Thumb sucking is a self-calming phenomenon which is a common finding in babies and toddlers. Such behavior of babies looks pretty good and cute when they are young and usually stop their habit on their own.
Experts recommend breaking thumb sucking habits between the ages of 2 and 3 before permanent teeth start erupting. Some may retain this habit beyond the eruption of permanent teeth and up to adulthood, leading to great damage to tooth alignment, facial features, and speech development.
In this guide, you’ll find some easy ways to stop the baby from thumb sucking without tears or tantrums.
How long does thumb sucking habit last?
About 90% of newborn babies start to suck their thumb within just two hours after the birth and continue up to the age of 2-3 years. It is a comforting and self-soothing habit for babies, and they usually do it when they are feeling sleepy or hungry.
Some studies have also revealed that thumb sucking can start in the womb before birth, within 15 weeks from conception, and can be seen in ultrasound scans.
When does thumb sucking habit need intervention?
The American Dental Association (ADA) advises that children should stop sucking their thumb by the age of 4. If this habit stops before permanent teeth emerge, changes to bite or primary teeth alignment will automatically be resolved by the jaw growth and development.
The risk of dental problems is associated with the frequency and intensity of your child sucking the thumb. When the habit continues as the permanent teeth come in, it starts to affect the palate and teeth alignment, leading to constricted maxilla and open bite problems.
Some experts recommend consulting a pediatric dentist before the age of 3 to address sucking habits and explore pediatric preventive dentistry measures. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends intervention for those children continuing their habit after 5 years of age.
8 Easy Ways to Stop Baby from Thumb Sucking
Following are the few best and gentlest ways to stop your baby from thumb sucking before any bad circumstances happen that need proper intervention.
Determine the Root Cause
The first and foremost step is to understand the root cause behind your baby’s thumb sucking reflex. Thumb sucking is usually related to sleepiness, stress, or hunger.
Observe when your baby sucks their thumb the most (e.g., whether when they feel bored, anxious, need sleep, or food). Determining the cause can help you come up with the best way to respond to your child’s behavior.
Create a Soothing Bedtime Routine
If you observe that your baby usually sucks their thumb right before their sleeping hours, you need to try out some relaxing way to prepare them for sleep to help them feel safe without needing their thumb.
You can give them a warm bath, offer them their favorite toy or a blanket, use dim lighting, or read a story to help them feel sleepy.
Distraction Activities
Keeping your child’s little hands busy doing other engaging activities can help distract their minds and help them avoid this habit.
You can pursue some fun activities like coloring, playing with blocks, finger painting, or toys to occupy their hands and make them less revert to thumb sucking.
Use a Thumb Cover
A gentle technique to avoid thumb sucking in babies is to cover their fingers/thumb using chemical-free covers. You can use soft mittens, a clean baby sock, or some specialized thumb guards available in the market to prevent your child from sucking their thumb.
Although these covers can make feeding and playing difficult for babies, you can effectively apply this strategy during their nap time.
Offer Rewards
Offering rewards for the best behavior is one of the easy ways to stop the baby from thumb sucking or any other bad habits. Unfortunately, this trick doesn’t work for every kid but usually proves to be beneficial for most of them.
Give your child a little treat or some fun stickers when they don’t suck their thumb. Use this strategy every day and make them work harder for bigger rewards if they keep on to maintain their streak.
Try Some Alternatives
Some babies keep sucking their thumb just because they want something to squeeze and chew. A gentle way to prevent babies from thumb sucking naturally is to offer them some soothing alternatives that can satisfy their comforting needs.
If your baby is teething and you think it to be a cause of sucking their thumb, teething toys or silicone teethers could be a better option to relieve their gum irritation. Pacifiers, soft plush toys, and soft blankets can also serve as comforting objects to gradually reduce their dependence on thumb sucking.
Friendly Talks & Visual Reminders
Children do thumb sucking because it gives them comfort. An easy way to discourage thumb sucking in toddlers is to make them understand the possible negative consequences of this habit in a friendly way.
You can also use visual reminders through photos, videos, or tying a bow around their thumb to help them remember to stop before putting their thumb into their mouth.
Visit a Pediatric Dentist
If you’ve tried all the ways and your baby still can’t help avoiding sucking their thumb, it is better to ask for someone else’s help. Who could be a better advisor and guide than a pediatric dentist who understands children the most and knows about all the techniques to modify such behavior gently?
Schedule an appointment for your child with the best pediatric dentist in Fremont for better suggestions. Let them know about your child’s thumb sucking habit in detail. A dentist might recommend professional counseling, some kid-friendly educational resources, a custom thumb guard, or a dental appliance based on the unique needs of your child.
Final Verdict:
Thumb sucking in babies is a normal part of their development, but breaking the habit before it produces a negative impact on their oral health and function is important. Not only through verbal instructions, try working out the above-mentioned easy ways to stop the baby from thumb sucking.
If you’re still struggling, consult your child’s doctor to determine the cause and give better solutions to break the thumb sucking habit. As every child is different, find the best way to meet your little one’s unique needs!
