Thumb Sucking

Thumb Sucking Now Could Mean Big Bucks Later

There are probably as many theories as to why your child sucks his thumb as there are Cheerios in the back seat of your car. Some say it’s the infant’s natural reflex to suck on anything within reach. Others contend that as your baby grows older, sucking may make him feel secure. Albeit, in a spitty kind of way.

Your child may continue to suck on a finger or thumb to soothe himself at stressful moments, such as after being scolded or separated from you. And, given the relaxing quality of a good sucking session, it’s little wonder he often sucks at night en route to the Land of Nod.

But if you really want to know why your kid sucks his thumb, open your mouth, insert your thumb and have at it. Feels pretty darn good, doesn’t it? No wonder he looks at you like you have three heads every time you bring up the subject of quitting. But don’t abandon your quest. Because, as delicious as thumb sucking feels, its consequences can be pretty distasteful.

For starters, thumb sucking can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth, as well as cause changes in the roof of the mouth. Particularly if your child is a vigorous sucker. (If pulling his thumb out of his mouth mid-suck produces a sound vaguely reminiscent of a champagne bottle being uncorked, it’s a safe bet he’s a vigorous sucker.) The orthodontic treatments such as braces or retainers that may be required to correct all those misaligned teeth can really take a financial toll on you. Not to mention the physical and psychological tolls they can take on your child.

And speaking of psychological tolls, it’s a well-known fact that school-aged children have never exactly been known for their sensitivity, open-mindedness or tact. As such, you should do everything in your power to help your child avoid the verbal abuse of those ultra-cool, trend-setting, non-sucking first graders that roam the playground at recess just looking for suckers to torment.

All these reasons should help motivate you and your child to address his thumb-sucking issues and begin a course of action to help him kick the habit. A good place to start is to read through the helpful hints on this page and discuss with your child which method he’d like to try. Oh, and you can go ahead and take your thumb out of your mouth now. After all, you are trying to set an example.

Helpful hints for breaking the sucking cycle:

Praise your child when he doesn’t suck instead of scolding him when he does.

If your child sucks his thumb when he feels insecure, focus on eliminating the cause of the anxiety instead of the sucking.

If your child sucks his thumb for comfort, provide comfort.

Reward your child when he refrains from sucking during a stressful period.

Ask us to explain to your child the effects of thumb sucking and encourage him to quit.

Remind your child of his habit by bandaging his thumb or putting a sock on his hand at bedtime.

Ask us to prescribe a mouth appliance or a bitter medication to coat the thumb.

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