Thumb Sucking

Infancy

Some children suck their thumbs before they are even born, and others begin sucking their thumbs soon after birth. All or nearly all infants suck on their fingers, thumbs, or a pacifier. This is completely normal and very common.

Toddlerhood

Thumb sucking is most common in children who are younger than two years old. Many children stop sucking their thumbs by age three or four without any intervention.

Preschool

Preschool children may begin to become embarrassed by their thumb sucking if the children with whom they interact do not suck their thumbs and make fun of them. Most children in this age group who still suck their thumbs will stop on their own, and intervening may stress the child and make the problem worse. Even when they have stopped thumb sucking during the day, children may continue it as part of a nighttime falling sleep ritual.

School age

Most children have stopped sucking their thumbs before they begin school, or else stop sucking shortly thereafter, usually in response to peer pressure. If a school age child seems distressed about his or her thumb sucking, the parent may want to suggest ways in which they can work together to wean the child from the thumb. If the child does not want to give up thumb sucking, the dentist should be consulted to ensure that it is not doing any damage to the alignment of the teeth.

Common problems

There are a few cases where thumb sucking may become a problem. If a school-age child sucks his or her thumb and is teased by classmates, the child may wish to quit and need help either from parents or a counselor. Some dentists warn of misalignment of permanent teeth if a child of five or six sucks the thumb with a lot of pressure on the teeth. Not all dentists agree, however, that thumb sucking is harmful to tooth development. If a child's dentist sees evidence that thumb sucking is causing a particular problem, the child may need to be urged to quit. If the child is having trouble quitting the habit, parents may be able to help with positive reinforcement. The child can be given a sticker or small reward for a day spent without thumb sucking. Parents can also help the child find something else to do with his or her hands when the child has the urge to suck the thumb. Parents should avoid negative pressure on children to stop sucking their thumbs; this habit is eventually outgrown by all children. In extreme cases, some dentists can prescribe an oral device to alter the shape of the roof of the child's mouth, so that it is unpleasant for the child to continue sucking. If a child has recently undergone any sort of trauma such as witnessing divorce, a pet's death, or family problems, treatment for thumb sucking should not be undertaken right away.