With teddy bears, blankies, and naptime, a child sucking their thumb is one of the most comforting parts of being a child. In a recently published report, somewhere between 75% and 90+% of babies suck their thumbs, so it is likely there is (or was) a thumb sucker in your family.
In the vast majority of cases, there is no reason to worry. But it's important to pay attention to the habit to be sure it doesn't start to affect their oral health.
Most children start sucking their thumbs (or fingers) when they are very young. Some even begin when they are in the womb. Thumb or finger sucking is an automatic reflex for a newborn, and it actually serves practical purposes. We want our children to be calm, content, and secure; thumb sucking can provide these things. A baby usually relaxes when they suck their thumb. This is why most babies "thumb suck" when they fall asleep.
The American Dental Association recently pointed out that most children quit sucking their thumb or fingers around the three years old mark. They grow out of the habit because they don't feel a need for it anymore.
The first thing you should note is how your baby sucks their thumb. Passive sucking with the thumb or fingers gently sitting in the mouth has less chance of causing damage.
But if you see that the thumb sucking is aggressive and puts pressure on the teeth, it might create problems with the alignment of the teeth and even the shape of the face. This might cause a need for treatment by an orthodontist when they grow.
Keep an eye on the thumb sucking. If you think it might be affecting the child's oral health, please call us and arrange for a visit. We have seen thousands of children and will help you assess their behavior.
If you feel that your child should quit the habit, follow these steps:>
Regardless of the methods you choose, constantly remember that your little one needs understanding and support while quitting thumb sucking. What might seem like a little issue to us grownups can be one of the toddler's biggest challenges.
