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Apr
30
Breaking the hard habit:Thumb-sucking
By: angelie

Although plenty of 4 and 5 year olds stil rely on their thumb as a self-soother, parents often worry that sucking makes their big kid look like a baby. However, helping them kick the habit can backfire if you intervene too soon, under adverse circumstances, or in a critical way. Infants are born with a powerful sucking instinct that’s necessary for survival, and many find thumb-sucking like breastfeeding, pleasurable. Most kids lose interest in their thumb by age 3 but 4 and 5 year olds who continue to suck do so for a variety of reasons, to relax, beat boredom, and fall asleep. It’s not true, however, that thumb-sucking at this age is a symptom of deeper psychological problems. Thumb sucking is primarily a habit, and that’s how it should be treated.

Although the negative effects of thumb sucking can be seen at younger ages, by 4 or 5, certain problems may be obvious:

  • Bad bites- the pressure of the thumb against the teeth and roof of the mouth can gradually make the upper teeth stick out.
  • Speech problems- When teeth are misaligned, it can be difficult for a child to pronounce certain sounds.
  • Social Stigma- Unfortunately, kids who suck their thumbs in school are less likely to be accepted by their peers. A child who has one hand in her mouth can’t talk freely or use both hands for classwork.
  • Soggy fingers- Thumbs can become infected swollen, callused, or even crooked.

Teaching your child to stop thumb sucking will surely take a lot of time, but don’t pressure your child, setting an example would help her understand the situation.

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  • http://thumbuddytolove.com andrea

    I agree that you should not pressure your child to end thumb sucking…but there is a better way…
    Here is a fun and unique product for moms/dads and their little thumb suckers! It is called Thumbuddy To Love and it helps children stop thumb sucking in a fun and positive way without shame. Thumbuddy To Love comes with an illustrated story book, adorable thumb puppet and success chart. Kids love it because there is Fireman Fred for boys and Ballerina Sue for girls. Dentist recommended and it even won a Mom’s Choice Award. The American Dental Assoociation recommends stopping thumb sucking at an early age because it pushes teeth forward and changes the roof of the mouth….eventually leading to braces. You can check it out at http://www.thumbuddytolove.com. It is also available on Amazon and dentist offices.

  • http://www.thumbusters.com Mory

    Hello, my name is Mory, I am the father of three daughters who were all serious thumb suckers. After years of thumb sucking which resulted in thumb sores and potential teeth damage, my daughters expressed a desire to quit. I think they realized it was embarrassing and inappropriate for their age, but it was a habit and hard to quit! I tried everything to try to help them from Tabasco, socks over their hand, even bribery. I looked into alternative devices costing up to $500, but could have cause physical or even mental harm. This is when I came up with the idea of the Thumbusters!

    Thumbusters is a glove-like device made from Lycra that covers the thumb and is attached by a Velcro band around the wrist. All three of my girls took to Thumbusters better than I had expected. The product worked great on the girls because rather than punishing them, it empowered them to quit thumb sucking on their own! Thumbusters is recommended for children ages 5-12 who want to stop thumb sucking but need a little reminder at difficult times such as bedtime, while watching T.V. or even at school!

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