Does It Really Matter If Your Kid Sucks Their Thumb

It’s generally agreed that thumb sucking is not a problem for kids aged younger than five and that they shouldn’t be pressurized to stop. The majority of young children will give up this habit on their own by the time they enter kindergarten.

Around three quarters of infants will suck their thumb or fingers during their first year and it is perfectly normal and appropriate behavior. Even when the habit continues beyond infancy it’s generally nothing to be concerned about and certainly doesn’t indicate that a child has any sort of emotional problems.

Most Thumb Sucking Will Cease Naturally by Age 5

As they enter their preschool years, far fewer children will suck their thumb, particularly as this can be an age when they begin to be teased by other children. At this stage that thumb sucking can also lead to dental problems and a child that is still sucking a finger or thumb by age 5 could develop problems as their permanent teeth begin to come through. This habit not only affects the arrangement of their teeth, increasing the chance of their having an abnormal bite or an overbite, it can also make it trickier for them to make certain sounds such as the S sound and they may develop speech problems.

What Can You Do to Help a Child Who Has Difficulty Quitting This Habit?

If your kid has difficulty stopping this habit then there are lots of things you can do. The first is to identify when your child is most likely to suck their thumb as if it only happens at bedtime or at home then it’s likely to be a less serious problem to break compared to if it happens during social situations or at school. It doesn’t pay to nag or reprimand a child with this habit as it’s likely they want to stop anyway but just need a bit of extra help and reassurance to do so. In fact it’s a much easier habit to quit if they are actively engaged in stopping.

Getting a Child Actively Involved in Breaking the Habit

Positive reinforcement can often work very well and can be as simple as making a progress chart with a prize at the end of a week of no thumb sucking. Get your kid actively involved in the process by discussing with them how many slipups they are allowed in one week and they can also pick the stickers to be used on the reward or progress chart. Anti-nail-biting liquid can be useful at night as a reminder for a child not to suck their thumb while falling asleep. Other techniques include using mittens or gloves, depending of course on the season.

Getting Professional Help from Your Pediatric Dentist

Your pediatric dentist nyc can also help so book an appointment to see Dr. Amy Lustbader at the Midtown Dental Group P.C. if your child has difficulty quitting on their own. It is possible for her to provide a removable custom-made device that prevents thumb sucking for kids that need a little additional help.

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