Thumb sucking: Help your child break the habit

Thumb sucking is a common habit among young children. It can be hard to know when to encourage your child to stop thumb sucking. Here's some information on when and how to help your child.

Babies have natural rooting and sucking reflexes. Some even suck their thumbs before birth. Thumb sucking can help a baby feel calm. That's why babies may do it when upset or going to sleep.

Many children stop sucking their thumbs between ages 2 and 4 months. But about 25% of children still suck their thumbs at age 2 years. A child who has stopped thumb sucking might go back to doing it when feeling upset or worried.

Thumb sucking isn't usually a worry until a child's permanent teeth come in. At this point, thumb sucking might begin to affect how the teeth line up. It also might affect the roof of the mouth, also called the palate. The risk of dental problems is higher if children suck their thumbs for a long time and very often.

Avoid trying too hard to get your child to stop thumb sucking if your child is younger than 2 years old. Thumb sucking for children at these ages can provide comfort and won't usually damage teeth. If a child sucks the thumb after age 5 years, the child may be more likely to have changes to the teeth and palate.

Talk with your child about thumb sucking. You're more likely to help your child stop the habit if your child wants to quit and helps choose some ways to stop.

Sometimes paying no attention to thumb sucking is enough to stop the habit. This is usually true if your child uses thumb sucking to get attention.

If ignoring thumb sucking doesn't work, try one of these tips:

• Use positive rewards. Praise your child for not sucking the thumb. Try giving small rewards for not thumb sucking, such as an extra bedtime story or a trip to the park. You could start with small goals, such as no thumb sucking an hour before bed. Put stickers on a calendar to record the days when your child meets the goal.
• Identify triggers. If your child is not upset and sucks the thumb, try to find out why your child is feeling this way. You can give comfort with a hug or calming words. You also might give your child a pillow or stuffed animal to squeeze.
• Offer gentle reminders. If your child sucks the thumb without thought, gently remind the child to stop. Avoid scolding or criticizing your child.

If you're concerned about the effect of thumb sucking on your child's teeth, check with the dentist. For some kids, a chat with the dentist about why it's important to stop thumb sucking is more helpful than a talk with a parent or other caregiver.

Rarely, some healthcare professionals suggest using other ways to get a child to stop thumb sucking. These may include covering your child's thumbnail with a bitter substance, bandaging the thumb, wearing a special mouth appliance or covering the hand with a sock at night.

For some children, thumb sucking is a really hard habit to break. Try not to worry. Putting too much pressure on your child to stop thumb sucking might only delay the process. Talk with your child's dentist if you need extra help.