Deal with child sucking thumb

Thumbsucking is a habit that can give satisfaction. The babies are generally sucking their thumbs. The thumb is the most frequently chosen although they can suck any finger or multiple at once.

The arrangement of children's teeth, who suck their thumbs until passing the age of 5 years, will grow as they shouldn't. Parents use various mechanical devices to stop children's thumbsucking activities. Some are applying palatable substances to their fingers, so that children ain't fond of sucking.

The thumbsucking habit is most common during the first two years of your child's life. It usually starts in the teething period. Some children suck fingers constantly; some are just before falling asleep.

This behavior usually disappears by the age of 5 years. However, this practice needs to be a concern when your child does this continuously past the age of 3 years. This may indicate the existence of pent-up stress that needs to be addressed.

Sucking the thumb is closely connected with the situation related to anxiety and hostility. Children use this action as a means to reduce tension because they have bustles then. This is a picture that children are training themselves to do inadaptive, inappropriate habits, and it's supported by the effect of easing tension when they suck their thumbs.

Thumbsucking also helps your child relieve loneliness. When your child is experiencing stress, thumbsucking indicates a withdrawal from a situation that's too frightening to face. Children can only deal with the situations by reshowing behavior like they were babies.

Through thumbsucking, babies may also be able to relieve pain due to gum irritations for weeks or months before their teeth actually appear.

Sucking the thumb is one of sexual manifestations in children as well.

Thumbsucking doesn't require any treatment during infancy. Your child can be diverted from thumbsucking when given a pacifier. Your child feels tired or unhappy when sucking the thumb frequently after the age of 1 year.

The handling should be directed to improving the situation instead of focusing on thumbsucking itself. Children must have fairly break and play. It's much better if their attention is directed to other pleasant things.

They won't suck their thumbs if children are busy with various activities.

In older children, thumbsucking should be addressed through behavior modification with the promised reward. Praise the strength of their determination; evoke the sense of their pride to be rid of the habit.

You could also rub their thumbs with bitter substances or wear them gloves to remind children not to suck.

Remember that being captious and scolding won't help; it could even exacerbate the problem. The use of tools, such as rope, duct tape and others, can't possibly help.

You may also like:

How to Stop Thumb Sucking for Your Children
Finger and Thumb Sucking Habits
All about Children
Your Five-Year-Old
The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents)

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