How to encourage your child to stop their thumb sucking habits

Growing up, infants suck their thumb to soothe and comfort themselves. It help prevents your baby from crying. It is a common habit that over three quarters of infants pick up on, and it is considered normal behavior. You shouldn’t be too concerned about this habit until your child’s adult teeth are developing.

Most children will grow out of the habit as they age, however if they continue this after the age of five, it may cause some problems with teeth development. The upper front teeth may stick out, and the lower front teeth will move inward, which may change the bite of your child.

Good intervention methods to help your child stop sucking their thumb is identifying triggers that cause them to suck their thumb, replace thumb sucking with another habit like drinking water, positive reinforcement and progress charts, rewarding your child for progress. Some children suck their thumb because they are bored, so it is important to keep them busy with various activities.

If your child is still sucking their thumb, it is important to be encouraging rather than scolding them. Your local dentist can come up with ways to prevent your child from sucking their thumb as well, and advise them on why it is a good time to start thinking about coming up with ways to help them stop suck their thumb.

Children will eventually grow out of the habit, but it is important to use positive reinforcement and not to scold them for sucking their thumb.

Posted by Indigo Little on 10th March 2015, under Children

Dr. Kishanie Wijesinghe Little BDS

Dr. Kishanie Little is passionate about delivering excellent dentistry and dental restorations that are life-like and indistinguishable from natural teeth. She believes that restorations (fillings/crowns/veneers) should look beautiful – and that they should last. Dr. Little keeps abreast of new developments in restorative dentistry through post-graduate training.

Dr. Little is also an experienced Facial Aesthetistician, including Botulinum toxins (such as Botox) and Dermafillers. She appreciates how simple and subtle changes to smooth and relax muscles can “freshen” a face, to look younger.

In her personal time, she loves to cook, read, run, practice yoga and pilates, play a bad game of tennis and am now learning to play golf. She loves Art and Theatre and support the Tate Modern. She also enjoys writing and has a book in the works.