Thumb Sucking: Gentle ways to break the habit
A few weeks ago, I shared some tips about pacifiers on Instagram, and the follow-up questions gravitated towards thumb-sucking. How do I get my child to stop thumb-sucking? While researching on this topic, I had a wonderful opportunity to consult with a pediatric dentist about this.
Before we start with weaning strategies, here are some important facts about thumb or finger sucking you should know:
- First, it’s important to know that thumb-sucking is a natural reflex in infants. Sucking on pacifiers, fingers, or objects is a form of self-soothing and can help kids feel secure. Bringing items and fingers to mouth is how infants and young children learn about their world. In older children, thumb-sucking helps with self-regulation and even falling asleep. Some children just need that constant stimulation in their mouth, so sucking on their thumbs or fingers comes naturally as these are always accessible to them.
- To help you child wean of the thumb, or even pacifier, you have to figure out why he is doing this. Is it because he seeks stimulation his mouth, or is it something to do when bored? By understanding the reason, it will make the weaning process more efficient.
- The American and Canadian Dental Associations actually recommend using pacifiers over thumb-sucking. See, pacifiers can affect the teeth and mouth in the same ways as finger and thumb sucking, but it is often an easier habit to break. You can always remove the pacifier—kind of tough removing your child’s thumb when it comes time to weaning.
- The intensity that children suck their thumbs with, plays a factor in determining whether or not dental problems may occur. Some kids rest their thumbs passively in their mouths, which are less likely to cause dental issues than those who suck their thumbs strenuously. In some cases, the latter option might even develop problems with baby teeth. It’s also important to know that besides dental issues, thumbsucking can cause trouble with propper mouth development. Specifically the roof of the mouth. Same goes for prolonged pacifier use, which can lead to what we call a “paci-mouth.”
- According to dentists, most children will stop sucking between the ages of 2 – 4 years old, or at least by the time their permanent front teeth erupt. So, in some cases, waiting might be to your advantage.
Gentle but effective weaning tips:
If you have given your child some time to self wean from thumb-sucking, and was unsuccessful, then you’re in the right place. Before we dive into the strategies, I recommend taking some time to figure out why your child is sucking their thumb. By knowing why your child is engaging in this behavior, it will make the weaning process more effective.
1.
Praise, reward and remind to keep those fingers out of the mouth. Verbal reminders and praise can be powerful tools to keep kids motivated and focused on what is expected from them. Keep reminders positive and avoid scolding when they tend to forget.
2.
For babies and toddlers, who suck their thumbs or fingers while sleeping, you can choose to use long-sleeve pajamas and sew the sleeves shut. This way, there’s no access to the thumbs or fingers while sleeping.
3.
For older kids, if they use thumb sucking as a form of support or comfort, think about alternative ways you meet these needs. Let them pick out a comfort blanket or a special toy that can provide the same comfort and eventually replace the thumb sucking habit. Having a routine before bed can help sooth child, like calming baths, quick massage with calming oils, soothing sounds, or reading a story. Sometimes, just having a routine is enough to comfort a child.
4.
If thumbsucking is due to anxiety or restlessness, offer other methods to channel these natural emotions, like breathing exercises, meditation, or physical movement/exercises. For example, going for a swim, ride bikes, or have a dance party at home. Art is another activity that can serve as an outlet. One of my favorite children’s authors did a whole IG series on how drawing mandalas can have a calming effect on children and helps with focusing.
5.
With older toddlers or kids, using positive reinforcement might be a good idea. Positive reinforcement is giving a reaction for a desired behavior – in this case, not sucking the thumb. Give a sticker for every hour or day your child goes without sucking his/her thumb. They can see their progress and become more motivated to stay on track.
6.
For children who suck their thumbs or fingers because of the need for oral stimulation, you can replace the finger by offering something more socially appropriate. For the little ones, we recommend chewy tubes or tri-chew teethers. For older children with teeth, we advise items like Chewerly. These tend to be sturdier and will not break easily.
7.
What if your child does a great job when they are awake, but you still find them sucking their thumbs or fingers while asleep. A sticker chart or verbal praise won’t cut it then. You can find a variety of thumb and finger guards on the market made of a variety of materials like hard plastic, soft silicone, or even cotton, which can help keep those fingers out of the mouth at night while they’re sleeping. It’s important that these be used only when the child is sleeping.
8.
Be cautious using methods like nail polish, mittens taped around the hand, or even getting hands/fingers in a cast. These methods might work but don’t always solve the problem of why your child is thumb sucking in the 1st place. Take time to understand your child’s behaviors, and you will be more successful.
9.
Be patient. Habits take a long time to create and will not be broken in one day. So be patient but also consistent with your approach. Weaning of the thumb sucking is basically creating a new healthier habit for your child, so it will take some time.
Remember, the key is to understand why your child is seeking the need to suck their thumbs/fingers and offering a healthy and age-appropriate alternative. With some kids, these strategies will work instantly, but with others, it might be a long process. Trust me, as I speak from experience as pervious thumbsucker myself. As always, we want to hear from you. Share your successful and not-so-successful stories with us. Hang in there and thumbs up!
Cindy was born and raised in Aruba, which fostered her fluency in four languages and a passion for the language arts. After graduating with her master’s degree from the University of Central Florida – GO KNIGHTS! – she had the opportunity to move around the country and work in Orlando, Boston, and Chicago, before settling in sunny Miami with her husband and 2 kids. At each of these career stops, she was fortunate to be part of extensive pediatric medical teams, working closely with and learning from fellow speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, lactation consultants, pediatricians, gastroenterologists, neurologists, early developmental specialists, respiratory therapists, behavior analysts, nurses, special education teachers and of course, parents and caregivers. Throughout her career, she’s enjoyed being an advocate for families whose primary language is not English and treasured the opportunities to help multiple families along their feeding journey.
Becoming a parent in the Spring of 2015 completely transformed her career perspective and approach. Understanding firsthand the anxieties and concerns that come with parenthood has propelled her to become a different type of clinician. One who’s more empathetic and focused on educating families and providers. Spurred by this newfound passion, and armed with 15 years of experience in the pediatric field, she decided to venture into a new approach to therapy.
Cindy is currently a clinical specialist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and an adjunct professor of Dysphagia at Carlos Albizu University.
