Got a kiddo who constantly sucks his thumb, pacifier, finger or hair? Here are some tips to wean little ones off easily and kindly:
There is a classic line in the movie Gone with the Wind, when Rhett Butler asks one of the older Southern ladies how to get his darling daughter, Bonnie, to stop sucking her thumb for fear it will mess up her perfect mouth. The lady quietly says, “Put quinine on her thumb. She’ll stop sucking it!”
That was a bit harsh, but it certainly would do the trick! Thank goodness there are more reasonable, safer ways to stop the sucking impulse in youngsters. Actually, many babies begin sucking their thumb in the womb, so it’s not surprise this self-comforting can continue even into the preschool years. Be it a pacifier, finger or thumb, constant sucking on something can have an effect on the speed and development of teeth. Little ones who rest their thumb passively in their mouth throughout the day are less likely to have dental problems than children who suck more aggressively.
So how does this calming habit hurt? It’s the tongue’s constant thrust in the mouth that can cause the speech issues. You can begin to stop this activity by asking children to take that thumb out of their mouth while talking. Let your child know he doesn’t have your attention unless the thumb exits the mouth. Say something like, “I can’t hear your words while your thumb is in there. Can you please say it again without your thumb?”
Most will stop this on their own between the ages of 2 and 4. Remember, never be negative! Positive reinforcement is a must, and you know your child, so don’t push his buttons! Making it a negative thing and being forceful or cross won’t help and, in fact, can make it worse. Most children suck their thumbs when they are tired or worried. It is a safety blanket used for reassurance, so always be calm and conciliatory and offer lots of praise for effort. Even though there are lots of techniques to try to stop your little one from sucking her thumb, none is a quick fix. Just as with any other habit, stopping the thumb-sucking takes time and patience.
Try not to worry about your child’s thumb-sucking until her permanent teeth start coming in. But if you want to discourage the habit before then, try to address the reasons behind it. If you can identify times and places when your child is particularly likely to suck her thumb, for example while riding in the car, you might try giving her a substitute, such as a cloth book to flip through. Or if she tends to suck her thumb when she's tired, try altering her schedule to help her get more sleep. Openly pressuring your child to stop can motivate her to suck her thumb even more.
Using positive reinforcement and encouraging behavior change in your child are always more effective than focusing on the negative. Parents must set up a reward system and take note of the days the child does not suck his thumb. Praise your child verbally and give him some reward at the end of the month.
Oftentimes, that thumb ends up in the mouth without your child’s even thinking about it. One simple reminder technique is to cover the thumb with a thumb guard or mittens.
Distract, distract, distract! The best way to help your child kick the habit would be to distract her by involving her in activities that require the use of both hands. Parents can keep their children busy by giving them puzzles or blocks to play with.
One local mom had to bite the bullet and call in some extra help when her son simply wouldn’t quit sucking his thumb at age 8. The family’s orthodontist said quitting could save him two extra years of braces. They talked with a dental hygienist who has developed a business visiting children in their homes to help them learn to stop sucking that thumb. During the visit, the hygienist asked him gently, “Why do you think it might be a good idea to stop sucking your thumb?” As he lay curled up on the couch, he answered, “Because of braces.”
When she left, she gave the family an ACE bandage, three large safety pins and medical tape. She came back three days later and explained that for 10 nights, he was to sleep with the medical tape around his thumb and a bandage gently wrapped around his straightened arm. Mom was to affix large safety pins on the bandage in three different places; near his wrist, at the bend of his elbow and at his biceps. The bandage and pins made it difficult to get that thumb up to his mouth. He kept his thumb wrapped with medical tape through the day.
This young boy’s mom also learned some things like some feelings, objects and places made her son want to suck more. For instance, fleece blankets triggered the sucking. He did finally succeed in losing the taste for his thumb!
Understanding that this habit is natural and will, in most cases, resolve on its own is a comfort. Take it one step at a time. You and your family will learn and be stronger from the experience!
Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.
Sources: MotherAndBaby.com, BabyCenter.com, Parents.com.