Last updated on December 2nd, 2023 at 11:46 pm
Many babies suck their thumb or fingers to soothe themselves to sleep or help with teething. Some babies even start sucking their thumb in the womb. This is really a harmless habit for babies, and they typically learn other ways to soothe themselves and cope with stress as they grow, and will stop sucking on their own. It is recommended that a child stop sucking their thumb by the time they get all their baby teeth in, around age two to three years of age. The earlier you stop the thumb sucking, the easier it will be.
Why Stop Thumb Sucking?
Prolonged sucking beyond that point can cause problems with how their teeth, mouth, and jaw develop, not to mention the hygiene issue this raises with older children who touch everything and then put their fingers in their mouth. The risk is elevated when children are around animals or public places, especially during cold and flu season.
How to Stop Thumb Sucking
For some toddlers this is a hard habit to break and will need more encouragement. So what do some parents do to help their children break the habit? Here are some suggestions.
- Pacifier: You can break the habit by introducing a pacifier early on to your baby as a replacement. A pacifier is softer and is less likely to cause long term damage than a thumb. It also is an easier habit to break since it can be taken away, unlike a finger. This should be eliminated between two and three years of age as well. (Find tips on how to get rid of the pacifier here).
- Chewy Tube: If your baby is getting too old for a pacifier, then consider offering a chewy tube for oral sensory or teething purposes.
- Gentle Reminder: Some parents have found putting Band-aids or a sock on their child’s thumb or hand can work as a reminder for them to stop sucking.
- Talk About it: Once kids grasp the understanding of being a “big kid” and want to be one, then this might be the motivation they need. Try asking the child if they think their favorite characters suck their thumbs: “Do you think Bluey and Bingo suck their thumb?”
- Don’t be Confrontational: When you see them sucking their thumb, ask them if they know they are sucking their thumb. You might be surprised that they may not realize they are doing it because it is so habitual. Teaching them self-awareness is important and is a good first step in their own recognition of the habit. Make sure you praise them for the times they are not sucking. Tell them how happy you are to see them being a big boy/girl.
- Busy Hands: For older children, you may just need to help them keep their hands busy. Sometimes kids just get bored and suck while watching TV. So, by encouraging them to keep their hands busy, like playing ball, doing crafts, or coloring, they will be less inclined to suck their thumb.
If those ways don’t work, then you may need to try one of these techniques to stop thumb sucking:
Tguard– This is a soft, flexible medical-grade plastic device that is worn like a glove that covers the thumb or fingers. It prevents suction from forming, which will make the sucking undesirable for the child, causing them to stop thumb sucking. You attach it with a one-time-use bracelet, but 50 bracelets come with the device.- THUM is a product that you paint on fingertips that has a bitter taste to discourage thumb sucking and nail biting. This is recommended for children over the age of three, whose taste buds are fully developed. You can find it in a nearby pharmacy.
Make sure you ask your child’s dentist for their recommendations and observations of your child’s thumb sucking habit.
