Thumb sucking on babies and children
Are you worried about your child’s thumb sucking? Find out here what triggers there are and when you should stop your child from thumb sucking.
Thumb sucking for babies
Thumb sucking satisfies babies’ innate and completely natural need for sucking, similar to breast sucking. In addition, your baby satisfies his need for security, peace, closeness and comfort. For some children, the pacifier is enough, others notice that the thumbs fulfill the same function as constant companions and are accessible anytime and anywhere.
Thumb sucking in children
In small children, thumb sucking is often an expression of uncertainty. The sucking on the thumb relaxes and comforts him over a new or stressful experience. This can be, for example, the kindergarten entry, a move or the birth of a sibling. Such things can cause your child to fall back into an earlier stage of development in the short term. However, these relapses are usually only temporary and the children can stop on their own.
But thumb sucking can also satisfy the need for affection and tenderness in children. If children are anxious or overworked, they sometimes resort to it.
Observe regular and long thumb sucking
Children who suck their thumbs just to fall asleep or out of boredom are not at risk of later consequences. Only when children suck constantly or regularly beyond the age of three, it can come to similar consequences, as with excessive sucking on the pacifier. So you should pay attention to the frequency.
Thumb sucking is not good for teeth and jaws
Very frequent thumb sucking can affect the growth of teeth and jaw. The thumb in the mouth can cause the upper jaw to be pulled forward pointedly and narrowly. This, in turn, can cause your baby’s upper incisors to grow crooked. Because from thumb sucking, the upper teeth push forward and the lower teeth backwards. In addition, sucking can lead to a so-called open bite. This means that when grappling the teeth do not have contact; there is a large gap between the upper and lower rows of teeth.
Extreme thumb sucking may indicate behavioral disorder
The excessive amount or the sucking on the thumb well beyond the age of three can also be a behavioral disorder that may need psychiatric treatment. If you have concerns or there are first signs of this, you should definitely ask your pediatrician for advice and just ask. Together you can also think about alternatives for your child.
Thumb sucking: how to react?
- Do not punish or scold: If you scold your child, you cause your child even more stress. So that’s not helpful.
- Researching causes: When does your child resort to thumb sucking? Try to observe your child well and try to understand in which situations your child is sucking and what needs he has at that moment. Is it afraid? Is it excited? Does it need the thumb to fall asleep?
- Pediatrician: If it’s a proper habit, talk to your pediatrician. Perhaps, as an outsider, he can help you find the cause. In addition, he can certainly give you a few tips on how to stop this habit or refer you to a professional.
- Talk to your child: Explain to your child why they should stop. Make sure you motivate them to cooperate.
- Reward your child: Instead of scolding and admonishing, issue a reward and motivate your child to give up this old and dear habit.
- Take your time: Often behind the thumb sucking is the desire for more closeness and affection. Take time for your child and deal with his interests and preferences. Just ignore the thumb sucking in time. In many children, it then disappears on its own.
- Gloves and bitter tinctures: Many parents rely on gloves and tinctures to spoil your child’s thumb sucking. However, many educators reject this radical form of treatment. If you still see no other remedy, try to position it with your child as a reminder and not as a punishment. The child should agree and wish to be “reminded” that he has his thumb in his mouth.