Thumb-sucking is very common for toddlers. And while a little of it at a very early age is natural, if it goes on for too long it can negatively impact the child’s teeth, throw off the bite, affect the way the child speaks, and even cause problems with the little one’s jaw. So by the time your child reaches 3, you should do whatever you can to help him or her kick the thumb-sucking habit. What follows are several ways to help your child stop.
- Reason with your toddler. By the time your child is 3 or 4, he or she can probably understand why thumb-sucking is a bad idea. Tell your little one “only babies” suck their thumbs, and that big kids don’t do that. Explain that thumb and finger sucking causes your teeth to stick out and makes you look funny, and that sucking your thumb spreads germs that can make you sick.
- Address the issue when it happens the most. If your little one engages in thumb-sucking while watching TV, for example, explain that you’ll be turning off the TV for a short period of time each time thumb-sucking starts. Don’t make this seem like a punishment – instead, explain to your toddler that you want to help him or her kick the habit, and make them part of that process.
- Use socks at night. If your toddler engages in thumb-sucking overnight, try putting soft socks on his or her hands while they sleep. Remember, again, to always explain why you’re doing this and to make your child feel that it’s a team effort.
- View online videos. There are several videos about thumb-sucking that are easily understood by kids. Watch a few of these with your child (after you watch them yourself first, of course, to make sure they’re appropriate). It might just help convince your toddler how important it is to quit.
- Give “chewelry” a try. Since thumb-sucking is all about oral gratification for little kids, try “chewelry,” or jewelry designed to be chewable by toddlers. This is often a good replacement for thumb-sucking.
- Praise and reward – every single day. As adults, we know all too well how hard it is to break a bad habit, so just imagine how difficult it is if you’re 3 or 4! Recognize the efforts of your little one by telling him or her what a great job they’re doing in trying to quit thumb-sucking. Develop goals for your child — such as going for a certain time period without thumb-sucking – then rewarding him or her for accomplishing those goals. Rewards could be anything from a special, healthy snack to an extra bedtime story that night. We all respond to positive reinforcement, and kids are no exception.
Whatever you do, don’t lose your patience with your child if it takes some time to get him or her to kick the habit. Understand that thumb-sucking is entirely normal. In fact, many babies do it in the womb. So it’s only natural that it would take some time to quit. But with persistence on your part, and a lot of positive reinforcement, your child can and will kick the habit for good.
