Thumb sucking

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Thumb sucking is the act of putting the thumb into the mouth for a prolonged duration. It is considered to be soothing and therapeutic. Thumb sucking is generally associated with babies and young children.

Why do children suck on fingers, pacifiers or other objects?: Children suck on objects (including pacifiers) to soothe themselves; sucking is one of a baby’s natural reflexes and completely typical for babies and young children.

Although some adults do suck their thumbs it is rarely performed in public, which leads many to believe that adults do not suck their thumbs at all. The private act of thumb sucking by adults is due to the fear of embarrassment or shyness. There are some stigmas attached to thumb sucking in public for adults.

Thumb sucking can start as early as 2-3 months of growth in the womb or within months of being born. Most thumb-suckers stop gradually by the age of five years. Rarely does it continue into adulthood. It is not uncommon for thumb-suckers to suck both thumbs or their fingers. Finger sucking is synonymous thumb sucking in effect and treatment.

Thumb-sucking can cause problems for dental development. To prevent their children from sucking their thumbs some parents put hot sauce or sour potions on their child's thumbs ~~ although this is not a procedure encouraged by the American Dental Association[1]: or the Association of Pediatric Dentists [2]. During the 1950s, parents could get a series of sharp prongs known as "hay-rakes" cemented to a child's teeth to discourage sucking.

As a parent when should I worry about a sucking habit in my child?

• Most children stop sucking on thumbs, pacifiers or other objects on their own between two and four years of age. No harm is done to their teeth or jaws until permanent teeth start to erupt.
• The only time it might cause concern is if it goes on beyond 6 to 8 years of age. At this time, it may affect the shape of the oral cavity or dentition.

Tips from the American Dental Association [3]:

• Praise children for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they do.
• If a child is sucking their thumb when feeling insecure or needing comfort, focus instead on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
• If a child is sucking on their thumb because of boredom, try getting a child's attention with a fun activity.
• Involve older children in the selection of a means to cease thumb sucking.
• The pediatric dentist can offer encouragement to a child and explain what could happen to their teeth if they do not stop sucking.
• Only if these tips are ineffective, remind the child of their habit by bandaging the thumb or putting a sock/glove on the hand at night.

Summary of Best Practices Recommendations:

• American Academy of Pediatrics [4]: Most children suck their thumbs or fingers at some time in their early life. The only time it might cause concern is if it goes on beyond 6 to 8 years of age or affects the shape of the child's mouth or teeth.
• American Dental Association [5]: Children suck on objects as a natural reflex; however, after the permanent teeth erupt, such sucking may cause problems with the development of the mouth and alignment of the teeth.

[edit] See also

• Stereotypic movement disorder
• Prognathism

Thumb-suckers:

• Andrea Corr
• Luis Javier García Sanz