Is Thumb Sucking Bad?
How many of your kids or your friends’ kids have thumb sucking habit? And, I am sure you have told them that it’s a bad habit. Despite its terrific self-soothing qualities, thumb sucking does get a bad rap. Sure, nightmares about future dental bills and a thumb sucking teenager would make any parent shake in their boots. But the truth is that tiny thumb is not nearly as scary as you may think.
In fact, your baby’s ability to find his thumb and pop it into his mouth to settle himself down is quite an achievement. Non-nutritive sucking is calming for your little guy, and it could also help him tolerate unpleasant procedures like immunizations.
If your baby has found his thumb, and uses it to help himself calm down, let him do it. The majority of babies stop sucking their thumbs by around 7 months. And as long as thumb sucking ends by age 2 or so, there is little risk to their adult teeth.
Here are some ways to help your child outgrow thumb sucking:
* Don’t scold a child when they exhibit thumb sucking behavior.
* Praise them when they refrain from the habit during difficult periods.
* Focus on eliminating the cause of anxiety – thumb sucking is a comfort device that helps children cope with stress or discomfort.
* Place a bandage on the thumb or a sock on their hand at night.
Outgrowing this habit will take time. Just be patient with your child.
Happy Parenting!
Related posts:
- Discipline your kid!
- Angry kids!
- Parent-Teacher relationship
- Effective Parenting Tips
- Taming the tantrums
No Comments »
No comments yet.
Leave a comment