Pacifier or thumbsucking?
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Around the 16th week of pregnancy, the fetus raises its hand to its face and sucks its fingers. This is pleasant and reassuring for it. At birth, the baby is immature and vulnerable. It needs to form strong bonds with loving and responsive adults, because its survival depends on it. If it feels discomfort or perceives a threat, it may cry to call its parents, but it may also suck its fingers as it did in its mother's womb.
Thumb sucking is a natural habit for babies and children to help them self-soothe and feel more secure. All babies are born with the reflex to suck because it is needed to eat and drink. Beyond nutrition, sucking provides a calming effect for babies and young children.1
Why Do Children Suck Their Thumb?
Thumb sucking is a form of non-nutritive sucking, which refers to any sucking action that is not used to eat and drink. Babies and young children usually suck their thumbs as a way to soothe themselves and feel calmer. Non-nutritive sucking has even been found to provide pain relief during medical procedures.3 This usually involves a pacifier.
How Long Does Thumb Sucking Last?
Thumb sucking is a common habit that usually lasts until children are between 2 and 4 years old.4 Each child is different, so consider talking with your healthcare provider or paediatrician if you are concerned about your child’s behaviours.
When to Stop Thumb Sucking
While thumb sucking is a common habit for babies and toddlers, it may lead to problems if continued for too long. Thumb sucking changes a child’s teeth and mouth over time. For this reason, it is recommended that children stop sucking their thumb by the time their adult teeth are coming in, usually around age 5 or 6.5
Long Term Effects of Thumb Sucking
When a child continues thumb sucking into their school-age years, long-term problems can occur. Thumb sucking (or using a pacifier) changes the way that a child’s teeth grow. The pressure from the thumb pushes the teeth to stick out. This affects a child’s entire mouth because the teeth no longer meet properly when the child bites down. This is known as a cross bite.
When the upper and lower teeth stick out as they grow, other problems like broken teeth can occur. Children who suck their thumbs after toddlerhood are more likely to need orthodontic treatments such as braces, expanders, and other tools to correct the shape of the teeth.5
How to Stop the Thumb Sucking Habit
Most parents are anxious to help their children stop sucking their thumbs in order to prevent future dental problems. This is understandable, but it is important to remember that pushing too hard may cause your child to cling to thumb sucking more. Most children will stop thumb sucking on their own without adult intervention.
To encourage your child to begin to give up the habit of thumb sucking, try incorporating one or more of these techniques:5
- Replace the habit: Most children suck their thumb without consciously thinking about it. Help your child stop by coming up with a replacement habit to keep their hands busy. This could include making a fist or holding a favourite small toy.
- Offer rewards: Set goals with your child and offer rewards when they are able to avoid thumb-sucking for a set period of time. Praise your child for trying and consider incorporating sticker charts, small treats, or fun surprises to help the process along.
- Provide reminders: When you notice your child sucking their thumb, gently redirect them. Always avoid harsh words or punishments.
If your child continues to suck their thumb despite your attempts to help them stop, talk with your healthcare provider, paediatrician, or dentist. There are dental tools that can be placed in your child’s mouth to prevent them from thumb sucking. They may also discuss placing a bitter substance on your child’s thumb to discourage the habit. Talk with your healthcare provider before trying one of these methods.
A Tip to Discourage Thumb Sucking
Remember to always use kind words and a gentle demeanour when discouraging thumb sucking. If you notice your child start sucking their thumb, momentarily pause what you are doing. This could mean pausing their show or stopping a bedtime story. Gently remind them to stop sucking their thumb and praise them for trying. Then resume your activity together.
Try not to worry if your child has a difficult time breaking the thumb-sucking habit. Too much pressure to stop thumb sucking may delay the process.
A Word From Very well
Encouraging your child to stop sucking their thumb is a daunting process for everyone. It may be helpful to remember that most children stop on their own and do not require any special interventions. Talk with your healthcare provider about tips for discouraging thumb sucking or if you are concerned about your child’s teeth.
Pacifier and thumb: advantages and disadvantages
Due to their immaturity, newborns are easily inconvenienced or upset. It is therefore normal, especially in the first few months, that they have an immense need for their parents to be reassured and soothed.
Babies may also, depending on their temperament, have a great need to suckle to relax and reassure themselves. Some will take a pacifier or their thumb, but others will take neither: each child is unique.
Currently, many paediatricians and dentists recommend the pacifier rather than the thumb. If the baby is breastfed, however, it is preferable to wait until breastfeeding is well established, that is to say after at least 6 weeks, before offering him a pacifier or a bottle.
Advantages of the pacifier over the thumb:
According to several studies, the use of a pacifier is associated with a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
It is easier to have some control over appropriate use (short and limited periods) and to get rid of it.
It would change the alignment of the teeth less because it can be removed from the child earlier than the thumb.
Disadvantages of the baby's pacifier
- The baby pacifier can hinder the start of breastfeeding if it is used before the age of 6 weeks.
- It often falls out and the baby cries when it loses it, especially at night.
- According to some studies, it could increase the frequency of middle ear infections.
- Children who speak with a pacifier in their mouth can be difficult to understand. In addition, they do not learn to express themselves correctly.
- Children who still have a pacifier around 3 years old may not be able to place their tongue correctly in their mouth when they swallow or when they speak. This poor positioning of the tongue can lead to lisping (speaking on the tip of the tongue) as well as a swallowing problem (drooling).
- Pacifiers can cause gastroenteritis when parents neglect to clean them after they have dropped them on the floor or food has stuck to them.
- Over time, if the habit is keep over 5 years old, depending on how often the baby use is pacifier, it can disturb the position of your child's teeth.
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