Beyond Origins the Discussion

Help Your Daughter Or Son Kick The Thumb Sucking Habit: Top Parenting Tips

August 28th, 2008

Thumb sucking is a concern many parents have. Toddlers suck their thumbs because it’s comforting and calming. It’s very likely something they did before they were born and revert back to it when they are nervous, agitated, scared or feeling poorly. They may also use it to lull themselves back to sleep in the middle of the night.

Parents shouldn’t concern themselves unless it continues after the age their permanent teeth begin to appear, around six years old. Experts say that it’s the intensity of the thumb 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 kids who suck aggressively. If you’re concerned, closely monitor your child and analyze their technique. If they appear to be sucking vigorously, you may want to begin curbing their habit.

Punishing or nagging your child to stop won’t help because it’s normally an automatic response. Attempting to curb it by putting an elastic bandage on their thumb or another method will seem like an unjust punishment, especially as they indulge in the habit for comfort and security.

Try to wait it out. Children normally give up thumb-sucking when they’ve found other ways to calm and comfort themselves. Think about offering them other alternatives to comfort themselves such as a soft blanket or lullaby toy.

The key is to notice when and where they are likely to suck their thumbs and offer an alternative. If it happens while they are tired, try giving more naps. If they suck their thumb often while watching television, try to distract them with a toy that will keep their hands occupied.

Older children may need gentle reminders to curtail thumb sucking while in public, and praise should be given freely when the child finds and uses an acceptable alternative. Your child’s pediatric dentist can offer other suggestions for helping your child kick the thumb sucking habit.

If there is one stage of toddler development that seems to fill many parents with dread then it has to be potty training. I think this originates from our own parents and grandparents telling us tales of woe about their own experiences of potty training their children. But that was ages ago and knowledge about child development has grown dramatically. That means that your experience of potty training can be very different from that of your mother or grandmother. The key is to follow a reputable potty training program. And that actually starts well before you introduce your child to a potty. Check out the following articles for further advice
toilet training boys
potty training tips
potty training boys
And the guidance applies equally well whether you are potty training a boy or girl.

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