Thumb sucking children have developed the habit due to various reasons. It can be stress, comfort, or a defense mechanism but there are ways to stop the habit with a few easy steps. The number one way to help your child is to observe and determine why they are sucking their thumb in the first place. Secondly, talking to your child will help you better understand their need to take part in this habit and give you the opportunity to help them better.
Here are few ways to talk to your child about thumb sucking:
Just Simply Talking � By just approaching the subject in a conversation with your child can help them feel more at ease about the reasons they do it. They may open up to the reason why it comforts them in certain situations. Most children start as babies, so it is a learned habit, one that can be difficult to break. Persistence is key.
Information � By starting a conversation about the effects of thumb sucking, you can broach the topic with the side effects it has such as what it can do to their smile. You could also explain the truth about the germs that will get into their bodies by thumb sucking. This will often deter a child from continuing but be sure not to scare them. Approach the topics gently.
Activities � Keeping a child�s hands busy will stop them from wanting to put their thumb in their mouth because they will be too busy doing the activities. Arts and crafts or just playing ball outside will preoccupy them.
Alternatives � If your child is doing the habit out of a need for comfort, offer them a stuffed animal or a blanket to comfort them instead.
Patience � This habit will not go away overnight and may be extremely difficult to break; however it can be broken. The main thing as a parent of a thumb-sucker is to be patient while trying to break them of this habit.
You have the opportunity to not only break this habit but to help them develop better habits and ways to evoke comfort
Here are few ways to talk to your child about thumb sucking:
Just Simply Talking � By just approaching the subject in a conversation with your child can help them feel more at ease about the reasons they do it. They may open up to the reason why it comforts them in certain situations. Most children start as babies, so it is a learned habit, one that can be difficult to break. Persistence is key.
Information � By starting a conversation about the effects of thumb sucking, you can broach the topic with the side effects it has such as what it can do to their smile. You could also explain the truth about the germs that will get into their bodies by thumb sucking. This will often deter a child from continuing but be sure not to scare them. Approach the topics gently.
Activities � Keeping a child�s hands busy will stop them from wanting to put their thumb in their mouth because they will be too busy doing the activities. Arts and crafts or just playing ball outside will preoccupy them.
Alternatives � If your child is doing the habit out of a need for comfort, offer them a stuffed animal or a blanket to comfort them instead.
Patience � This habit will not go away overnight and may be extremely difficult to break; however it can be broken. The main thing as a parent of a thumb-sucker is to be patient while trying to break them of this habit.
You have the opportunity to not only break this habit but to help them develop better habits and ways to evoke comfort
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