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Thumb Sucking |
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Anonymous Author (January 2007) |
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Thumb sucking
BEFORE reading this article
PLEASE understand that I am not saying anything against the use of a pacifier. In fact dummies do have their purposes... my own Grand-daughter was given one in ICU to help settle her during the first weeks of her life
while her mother couldn't be with her constantly. The Nurses found it to be a God Send... So do many other parents. This article only speaks regarding 'how to deal with a thumb-sucker... '
ALL babies suck their thumbs, it is an instinctive urge... Some do it more than others. Some babies suck their thumbs in the delivery room, others even while they are in the womb. It's rare for a child to commence thumb-sucking after 12 month.
Thumb-sucking comes naturally because
- Your baby wants comfort... they are lonely, tired, bored or frustrated. We should try to identify what is bothering the child & then set it right if possible.
- Your baby is exploring their body
- Your baby might be teething & like the feel of something on their gums. During teething babies often chew their thumbs, fingers or hands as it helps them relieve the pressure on their gums.
Yes it's true that thumb-sucking can displace your babies teeth
however this is not permanent as only the baby's milk teeth are affected... UNLESS thumb-sucking continues beyond the age of 6 when their permanent teeth arrive.
It's believed that slowing down the flow from a babies bottle so that it takes them around 20 minutes to finish & using NEW teats with smaller holes can help to stop thumb-sucking all-together during your babies first 6 months.
Thumb-sucking usually disappears around the ages of 3-6
Strategies to Deal with Thumb-sucking
- Don't pull their thumbs out of their mouth as this may be the very thing that causes a thumb-sucking habit to get worse. (It will make your child FEEL conscious about sucking their thumbs).
- Don't nag, rather try to distract them by playing with them or giving them a toy.
- As the child gets older you can try to encourage them to give up the habit in a friendly, non-judgmental manner
- Some parents use substances painted on the childrens nails that have a foul taste when placed in their mouths...eg stop 'n' grow - available at chemist's. However there is debate on whether these products work for all children... (It does work for me however as when i get stressed I do go for my own nails)
