Thumb Sucking

Thumb sucking is very common with kids. It is a habit that is developed at a young age, sometimes starting while still in the womb. It allows children to soothe themselves or can act as something to do when they are bored.  Many children stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2-4, but intervention is recommended once permanent teeth start to develop. At this point, thumb sucking could start to affect the development of the palate and the growing pattern of your child’s adult teeth.

How to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb?

• Don’t mention it. This tends to work if your child sucks their thumb for attention. Ignoring their habit is enough to deter them from continuing it.
• Positive reinforcement. Use praise and rewards to encourage your child to stop sucking their thumb. A calendar with stickers is a great idea. Place stickers on the calendar for each day that they did not suck their thumb.
• Identify triggers. Does your child suck their thumb when they are stressed? If so, find out the triggers and try to resolve those issues. Maybe a hug, blanket or stuffed animal will ease them and replace thumb sucking.
• Gentle reminders. Do not scold, criticize or ridicule your child when they are sucking their thumb. Instead, try creating a subtle signal to bring your child’s attention to their habit and get them to stop.

If you are concerned with your child’s thumb sucking, a talk with the dentist may be affective as they are more likely to listen to a professional over mom and dad. If this does not work, your dentist may recommend an appliance to help your child stop their habit by interfering with the sucking.