Thumb sucking in children... Contd

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Preventing thumb sucking
The best way to prevent this habit is not by pulling out a child's thumb/finger from its mouth but to ignore this habit. A child has every right to suck his thumb if he feels like it, but if this continues after the child has started talking or even later stages then do not show affection or comfort when it is sucking but always show a lot of when the child is not thumb sucking. This is a time consuming process and you must be patient.

As a child if he sucks his thumb do not pull it out, you may end up getting into a power hassle with him, which will turn your child into a forced late thumb sucker. It was found in a study that late thumb suckers all invariably have been the product of well-meaning parents forcing them to remove their thumb from their mouths. Unless your child is old enough to reason with, any pressure applied against thumb sucking will only turn a natural developmental phase into an ingrained habit.

How to help

1. Make the child aware of thumb sucking. Possible approaches might be to suck your thumb and discuss how it looks (without shaming or ridiculing, of course).
2. Alternatively, have the child look in a mirror while sucking his thumb, and discuss how it looks. Pointing out other children sucking their thumbs may be helpful, as well.
3. Try providing a substitute comfort activity, such as a stuffed toy to cuddle.
4. Use a reward system. Choose a discrete period of time and reward the child for not sucking during that time. You can give the child a sticker, for example, for each 15-minute period free of thumb sucking. After collecting a certain number of stickers, offer a reward such as a new toy or outing.
5. When using these techniques, be sure to project a positive attitude and refrain from lecturing or shaming.
6. Praise your child when he is not sucking his thumb.
7. Distract him when he about to start sucking on his thumb.
8. Remember that children will suck their thumb when then are feeling insecure. Focus on what may be causing your child to feel that way.
9. Your pediatrician or pediatric dentist can encourage your child to stop sucking by explaining what could happen if they don't stop.