Toddler and Thumb Sucking
Why it happens
Toddlers suck
their thumbs because it's comforting and calming. Your toddler probably
practiced this habit while he was still in the womb and perfected it as
an infant. Now he may turn to his thumb when he's tired, scared, bored,
sick, or trying to adjust to challenges such as starting preschool or
going on a long car ride. He may also use his thumb to fall asleep at
bedtime and to lull himself back to sleep when he wakes up in the
middle of the night.
What to do about it
Don't worry.
The American Dental Association says most children can safely suck
their thumb — without damaging the alignment of their teeth or jaws —
until their permanent teeth begin to appear. (Permanent teeth don't
usually erupt until around age 6.) Also, not all children's
thumb-sucking is equally damaging. Experts say it's the intensity of
the sucking and the tongue's thrust that deforms teeth and makes braces
necessary later. Children who rest their thumb passively in their mouth
are less likely to have difficulty than children who suck aggressively.
Watch your child and analyze his technique. If he sucks vigorously, you
may want to begin curbing his habit earlier, say at age 4.
If
your child's thumb becomes red and chapped from sucking, you can try
applying a moisturizing ointment, cream, or lotion while he's sleeping.
(If you apply it while he's awake, it may just end up in his mouth.).
Let it go.
Nagging or punishing your child won't help, because he doesn't usually
realize when he's sucking away. Besides, pressuring him to stop may
intensify his desire to do it even more. And techniques such as putting
an elastic bandage on his thumb will seem like unjust punishment,
especially since he indulges in the habit for comfort and security. Try
to wait it out. Children usually give up thumb-sucking when they've
found other ways to calm and comfort themselves, says pediatrician
Suzanne Dixon. For example, while a toddler who's hungry may suck his
thumb, an older child (age 3 or 4) might simply open the refrigerator
and look for something to eat or ask his parents for a snack instead.
Preempt the thumb-sucking with other activities.
If you can identify times and places when your child is particularly
likely to suck his thumb — while watching television, for example — you
might try giving him a substitute, such as a rubber ball to bounce or
puppets to play with. If he tends to suck his thumb when he's tired,
work more naps into his schedule. Or if he turns to it when he's
frustrated, help him put his feelings into words. The key is to notice
when and where sucking occurs, and divert his attention by offering an
alternative.
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