Thumb Sucking

How to Break your Child's Thumb Sucking Habit

My 7 year old daughter is a thumb sucker. Now, this has never bothered me, as I was also a thumb sucker until I was around 9. But, my ex husband was driven crazy by it. She never used a pacifier, and it wasn't for lack of trying, she just didn't like it. Around 1 years old, the thumb found the mouth, and it was love at first suck. Why do children suck their thumbs, and how do we break the habit?

Most children start to suck their thumbs from infancy to about the age of 5, although some children can start to suck their thumbs at an older age. Thumb sucking is a coping skill for stress or anxiety that many children feel during transition periods. Children most commonly suck on their thumbs when they are tired, bored or in need of comfort. Usually the child falls asleep more easily, is able to get back to sleep more easily and sleep through the night at an earlier age than their peers who do not suck their thumbs.

It is important to remember that children do not have control over thumb sucking. So, when you are trying to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb, it is best to create an environment where the child chooses to stop on their own. When a parent constantly criticizes or belittles their children for thumb sucking, it may actually cause the thumb sucking to become more intense and more difficult to stop.

Here are some tips on how to create that environment to help your child stop thumb sucking.

Distract your child when you notice they start to suck on their thumb. Engage them in a way that makes them use both hands.
Using products such as, Thum Liquid, which can stop nail biting and thumb sucking is sometimes helpful. It has an unpleasant taste that will make thumb sucking less enjoyable for your child.
Avoid Nagging.
Get your Pediatrician and Dentist involved. They can both be very helpful in telling your child to stop and the damage that it can do to their teeth.

Remember, most children will stop sucking their thumb on their own. But, if none of the above methods work, I recommend buying, Thumbs Up: Stop Thumb Sucking. This is a great tape that will help you and your child break the habit in a positive way. And, it is a digital download, so no waiting time for it to be delivered! Another alternative are various appliances and treatments that the dentist can provide. Good luck with your quest, and wish me luck too!!

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