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- Child sleep: Put preschool bedtime problems to rest
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Thumb sucking: Help your child break the habit
What can I do to encourage my child to stop thumb sucking?
Consider these techniques:
- Don't mention it. In some cases, paying no attention to thumb sucking is enough to stop the behavior — especially if your child uses thumb sucking as a way to get attention.
- Use positive reinforcement. Praise your child or provide small rewards — such as an extra bedtime story or a trip to the park — when he or she isn't thumb sucking. Place stickers on a calendar to record the days when your child successfully avoids thumb sucking.
- Identify triggers. If your child sucks his or her thumb in response to stress, identify the real issue and provide comfort in other ways — such as a hug or reassuring words. You might also give your child a pillow or stuffed animal to squeeze.
- Offer gentle reminders. If your child sucks his or her thumb without thought — rather than as a way to get your attention — gently remind him or her to stop. Don't scold, criticize or ridicule your child. To spare embarrassment in front of others, you might alert your child to the thumb sucking with a special hand signal or other private cue.
Can the dentist help?
If you're concerned about the effect of thumb sucking on your child's teeth, check with the dentist.
For some kids, a chat with the dentist about why it's important to stop thumb sucking is more effective than a talk with mom or dad.
In other cases, the dentist might recommend a special mouth guard or other dental appliance that interferes with sucking.
Should I try negative reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is generally more effective than negative reinforcement. Resist the temptation to use aversive techniques, such as covering your child's thumbnail with vinegar or another bitter substance.
What if nothing works?
For some children, thumb sucking is an incredibly difficult habit to break. Remember, though, peer pressure typically leads kids to stop daytime sucking habits on their own when they start school.
In the meantime, try not to worry. Putting too much pressure on your child to stop thumb sucking might only delay the process.
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- Nowak AJ, et al. Oral habits and orofacial development in children. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 12, 2012.
- Ask your dentist about thumb, finger and pacifier habits. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures. Accessed June 12, 2012.
- Thumbsucking. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/2977.aspx?currentTab=1. Accessed June 12, 2012.
- Tseng AG, et al. Counseling on early childhood concerns: Sleep issues, thumb sucking, picky eating, and school readiness. American Family Physician. 2009;80:139.
- Shelov SP, et al. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. New York, N.Y.: Bantam; 2009.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 28, 2012.
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