Thumb sucking is a habit many toddlers adopt especially during weaning. They replace the feeling of sucking a nipple with sucking their thumb.
Just as sucking a breast gives them comfort, so does sucking a thumb. It is not healthy, but it is very normal if your baby is the type that sucks on his thumb.
Although thumb sucking is normal, you’re concerned about your baby ingesting germs from the surfaces they make contact with, and the question of how to stop baby from sucking thumb comes to mind.
Don’t worry, this article would provide you with the answers and everything relating to how to stop a baby from sucking a thumb.
Babies and Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking is very common among babies who’ve been newly weaned off breast milk.
They miss that soothing and comfortable feeling they get whenever there’s a nipple in their mouth so they look for something similar to replace it.
It is very normal to see babies of a certain age range suck on their thumb and even though it is normal, it is not healthy.
This is because babies make contact with germs on the surfaces while crawling or running around or are accidentally introduced into their system through their fingers which may cause them to fall sick.
If you’re worried about your baby sucking on its thumb and may be wondering why it is happening, the risks associated and how to stop them from doing so would be answered.
Read: How To Teach Your Baby To Crawl
Reasons Babies Suck Fingers
There could be different reasons why different babies suck on their thumbs.
Self Soothing
As earlier stated, babies who’ve been freshly weaned are very likely to adopt the habit of thumb sucking.
They’re only trying to get the comfort they got from sucking a nipple and since they can’t get the real nipple to suckle on, they improvise with their fingers.
This is not necessarily about your baby is hungry. For babies who suck thumb just for the soothing feeling, it doesn’t matter if you just fed them their best formula, they’d still sneak that thumb into their mouths as soon as they’re done eating.
Hunger
Hunger can also make your baby suck on his thumb. Babies use different ways to communicate since they can’t say it anyway.
They try to communicate through their actions and a baby sucking on its thumb could be an indication of hunger, they’re trying to let you know that they’re ready to eat.
A baby’s instinct is to suck anything that gets close to their mouth like their feeders, your breasts, and every time they sucked them, something came out that made their hunger die down.
So it is only natural for them to want to suck something once they’re hungry.
Teething
Babies begin teething between the ages of 4 to 7 months, during this period their gums may hurt or itch so they try to look for a way to scratch the itchy gums or soothe the soreness around the area that hurts.
This is a common reason for a baby teething to suck its fingers just to get some form of comfort.
Exploration
When babies are getting familiar with their environment and body, they use their fingers to grab onto items or to touch their bodies.
This exploration could be a form of entertainment for them also. As they’re getting familiar with touching different things, the excitement of the feeling may be appealing and they’d want to keep doing it.
Boredom
Boredom could be another reason why your baby sucks his thumb.
They do not know what else to do with themselves so they start doing what they know how to do best which is sucking in something, oftentimes their fingers.
How long should thumb sucking last?
A lot of children stop sucking their thumbs on their own by the age of six or seven months, or between the ages of two and four.
However, even a child who has stopped sucking his or her thumb may go back to the habit in times of stress.
Risks Associated With Sucking Fingers
The only risk associated with allowing your baby to continue sucking fingers is the risk of them getting infected with some bacteria their fingers might have made contact with, otherwise, there are no dire consequences of a baby sucking his fingers.
There are ways to reduce the chances of them ingesting any germs into their system.
- Wash your baby’s hands frequently
- Maintain a clean and tidy environment
How To Stop Baby From Sucking Thumb
To tackle your baby’s habit of sucking fingers, you have to, first of all, identify which of the possible causes is a reason behind their habit.
If teething is the reason, you could get a pacifier for your baby or other teething toys.
This would keep your baby comfortable while applying the necessary pressure on the gums to reduce the pain as well as break the habit. This will also solve the issue of self-soothing.
If boredom is a reason why your baby is sucking his thumb, try to distract them with toys or some music.
A baby’s attention span is short so within a short period of introducing a new interest to them, they’re already off the old one. This is also effective for exploration.
For babies whose habits are born out of hunger, always feed your baby on time.
Try not to delay their feeding time because in this case delay could mean enhancing the very habit you’re trying to break away from.
Read: 10 Best Pacifier For Babies
Other Tips To Help Your Child Quit Their Thumb-Sucking Habit
Although most children stop thumb sucking before entering kindergarten, you know your child best — and if you believe they require a little extra intervention, there are a variety of strategies and products that can help.
These tips work best for older kids who want to stop.
Startup a conversation
Some children simply do not realize that sucking their thumb is a bad habit they should break.
In a curious rather than condemning tone, ask your child why they suck their thumb.
Does it make you happy? Do they even realize what they’re doing? Is there anything else they can do to feel just as good (like hugging a lovey or counting slowly to three)?
Use a bitter nail polish
A bad-tasting polish applied to the fingers can deter a thumb sucker, which is also a strategy used for aggressive nail biters.
However, some experts do not recommend this approach because it is not the most pleasant way to break your child’s habit.
One taste of this stuff, on the other hand, can keep kids on track who are motivated to stop and just need a quick reminder not to suck. It’s also unobtrusive and doesn’t obstruct movement.
Observe thumb-sucking habits
If your child only sucks their thumb before bedtime, they may simply require another way to unwind and prepare for sleep.
You could try offering a warm cup of milk or a toddler-safe herbal tea before brushing your teeth at night.
If you notice them putting their thumb in their mouth whenever they are anxious, angry, or sad, assist them in finding another coping mechanism, such as a mindfulness activity, to replace the thumb sucking.
Offer incentives and rewards
Reward systems can be tricky: they don’t work for all children, and even when they do, they can be difficult to phase out.
Nonetheless, some children are highly motivated by a visual representation of their progress (such as stickers or small tokens) as well as the opportunity to earn prizes or privileges for each day they go without sucking their thumb.
Remember that children, like all of us, can be very good at hiding a behavior they don’t want to give up.
Wear a finger guard
Many kits are available online that are designed to physically prevent your child from sucking their thumb. Some are made of plastic, while others resemble flexible gloves.
On the plus side, they’re chemical-free and mostly childproof, so your child won’t be able to take them off.
The disadvantage is that they are very visible and can make it difficult for your child to use their hand for playing or feeding themselves.
Make rules or set boundaries
Telling your child that they can only suck their thumb in bed or while watching TV is a good way to gradually phase out the habit without turning it into a power struggle.
Your child can still do it, but hopefully, he or she will need it less and less as time goes on.
Try playing a role
Use your child’s favorite stuffed animal or toy to your advantage! Assume Teddy wants to stop sucking his thumb. Inquire if your child can assist Teddy by setting a good example and making suggestions.
Make use of visual reminders
A visual reminder may help a child who is motivated to stop sucking their thumb but keeps forgetting.
Tie a bow or an elastic band around their thumb (but not too tightly!) or put a temporary tattoo on the back of their hand to remind them to stop before they begin.
Make use of a hand stopper
This flexible brace is attached to your child’s elbow and prevents flexing, preventing them from bending their arm sufficiently to bring their hand to their mouth.
If your child’s habit is severe, this may be the only tool that helps — but it may also restrict their movement to the point where they become frustrated.
Read: How To Stop Babies From Pulling and Eating Their Hair
When To Worry
As common and normal as sucking thumb is with toddlers, it should be a thing of concern if, at a certain age, they’re still caught with their fingers in their mouth.
If you’ve come up with ways to tackle the above reasons why your baby is probably sucking its fingers and it continues especially if it has grown past the age when sucking should be a thing of the past, there’s a call for concern.
If by the age of 4 years, your toddler is still sucking his thumb, it is time you visited your pediatrician to check their oral development and also proffer a solution to the habit.
Takeaway
Babies who are into the habit of sucking their fingers usually outgrow it as they advance in age.
If your baby is dealing with the trauma that comes with weaning, give them some time and they’d gradually outgrow the habit.
But if your toddler has started school and is yet to stop sucking their fingers, all you need to understand about how to stop baby from sucking thumb has been outlined with an assurance that the habit itself is very normal and common and it is redeemable.