Thumb sucking: Help your baby break the behavior

Thumb sucking can be a difficult behavior for a baby to break. Realize what you can do to assist your baby stop sucking his or her thumb.

By Mayo Clinic Personnel

Thumb sucking is a popular behavior among the little ones. At some level, nevertheless, you could possibly feel, “Ample is adequate.” Here is assist encouraging your baby to stop the actions.

Why do some little ones suck their thumbs?

Babies have pure rooting and sucking reflexes, which can trigger them to put their thumbs or fingers into their mouths — in some cases even prior to delivery. Due to the fact thumb sucking helps make infants feel secure, some infants could possibly inevitably produce a behavior of thumb sucking when they’re in will need of comforting or heading to snooze.

How extended does thumb sucking typically last?

Quite a few little ones stop sucking their thumbs on their personal, frequently by age 6 or seven months or between ages 2 and 4.

But even a baby who’s stopped sucking his or her thumb could possibly go again to the actions throughout moments of pressure.

When ought to I intervene?

Thumb sucking just isn’t typically a worry until eventually a kid’s everlasting teeth come in. At this level, thumb sucking could possibly start to have an impact on the roof of the mouth (palate) or how the teeth line up. The chance of dental issues is connected to how frequently, how extended and how intensely your baby sucks on his or her thumb.

Though some professionals recommend addressing sucking routines prior to age 3, the American Academy of Pediatrics states cure is typically confined to little ones who proceed thumb sucking soon after turning 5.

What can I do to encourage my baby to stop thumb sucking?

Chat to your baby about thumb sucking. You happen to be far more very likely to be productive in halting the behavior if your baby would like to stop and will help pick out the strategy concerned.

From time to time having to pay no notice to thumb sucking is adequate to stop the actions — primarily if your baby uses thumb sucking to get notice. If ignoring it just isn’t effective, attempt one particular of these methods:

  • Use favourable reinforcement. Praise your baby or offer smaller rewards — this sort of as an excess bedtime story or a journey to the park — when he or she just isn’t thumb sucking. Established attainable ambitions, this sort of as no thumb sucking an hour prior to mattress. Spot stickers on a calendar to file the days when your baby correctly avoids thumb sucking.
  • Establish triggers. If your baby sucks his or her thumb in response to pressure, establish the genuine problem and offer comfort and ease in other techniques — this sort of as with a hug or reassuring terms. You could possibly also give your baby a pillow or stuffed animal to squeeze.
  • Provide gentle reminders. If your baby sucks his or her thumb without having considered — relatively than as a way to get notice — gently remind him or her to stop. Don’t scold, criticize or ridicule your baby.

Can the dentist assist?

If you’re involved about the result of thumb sucking on your kid’s teeth, check out with the dentist. For some youngsters, a chat with the dentist about why it is important to stop thumb sucking is far more effective than a discuss with mom or dad.

Hardly ever, some doctors recommend applying unpleasant methods, this sort of as covering your kid’s thumbnail with a bitter material, bandaging the thumb or covering the hand with a sock at night.

What if absolutely nothing will work?

For some little ones, thumb sucking is an very difficult behavior to break. Consider not to stress. Putting far too a lot strain on your baby to stop thumb sucking could possibly only delay the process.