Quitting the Habit
If your child does not stop sucking his or her thumb, you may need to take measures into your own hands. There are several approaches you can use to get your child to quit thumb-sucking:
Mind Over Matter -- Distractions will keep your child's hands busy. Establish rules and goals to help your child adjust. If you do catch your child "falling off the wagon," don't scold them. Instead, offer gentle reminders and stay positive about their progress.
The Gold Star System -- Keep track of your child's achievements with a calendar, and document how well they're doing with stickers or gold stars.
Wrap It Up -- Try putting a glove or sock over your child's hand before they go to bed. You can also wrap the thumb in a bandage or gauze.
Reward Your Child -- A reward system will give your child something to look forward to. And be sure to acknowledge their accomplishments along the way -- quitting thumb-sucking is a big deal! Once your child reaches each goal, reward them how you see fit.
Extreme Cases -- Your dentist can create a mouthguard or night guard or recommend a safe, bitter-tasting substance to rub on the child's thumb.
A Sigh of Relief
If your child displays aggressive or long-term thumb-sucking habits, take him or her to a dentist for an evaluation. A dentist can give you a better understanding of how your child's thumb-sucking is affecting his or her dental development, and should be able to predict the need for dental braces or other orthodontic treatments down the line.
Remember, thumb-sucking is perfectly natural, and it helps keep your baby calm and happy. Plus you probably did it yourself, and look how well you turned out! So if your child is a thumb-sucker, be sure to monitor the habit and keep their dental health in perspective. Talking with a dentist can help.
