 Health Care Services Hospitals & Facilities Health Information Find a Doctor Why Choose Baptist |
|
Child Health & Development
|
|
|
|
All babies are born with a sucking reflex. They will suck on a thumb, fist, finger, nipple, or anything else that comes in contact with their mouths. Babies soon come to associate sucking with feelings of security. As they grow older, it's normal to suck on thumbs and fingers. The habit soothes and calms the child. About 9 out of 10 children engage in the habit during their early life. Over half of thumb or finger suckers stop by age six or seven months. Most will have stopped by age four years. Problems begin around age five for those that continue with the habit. Children may keep the habit because: Parents need to be concerned if the habit affects the shape of the child's mouth. Prolonged thumb or finger sucking can interfere with the alignment of the teeth. This can result in crooked teeth. Distract the child or simply ignore thumb-sucking behavior if the child is younger than age four. Never pull the child's hand out of his or her mouth. Do not punish or scold the child. Doing so will make the problem worse. After four years of age, help your child give up thumb-sucking during the day. Appeal to the vanity of older preschool children. Talk to the child about stopping the habit during a time when he or she is not stressed, unhappy, or sick. Ask the child if he or she wants to stop. Give gentle reminders each time the habit is continued. Offer self-reminders like:* put a Band-Aid or paint an image with a Magic Marker on the nail, * praise and reward the child when they don't suck, or * paint the nail with bitter nail polish available at the drug store. Children will stop daytime sucking habits before they progress too far in school. Peer pressure is usually the reason they stop. Night time sucking may continue as a way of going to sleep. Your child may thumb-suck to calm down when he or she is upset. Don't worry, most children will eventually stop this habit on their own. Talk to your child's dentist or healthcare provider about any concerns you have over this habit.
Copyright © 1997 National Health Enhancement Systems, Inc.
(602) 230-7575. All rights reserved. Information in this document is subject to change
without notice.
 Top of Page |
|
| Home | Health Care Services | Hospitals & Facilities | Health Information | Find a Doctor | Why Choose Baptist |
| ©2008 Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer. Notice of Privacy Practices. | |
 |
In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ - preaching, teaching and healing - Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation will be the leader in providing quality health care. |