like gastro enteritis etc.

Some checkpoints for parents:
If your child sucks his thumb ask yourself these questions:
- Is your child getting enough time to meet other children and people to play with?
- Are his toys suitable for his age and interests? Are they entertaining enough?
- Is he being left to himself for a long time in his pen?
If any of the above is answered yes, it's time to give your child a better time. The best solution for a child not to suck his thumb is to give him a life that interests him and pacifies him.

Precautions to be taken
- Frequently wash the child's hands and keep them clean.
- Keep the nails well cut and clean to avoid cuts and infections
- These children tend to go to sleep with their thumb in their mouth and slowly loosen their hold over the thumb. Their mouth remains open and they salivate. As soon as the child goes to sleep, gently pull out his thumb and close his mouth.

Don't
- Scold or threaten the child not to suck his thumb
- Humiliate him in front of others about his habit
- Pull out his thumb whenever he wants to put it in
- Apply bitter medicine on his thumb to make him dislike it.

If you do any of the things given above, you will not be successful; it will simply result in a struggle between you and the child. The child will become increasingly defensive and resistant and you will get exasperated.