Thumb sucking is a common self-soothing technique and a built-in instinct all newborns have. It’s so common that about 90% of newborns start sucking on their thumbs, fingers, or hands within two hours of birth. In fact, many babies even suck their thumbs in the womb.
Your child is born with a natural sucking reflex, which helps them nurse. Sucking on something makes them feel comfortable and safe. For the first couple of years, thumb sucking is a healthy and developmentally appropriate behavior. Over time, children learn other ways to soothe themselves and manage their emotions, and thumb sucking typically diminishes on its own. If it doesn’t, here’s how to help your child break the habit.
How long does thumb sucking usually last?
There’s no hard and fast rule for when a child should stop sucking their thumb. Every child is different and develops at their own rate. However, most kids stop sucking on pacifiers and thumbs between the ages of two and four.
Because thumb sucking makes kids feel comforted in stressful situations, like when they are with unfamiliar people or in unfamiliar settings, they may revert to thumb sucking when they’re stressed out. Because it’s relaxing, kids may also suck their thumbs more often at bedtime to help them fall asleep.
Thumb sucking is usually not an issue until about age five, when the adult teeth start coming in and your child prepares to start school.
The Social Impact of Thumb Sucking
Most kids stop sucking their thumbs by age four, just in time to start kindergarten. Older kids who still suck their thumbs may stop soon after they start school, as a result of peer pressure from classmates. Others may double down and suck their thumbs more often, especially at home.
Children who suck their thumbs in public often face teasing or bullying from their peers. These interactions can lead to reduced self-esteem, social withdrawal, and social anxiety. Children who suck their thumbs may withdraw from their peers and miss out on opportunities to make friends and engage in social interactions.
Unfortunately, young kids tend to zero in on anything different from the norm. While it’s important to teach your child to have a sense of self-worth that isn’t tied to the opinions of others, in this case, it’s best to help them break the habit. Not only will it set them up for better social success, but thumb sucking can negatively impact your child’s dental health.
How Thumb-Sucking Can Impact Dental Health
In addition to soggy fingers and missed playdates, thumb sucking can have a negative impact on your child’s dental health. It puts pressure on the roof of the mouth and on the front teeth, causing them to shift position. If your child’s adult teeth are starting to come in and they’re still sucking their thumbs, you may want to step in and help them break the habit.
The impact on their bite may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how often your child sucks their thumb, for how long, and how intensely. Kids who simply rest their thumbs inside their mouths may have no negative dental consequences, while kids who suck aggressively may require braces or other orthodontic work to correct their bite. Common bite problems include protruding front teeth or an open bite. In both cases, the teeth don’t overlap the way they’re supposed to, making it difficult for your child to close their mouth, chew, or speak.
Tips for Helping Kids Stop Sucking Their Thumb
Thumb sucking is a difficult habit to break, and kids may need some guidance and support. With the right approach, you can help your child gradually move away from thumb sucking without added stress or pressure.
Approach it together: Sit down and have a conversation with your child explaining the importance of not sucking their thumb. You’ll be more successful in making this lifestyle change if your child is invested and involved in setting goals and choosing how to go about it.
Ease the transition: In some cases, using a pacifier (also known as a binky) can help ease the transition. It may be preferable to a thumb because it’s softer and puts less pressure on the teeth. They’re also a little easier to keep clean.
Gentle guidance: Your instinct might be to jump in and stop your child from sucking their thumb anytime you see it happening, but that might not be the right move. If your child uses thumb sucking to get attention, then it might be better to ignore the behavior entirely.
Positive reinforcement: Praise always works better than punishment, especially when thumb-sucking is a common childhood stress response. Set attainable goals together. For instance, no thumb sucking in public or no thumb sucking after bath time. Offer small prizes like stickers, playtime, or a visit to the park when they refrain from thumb sucking and meet their goals.
Triggers: Pay attention to when your child sucks their thumb. Does it happen at certain times of day or in certain environments? Address or avoid triggers when possible, provide extra comfort (such as hugs or kind words), or let your child take a comfort item, like a favorite toy or stuffed animal. If thumb sucking comes from stress or insecurity, you need to address those causes before worrying about anything else.
Redirect: Breaking a habit can be hard even after you’ve decided you want to. If your child sucks their thumb as a force of habit, gently remind them to stop without scolding. Over time, they’ll thumb suck less and less until they stop completely.
Busy hands: Keep your child’s hands busy to keep their thumbs out of their mouth. Give them puzzles, playdough, or other activities to keep their tiny hands occupied.
Limit screen time: Many kids suck their thumbs when they’re doing passive activities like watching TV. Give them something more stimulating to do, and they’ll suck their thumb less.
Try a reminder: If your child needs a physical reminder in the moment, put something on your child’s thumb like a bandage, glove, or a non-toxic, bad-tasting nail coating.
Be patient: It can take a while for the habit to break, and your child may need continued reminders, encouragement, and reinforcement. Once your child breaks the daytime thumb sucking habit, it may take some extra time to stop thumb sucking at night.
Ask for help: Most of the time, thumb sucking resolves on its own without much trouble, and for most other kids, the above strategies are enough. If, however, your child is school-aged and can’t seem to stop thumb sucking, the Families First Pediatric team of pediatricians, dentists, and orthodontists are here to answer your questions and provide guidance.
