A Pediatrician's Guide to Thumb-Sucking: What to Know

Anyone with a child knows they are born with the sucking reflex. Sucking is the innate way a child attempts to seek nutrients, whether they are breastfeeding or using a bottle. Young children can pacify themselves with pacifiers or other suckling toys in between feedings, which enables them to self-soothe. At certain ages, children may switch from pacifiers to thumb-sucking, in another attempt to pacify or calm themselves.

Nearly 75% of all infants suck their thumbs or fingers during their first year. While they do this to self-soothe, thumb sucking can also be instigated by boredom, sleepiness, or other factors. You may notice your thumb-sucker doing other things at the same time, such as sucking on the edge of their blankie or curling a strand of hair.

Too much thumb sucking can worry some parents, and many parents wonder when is the appropriate age for a child to discontinue the practice. While your trusted pediatrician can give you more information on a case-by-case basis, there are some tips if you are attempting to wean your child off of thumb sucking on your own.

Problems With Thumb Sucking

Parents that worry about too much thumb sucking have probably heard a mixture of urban myths and stories about the dangers of thumb sucking. Still, there are issues with prolonged thumb sucking, as it can cause oral development problems.

Children who continue to suck their thumbs around age 5 or so might develop a skewed or abnormal bite because of the permanent teeth that are trying to come in. They can also develop an overbite, troubles with making the “S” sound or other tip of the tongue sounds, as well as overall developmental problems in the mouth area. Fixing oral problems is not simply cosmetic—the habit has to be kicked, too.

Minor thumb sucking issues can appear as chapped skin and infections around the fingernails. There are extreme cases, but as the mouth is typically an unclean environment, it can damage the prominent thumb sucking hand.

Are Pacifiers Safe?

You might notice your baby thumb sucking at about 6 months of age. Thumb sucking is only worrisome if the habit continues into their post-toddler years, around age 4 or so. Continued thumb sucking can have adverse oral effects, such as creating an improper alignment of the teeth of altering face shape in aggressive cases.

In order to deter early onset thumb sucking, a pacifier may be used between feedings; however, remember not to use a pacifier as a way to prevent feedings or replace them. Your child wants the pacifier or thumb to continually self-soothe—it’s a safe way to satisfy their needs and give you some needed downtime.

If you notice your baby constantly sucking their thumb during nap time, it is safe for you to alternate with a pacifier. They may become fussy if they lose the pacifier while sleeping, since they can’t replace it without your help. Still, this is what makes pacifiers safe, as any pacifier connected to a string or attached to the crib can become a dangerous hazard.

You can safely phase out the pacifier at around age 2, when they have all their baby teeth.

How Do I Get My Child To Stop Sucking Their Thumb?

Depending on their age—and especially if they are older—it’s a good idea to simply talk to them first. You will be more successful in any endeavor with your young one if you can make them understand that you are attempting to help them, which means any method you choose is something they are an active participant in.

If your child is thumb sucking as a way to seek attention, you can attempt to ignore the behavior and see if it resolves itself on its own. Sometimes the constant negative feedback only provokes actions in young children, and if they notice that you are responding they might have a tougher time breaking the habit.

Attempt Positive Reinforcement: If your child is having a hard time, praise their efforts with small rewards, whether these are physical objects like toys or treats or simply trips to the store or the park. You can help them pick out or decorate a calendar with personalized stickers as a way to get them to participate in going a certain amount of days without sucking their thumb.

Look For What Might Be Triggering: Remember, thumb sucking evolves out of a need to self-soothe. If your child is thumb sucking at an advanced age, there might be deeper underlying issues causing the anxiety or stress triggers. Give them extra attention, extra hugs, additional kindnesses and nice words. See if you can let them pick out a new stuffed animal or find a new bed time story. Talk to them, and actually listen to what they say.

Be Gentle: Any attempts to dissuade your child from thumb sucking should be done with absolute care. Don’t yell at them or attempt to scare them out of the behavior, as it is already a trauma response. Use gentle reminders—do not let anyone in your household tease, scold, or otherwise belittle your child as a response to their thumb sucking.

Don’t Panic, And Offer Support

While thumb sucking can be ultimately worrying and stressful for both parent and child, experts agree it’s important not to exacerbate the situation with your own personal anxieties. These are tender developmental years, and it’s important to offer patient guidance and support to your little one.

Remember, your local pediatric dentist can be an immense help in this situation, offering advice and solutions. Seeking professional advice goes a long way, and you can schedule these sorts of consultations outside of regular dental exams and checkups. Your child’s dentist might recommend a few oral fixes to break the habit if it has become too severe, or if all else fails. Even when seeking the advice of a dental or orthodontic expert, remember to follow through with patience, love, and care.

Author Bio:

Alison Brown

Alison Brown is the Marketing Strategist at Children’s Dental Fun Zone. She has been inclined towards oral care since her childhood as she comes from a family of dental backgrounds. She loves spending time with kids and contributes her insights by writing and promoting informative blogs for families to help them adapt to their new homes and localities without any hurdles.