W h y Do B a b i e s Suck T h e i r Thumb?

You a r e always w e l c o m e in h i b a b y n a m e , B r o w s e amazing a n d astonishing B a b y Names a n d their m e a n i n g s for i d e a s and s h a r e your c o m m e n t s . E n j o y !

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I t is q u i t e common t o see b a b i e s with t h e i r thumbs i n their m o u t h s . Most p a r e n t s find t h e habit t r o u b l i n g from a personal h y g i e n e and s o c i a l etiquette p e r s p e c t i v e . Babies s u c k their t h u m b for a reason, b u t when t h i s habit i s not c o r r e c t e d , it c a n have n e g a t i v e repercussions. M o m J u n c t i o n gives y o u all t h e information a b o u t thumb s u c k i n g in b a b i e s , its c a u s e s , and w a y s of k e e p i n g the h a b i t at b a y .

W h y Do B a b i e s Suck T h e i r Thumb?

I n f a n t s have a natural r e f l e x to s u c k since i t helps s u c k l e from a breast e a s i l y . The s u c k i n g action h a s a b i o l o g i c a l role a s it e n a b l e s the b a b y to g a i n nourishment, p h y s i c a l comfort, a n d security. T h u m b – s u c k i n g helps a baby self-soothe d u r i n g stressful s i t u a t i o n s( 1 ) . Babies s u c k their t h u m b s when t h e y are t i r e d , hungry, b o r e d , sick, o r upset. T h u m b sucking i s , thus, a stress b u s t e r for a n infant, a n d they r e a l i z e it q u i t e early.

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W h e n Do B a b i e s Start S u c k i n g Their T h u m b ?

B e l i e v e it o r not, b a b i e s begin s u c k i n g their t h u m b s in t h e womb r i g h t from t h e 29th w e e k of g e s t a t i o n (2). P o s t birth, b a b y begins s u c k i n g the t h u m b anytime i n the f i r s t three m o n t h s . Thumb s u c k i n g does h e l p the b a b y . But a r e there a n y adverse e f f e c t s ?

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I s Thumb S u c k i n g Bad F o r Babies?

T h u m b sucking i s mostly h a r m l e s s , but m a y affect t h e baby d e p e n d i n g on t w o factors:

• Intensity: The b e s t way t o determine t h e intensity o f thumbsucking i s by g e n t l y pulling t h e baby’s h a n d out o f the m o u t h . If t h e hand c o m e s out s m o o t h l y , then h e is a passive t h u m b sucker. I f it t a k e s some e f f o r t to p u l l the h a n d out a n d if y o u hear a popping s o u n d from t h e mouth, t h e n the b a b y is a n active t h u m b sucker. A c t i v e thumb s u c k e r s suck t h e thumbs a g g r e s s i v e l y and a r e prone t o negative e f f e c t s .

• Long– t e r m continuity: The o l d e r the b a b y gets w i t h the h a b i t , the h i g h e r the c h a n c e s of t h e adverse e f f e c t s . Most b a b i e s reduce t h e intensity o f sucking b y the a g e of t w o . However, i f they c o n t i n u e sucking t h e i r thumb a f t e r four y e a r s , then t h e y would h a v e problems w i t h their p e r m a n e n t teeth.

T h u m b sucking p r i m a r i l y affects d e n t a l health, b u t can i n d i r e c t l y cause o t h e r problems t o o .

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E f f e c t s Of T h u m b Sucking I n Babies:

T h e baby c a n be p r o n e to t h e following c o n d i t i o n s if h e sucks h i s thumbs r e g u l a r l y :

• C a l l u s formation: The t h u m b ’ s skin c o n s t a n t l y rubs a g a i n s t the t o n g u e and l a y e r s of d e a d skin c a l l e d callus f o r m over t h e thumb ( 3 ) . This c o u l d be p a i n f u l as t h e thumb l o s e s the s k i n , the p r o t e c t i v e layer, a n d is s u s c e p t i b l e to b r u i s e s .

• Paronychia: It i s a c o n d i t i o n where b a c t e r i a infect t h e root o f the n a i l s (4). C o n s t a n t suction p r e s s u r e on t h e nail m a y cause m i n o r nail t r a u m a , leaving a tiny g a p between t h e nail a n d the s k i n . Older i n f a n t s may e v e n nibble a n d chew a t the t h u m b while s u c k i n g , leaving t h e nails w o u n d e d . Such t i n y wounds c a n accumulate b a c t e r i a and l e a d to a n infection.

• H e r p e t i c whitlow: It i s the i n f e c t i o n of n a i l s and f i n g e r s caused b y the h e r p e s virus. I n f a n t s who s u f f e r from o r a l herpes m a y involuntarily t r a n s f e r the v i r u s from m o u t h to t h e hand w h i l e sucking t h e thumb ( 5 ) . Once o n hand, t h e virus a t t a c k s the s k i n and n a i l roots t h u s leading t o painful b l i s t e r s on t h e fingers.

• O r t h o p a e d i c problems: Prolonged s u c k i n g may c a u s e finger d e f o r m i t i e s , excess b o n e growth, a n d joint d i s l o c a t i o n or m i s a l i g n m e n t (6).

T h e s e problems a r e not e x c l u s i v e l y caused b y thumbsucking, a n d there c o u l d be o t h e r crucial r e a s o n s as w e l l . However, l o n g – t e r m thumbsucking c e r t a i n l y affects t h e baby’s d e n t a l health.

Long– T e r m Effects O f Thumb S u c k i n g :

T h e s e effects s h o w up w h e n the i n f a n t continues s u c k i n g the t h u m b even a f t e r the a g e of f i v e , and a l l complications p e r t a i n to d e n t a l health:

• D e n t a l misalignment: The p e r m a n e n t front t e e t h erupt a t an o b l i q u e angle d u e to c o n s t a n t pressure t h a t the t h u m b puts o n the t e e t h . The t e e t h of b o t h jaws m i s a l i g n , which c a u s e s problems w h e n closing t h e mouth.

• P r o b l e m s with o v e r b i t e and o v e r j e t : Overbite i s the e x t e n t by w h i c h the u p p e r jaw c e n t r a l incisors ( m a x i l l a r y central i n c i s o r s ) vertically o v e r l a p the l o w e r jaw c e n t r a l incisors ( m a n d i b u l a r central i n c i s o r s ) (7). O v e r j e t is t h e horizontal d i s t a n c e between t w o sets o f central i n c i s o r s when t h e y overlap. A n aggressive t h u m b sucker, w h o continues w i t h the h a b i t even a f t e r five y e a r s , has a b n o r m a l overbite a n d overjet. I t leads t o problems i n dental s p a c i n g where o t h e r sets o f teeth a r e affected b y the m i s a l i g n e d central i n c i s o r s .

• Crossbite: The e x c e s s overbite a n d overjet l e a d to m i s p l a c e d teeth, w h i c h , in t u r n , results i n impaired b i t i n g that i s called c r o s s b i t e .

A l o n g with d e n t a l issues, t h e five-year-old c a n suffer f r o m skin a n d nail p r o b l e m s too. H o w e v e r , dental p r o b l e m s are m o r e profound. N e v e r t h e l e s s , the A m e r i c a n Dental A s s o c i a t i o n (ADA) s t a t e s that t h u m b s u c k i n g is a natural r e f l e x for i n f a n t s and i s only a concern w h e n the p e r m a n e n t teeth b e g i n to e m e r g e (8). T h e first p e r m a n e n t teeth e m e r g e after f i v e years ( 9 ) . As p a r e n t s , you c o u l d curb t h i s habit d u r i n g infanthood t o prevent i t from b e c o m i n g a h a b i t .

H o w To Stop And P r e v e n t The B a b y From S u c k i n g Thumb?

P a r e n t s must t a k e a s y s t e m a t i c approach t o keep t h e i r babies f r o m sucking t h u m b . Here a r e a f e w ways y o u can d o that:

• I d e n t i f y the t r i g g e r s : The b a b y could b e sucking t h e thumb a s a r e s p o n s e to a stimulus. F o r instance, w h e n the b a b y is b o r e d or h u n g r y , he m a y suck t h e thumb. I d e n t i f y the c i r c u m s t a n c e s that m a k e the b a b y resort t o the a c t i o n , and a d d r e s s them a t once. I f boredom i s the c u l p r i t , then e n g a g e the b a b y in a n activity o r game t h a t involves t h e use o f hands. I f it i s hunger, t h e n you m u s t maintain a proper s c h e d u l e to g i v e the b a b y timely f e e d s to p r e v e n t bouts o f hunger. I f he p u t s the t h u m b in t h e mouth o u t of e x h a u s t i o n , then p u t the b a b y in a crib f o r a n a p .

• I n c o r p o r a t e gentle r e m i n d e r s : Older i n f a n t s understand b a s i c instructions a n d know w h e n you s a y “No”. I n such c a s e s , use s o f t and g e n t l e reminders t o prompt t h e m not t o suck t h e i r thumb. I f the i n f a n t stops s u c k i n g the t h u m b , then a p p r e c i a t e him f o r being o b e d i e n t .

• U s e distractions: You c o u l d distract t h e baby a s soon a s you s e n s e that h e will p u t his t h u m b in t h e mouth. Y o u could s h o w him t h i n g s outside t h e window o r take h i m on y o u r lap a n d cuddle. D i s t r a c t i o n s can i n t r i g u e and e v e n soothe t h e baby, m a k i n g him l e s s dependent o n thumbsucking.

• T r y a p a c i f i e r : Consider u s i n g a p a c i f i e r to b r e a k the t h u m b s u c k i n g habit. P a c i f i e r s may f u n c t i o n as a thumb, b u t experts s u c h as t h e ADA c o n s i d e r them l e s s habit-forming a n d worth t h e try ( 1 0 ) . The A m e r i c a n Academy o f Pediatrics ( A A P ) also h a s a p o s i t i v e opinion a b o u t pacifiers a n d recommends t h e m to t h e baby ( 1 1 ) . However, d o not f o r c e the p a c i f i e r on t h e baby, a n d if h e repeatedly r e j e c t s it, t h e n skip t h e idea ( 1 2 ) .

M a k e an e f f o r t to s t o p thumb s u c k i n g , but d o not i n d u l g e forceful a c t i o n s . Do n o t punish t h e baby f o r sucking a t the t h u m b (13). A l s o , do n o t use a harsh t o n e when r e m i n d i n g the b a b y not t o suck t h e thumb. D o not p u t a b a n d a g e or a bitter m e d i c i n e on t h e thumb. T h e baby m a y become s t u b b o r n and g r o w more i n c l i n e d towards t h u m b sucking. I f nothing w o r k s , it i s best t o wait i t out a s the l i t t l e one i s invariably g o i n g to q u i t the h a b i t by h i m s e l f .

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W h e n Do B a b i e s Stop Sucking T h e Thumb?

B a b i e s stop s u c k i n g their t h u m b s between t w o and f o u r years. A c c o r d i n g to t h e University o f Chicago, o n l y 30% i n f a n t s continue s u c k i n g their t h u m b s after t h e age o f one. I t means t h a t most b a b i e s give u p the h a b i t before t h e i r first b i r t h d a y . Only 1 2 % infants c o n t i n u e sucking t h e i r thumbs e v e n after t h e age o f four. I f the l i t t l e one c o n t i n u e s sucking t h e thumb e v e n after f o u r years, t h e n consult a pediatrician. C o u n s e l i n g and c o r r e c t i v e practices h e l p the t o d d l e r give u p the h a b i t as h e is o l d enough t o understand t h e instructions.

T h u m b s u c k i n g is r a r e l y a p r o b l e m that g o e s on f r o m infancy t o toddlerhood. T h e AAP s t a t e s that t o d d l e r s , who d o not q u i t early, u l t i m a t e l y discontinue t h e habit b e f o r e they a t t a i n the s c h o o l age ( 1 4 ) . If n o t h i n g works, a t least p e e r pressure ( s o c i a l interactions w i t h other t o d d l e r s ) eventually m a k e s the l i t t l e one g i v e up t h e habit o u t of e m b a r r a s s m e n t . Patience a n d perseverance a r e good r u l e s of t h u m b , and s o o n you r e a l i z e that t h e baby’s t h u m b sucking i s the t h i n g of t h e past.

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D i d your b a b y suck t h e thumb? H o w did y o u stop t h e habit? T e l l us i n the c o m m e n t s section b e l o w .

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