I’m convinced my daughter sucked her thumb in the womb. And I felt conflicted about her habit from the time she was born. It helped her sleep and she used it to self-soothe when she was upset, so I didn’t hate it. But I was also concerned about how it might affect her teeth and dreaded the day when it’d be time to break the habit.
About Thumb Sucking
Infants and children may suck their thumbs or fingers for a variety of different reasons. Some may suck their thumbs when they feel anxious or insecure. Others may use their thumb as a source of comfort. Because sucking is a natural reflex, sucking on thumbs, fingers, or pacifiers can be relaxing. But when is it time to stop? How do you encourage your child(ren) to drop it? And what effect might it have on your child’s teeth? Let’s ask Dr. Bob!
When & How to Stop
When it comes to figuring out when to stop, a good goal to set is breaking the habit by the time your child’s permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Thumb sucking that continues after these adult teeth come in can affect oral growth and tooth alignment. Whether or not thumb sucking causes dental issues depends on how frequently and intensely an infant or child sucks their thumb. And the same is true for a pacifier. Most children stop between 2 and 4 years of age.
When it comes to how there are several different approaches. First, it’s important to identify the reason your child is sucking their thumb/finger(s)/pacifier. If your child is using it as a means of coping with insecurity or anxiety, try to address the root of their anxiety and focus on resolving that. For children sucking for comfort, parents may need to be creative about providing comfort in other ways. Some children may be motivated by rewards or may respond to physical reminders–bandaging the thumb, putting a sock on their hand at night–to help them stop.
As with so many things, connecting with your child and supporting them through this major transition can help them gain the confidence they need to succeed.
But you don’t have to go it alone! If you have concerns about thumb sucking or the use of a pacifier, give Dr. Bob a call! He and his team would be glad to support your family through this transition. They may talk with your child about what could happen if they continue and may recommend the use of a mouth appliance, if necessary. You may even find your child begging to return to Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist for their next dentist’s appointment! He and his team are committed to providing the exceptional care your child deserves.
Helping My Daughter Break the Habit
About a month ago, I popped into Buy Buy Baby to see if they had any of that bitter nail polish designed to help kids stop sucking their thumbs. They had something similar, but I wasn’t convinced it was going to work for us. Especially after I read the instructions about applying it more than once a day. She’s 2-years old, so… I think you can guess how that was going to go.
On our way out of the store, she noticed a plush Peter Rabbit by the register. Having recently seen the movie, she was really excited about it. She has a small brown bunny that she used as a lovey, often while she sucked her thumb. I wondered if a reward might motivate her to stop and simultaneously thought, well, what the heck?! It was worth a shot. I had nothing to lose.
So I simply told her that she was becoming a big girl and that it was time to work on stopping her thumb sucking. I assured her that her dad and I believed in her and would help her and that when she stopped, we could come back and get Peter Rabbit.
Four days later we were back at the store to get her new “big girl bunny.” She quit cold turkey.
I learned two things from this experience. One, toddlers have a lot more willpower than we realize! And two, breaking the habit of thumb sucking can be a positive opportunity to build your child’s confidence. It doesn’t have to be something to dread, but rather a positive milestone to celebrate as a family.
When it comes to breaking the thumb sucking habit, Dr. Bob and his team would love to help you and your child come up with a winning game plan. Schedule an appointment today and let them know you heard about their practice here on Miami Moms Blog!
 to stop? And what effect might it have on your child's teeth? Let's ask Dr. Bob!){kind=link}