Thumb Sucking: Is It Really a Problem?
The fact is, babies should be able to figure out how to soothe themselves at some point. Any parent that has woken multiple times a night to plug a pacifier back in a fussy mouth would agree. Remember, pacifiers are a modern invention…what did babies have before them? Well, mother of course, but she may not want to provide a nipple all night to soothe a baby. That is where the thumb comes in to play. You see? Very natural.
Babies and toddlers suck their thumb whenever they are tired, upset, or generally need comforting. Soothing themselves back to sleep is a big milestone for an infant and thumb sucking can do just that. However, parents can become concerned that the thumb sucking will cause social anxiety and dental problems. You shouldn't be worried about that when your baby is young, however.
It is estimated that 85-99% of all thumb-sucking children will give up the habit naturally, with no help on the parents' part. While the habit can cause dental problems with teeth and jaw alignment, this won't be an issue until the child is 4 or 5 years old. Dentists agree that as long as your child gives up thumb sucking before 4 years old, there will be no damage done.
Should your child have problems breaking their habit, do not try to forcibly stop them. The stress caused by that could cause them to want to suck their thumb even more. Let your child take his/her natural course with things. If your child expresses a desire to quit and needs help, then your doctor may have suggestions for you, such as coating the child's thumb with vinegar. The best way to help him quit naturally, however, is by distraction from the thumb and by providing a loving, nurturing environment.
Published by Dinah Laurel
Dinah Laurel is a freelance writer who specializes in online content development. View profile
- Home Remedies to Stop Thumb SuckingThumb sucking is a habit with many children. If your son or daughter has this problem, then read this informative article and find out how to stop thumb sucking today!
- Thumb Sucking Cures for Older ChildrenThousands of kids start life out by sucking their thumbs. It has even been proven that some kids begin sucking their thumb in the womb. Here are some tips for helping older children stop sucking their thumbs.
- Thumb Sucking: Oral Fixation or Stress Relief?There are a lot more thumb suckers over the age of five than you think! Why haven't these adults broken the habit?
- Thumb Sucking in ChildrenMy daughter was born sucking her two middle fingers. The doctor suggested I substitute with the pacifier. She wouldn't have it. Every time I put it in her mouth, she would spit it out and push her fingers into her mou...
- Parenting Your Child: Pacifiers and Thumb SuckingSome doctors will advise you not to allow your child to suck their thumb or use a pacifier. However, it is ultimately your decision!
- How to Help Your Child Kick Their Thumb Sucking Habit
- Thumb Sucking: Breaking the Habit
- Getting Your Child to Stop Sucking Their Fingers
- Things to Know About Thumb-sucking
- Thumb Sucking: Good or Bad?
- How to Stop Thumb Sucking in Your Child
- Thumb Sucking - Why It's Important to Break the Habit
12 Comments
Post a CommentAs a very small child, I was a serious thumbsucker. My parents tried everything, from: gloves, foul tasting stuff that they painted on my thumbs to little metal thumb cages they secured with with straps to my wrist. When all of that failed, they resorted to physical abuse. I was slapped more times than I can remember or count. We'd be watching tv as a family sitting on the couch in a row... Dad, Mom, sister 1, sister 2 and me.. Suddenly my Dad would reach down the line and slap me. I never even used to see it coming. Almost every photo taken of me as a young child shows that I was very unhappy. My mother recently died and in going though her house we found one of the little metal cages. I have it now and I will always keep it as a memory of a childhood that I survived.
MY ONE YEAR OLD HAS BEEN SUCKING HIS THUMB SINCE THE WOMB. WHEN HE WAS BORN I STARTED PUTTING MITTENS ON HIS H HANDS TO PREVENT HIM FROM GETTING TO HIS THUMB. I DIDNT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. ACTUALLY I WAS TRYING TO STOP A BAD EXPENSIVE HABBIT BEFORE IT GOT STARTED. HIS FATHER HAS BEEN LETTING HIM SUCK HIS THUMB FOR 17 MONTHS AND NOW HE WANTS HIM TO STOP BECAUSE OF THE DROOLING AND HOW HIS TEETH ARE COMING IN. HAS ANYONE TRIED THE LITTLE THUMB GLOVE? IF SO IS IT EFFECTIVE AND HOW OLD DOES THE CHILD HAVE TO BE TO USE IT?
Also, like anything not stopping them young only makes it harder to stop. Let them do it when they are young, it even boosts their immune system. But don't let them continue as they grow.
I am 21, and I still suck my thumb.
My bottom jaw has move backwards, giving me a double chin (only when I look down, but its still there) If you look at me side on my chin is slanted, due to my jaw line.
My upper teeth point out, called an open bite, and my lower teeth are crooked.
All this has been caused by my sucking of my thumb.
Trust me, they wont thank you for it, but you will be doing them a favour. Stop them now.
The onlyway to fix my problem now is to have my jaw broken and put forward, and my teeth straightened with braces. All of which is classed as cosmetic, and will cost £5000-£7000 or $10,000-$14,000.
By the way the article did not say that Adult thumb sucking was not harmful. It specifically mentioned 4 or 5 as the age that you need to worry about stopping the problem.
I totally disagree with all of you! Child abuse? Give me a break. I agree that if parents go about in a harmful way that it can be a bad experience and hurt rather than help the child but I think it could be addressed the same as potty training or giving up the crib. Is it child abuse or harmful to help your child take these important steps to growing up? There are lots of ways that we can "sooth" ourselves that are more harm than good and I would like to help my child give it up when young instead of put them through the embarrassment,bad teeth, and jaw issues when they are older.
Jen, I think your child's cracked thumb is a topic for your pediatrician. You haven't proven that thumbsucking is harmful, merely that your child has dry skin.
ok so if i agree and say that my 1 year old child sucking her thumb is not harmful then what would you say to the fact that her thumb is craked and peeling from it that cant be harmless and she is well taken care of so i dont think thats an issue
to stop a child from sucking his/her finger is child abuse. unless u have experienced the pleasure from thumb sucking, another person, be it mum dad, preist ot teacher has no right to try and stop it.
Sucking one's thumb, if not causing significant health issues, as it doesn't to the great majority of thumb suckers, is legal, effective as a calming agent, safe, doesn't interfere with the rights of others, natural, and useful habit unlike other habits. I suck my thumb and I'm an adult. Lots of adults also do so but in secret due to societal misconceptions. Not enough has been written as to its positives which may outweigh the small negatives that sometimes occur. For proof, check out www.thumbsuckingadults.com