Thumb Sucking - So..What's the big deal, anyway?

FIRST, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN DO THIS!

SECOND, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE: Thumb sucking is one of the most common habits during childhood. Most children suck their thumb for safety even before birth. Roughly one out of every three children, ages 1 to 4, will suck his or her thumb at least sometimes. About one in five children will still be doing so at the age of 5 or older. The habit is typically harmless if the child does it occasionally, but parents struggle because getting their child to stop thumb sucking is one of the most difficult habits to break.

WHY IT HAPPENS: According to the American Dental Association, Children suck on things because sucking is one of a baby’s natural reflexes and as infants get older it serves many purposes. Children should have stopped thumb sucking by the time the permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Usually children stop thumb sucking between the ages of two and four years.

WHEN SHOULD I BECOME CONCERNED?
For the child under two, thumb sucking is rarely, if ever, considered a problem, and it may help to alleviate the child's stress or tension. But older children who suck their thumb or finger chronically may need guidance from parents because the chronic sucking habit can cause the child's permanent teeth to become crooked. 

"The kids you worry about are the ones who suck their fingers while watching TV and while they're in the car and while they sleep and oftentimes, during school. These children can develop dental problems," one dentist states. 

Now is the time to deal with the problem and help your child to stop thumb sucking. If this habit persists, it can interfere with tooth eruption and position, create speech issues, affect the growth and development of jaws, and perpetuate abnormal swallow patterns.

"Should I even try to get my child to stop thumb sucking?"

ACCORDING TO THE ADA: AFTER THE PERMANENT TEETH COME IN, SUCKING MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth. The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether or not dental problems may result. If children rest their thumbs passively in their mouths, they are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs. Some aggressive thumb-suckers may cause problems with their baby (primary) teeth.

WHEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM

-          Facial changes – if the child doesn’t stop thumb sucking, changes in the face may occur.

-          Buck teeth - for example, the front teeth may be pushed out of alignment. This can alter the shape of the face and lead to an open bite.

-          A lisp - pre-school children who suck their fingers and thumbs can push their teeth out of their normal position. This interferes with the correct formation of certain speech sounds.

-          A child who has not stopped thumb sucking by age five, when permanent teeth start coming in, may develop an abnormal bite.

-          The child may get teased by peers, when this happens, it’s not uncommon for the child to have challenges with self-esteem.

-          Prolonged thumb sucking can cause minor physical problems, such as chapped lips or cracked skin, calluses, or fingernail infections.

-          Although thumb sucking is a normal habit it can cause serious teeth problems if it continues after teeth eruption. 

-          The problem gets serious if it continues after the age of four, when the permanent teeth are about to appear. 

-          In some cases thumb sucking is substituted by another dangerous habit as placing pencils between the teeth or biting the lips.

-          If the child doesn't stop thumb sucking in time, it is possible some teeth to get misplaced and require orthodontia treatment. 

At age three, some children can comprehend a reward system and be motivated to stop thumb sucking. If a child is four and is still sucking his thumb and is having difficulty stopping, parents ought to think about what they can do to help.

“What is the best option to help my child stop thumb sucking?

You may have heard the phrase, "Better a binky than a pinky." A pacifier can be discarded after the first few months, a finger can't! There are various things you can do to help your child stop thumb sucking. Focusing on the positives and rewarding your child are important.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics - Severe emotional upsets or stress-related problems might cause your child to suck his thumb or use a pacifier for a long time. It is also possible that your child may be one of the very few who cannot seem to stop. However, most children stop daytime sucking habits before they get very far in school. This is because of peer pressure. These same children might still use sucking as a way of going to sleep or calming themselves when they are upset. This is usually done in private and causes no harm either emotionally or physically. Putting too much pressure on your child to stop this type of behavior may cause more harm than good. Even these children eventually stop thumb sucking on their own.

THIRD, NOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

To end or stop thumb sucking, realize that it is not just a physical behavior, but you must also address the psychological and emotional ties to thumb sucking. With all treatments, a child should be offered strong emotional support.

-          Let it go. Nagging or punishing your child won't help, because he doesn't usually realize when he's sucking away. Besides, pressuring him to stop thumb sucking may intensify his desire to do so and  even want or need to suck more.

-          Reward your child and offer encouragement - for example, with a hug or praise, to reinforce their decision to stop the habit. Younger children need more frequent rewards. A five to six year old may need a reward after the first night. You can gradually stretch out the reward period from one night, to a week and then to 30 days without thumb sucking.

-          “My Special Shirt and Program” is everything you need to know to help your child stop thumb sucking. My Special Shirt is a professionally endorsed program, which gets the child excited about stopping sucking his thumb, teaches the parent how to address the issue (including overcoming roadblocks) in a positive manner. It is truly a win/win for parent and child. Coupled with a specialty shirt with fabric coverage over the hands, helps keep the child on track while he sleeps, when the parent can’t always be there for him. This specialty shirt acts as a thumb sucking guard as a gentle reminder when they may be in a deep sleep. My Special Shirt & Program addresses both the physical and emotional attributes of thumb-sucking. It is only possible to end the habit when the child is psychologically willing and wants to stop thumb sucking. My Special Shirt addresses both and gets both the child and parent involved. With a high success-rate and professional endorsements, we’ve found this the only solution THAT REALLY WORKS!

You can do this!

You Can Stop Thumb Sucking in a Positive Manner 

We Help Parents Just Like You Everyday!

My Special Shirt is a product of :

Special Solutions LLC | 11757 West Ken Caryl Avenue | Suite F-113 | Littleton, CO 80127 | info@myspecialshirt.com

Thumb sucking guard - Help your child to stop sucking thumb – Use My Special Shirt.