Most children suck on their thumbs. Over 90% of newborn babies suck on their thumbs or hands in some way. The only time it becomes an issue is if your child is getting too old for thumb-sucking, around when their teeth are going to start coming in. Thumb-sucking habits are challenging to manage, but with a few strategies, you can figure out the best way to approach these problematic behaviors with your children.

Why Should You Stop Your Child From Sucking Their Thumb? 

Thumb-sucking is a problematic habit that can last years longer than it needs to. While it might appear cute at first, it can be detrimental to your child's growth. Thumb-sucking can lead to issues like crooked adult teeth or ill-formed speech patterns, among other adverse effects.  

It might be challenging, but weaning your child off of the bad habit of sucking their thumb as they grow older can be better than slowly doing it themselves. You may have to rely on a few strategies to help them end these behaviors.

1. Wait It Out 

Even if the habit gets on your nerves, it might be perfectly normal for your child. Usually, kids stop sucking their thumbs at around three years old or younger, so if your child is younger, it may just be something you need to wait out while they grow out of it.  

While you may be tempted to do something about it sooner rather than later, it could just be a phase your child needs to drop with time. Only consider other options if the thumb-sucking gets out of control or goes on beyond the recommended age.

2. Remind Them When They're Doing It 

When you see your child about to suck their thumb, remind them of their actions. Your child may notice what they're about to do and stop themselves, teaching themselves that they shouldn't suck their thumb absentmindedly. Once they see what they're doing enough, they can change their behaviors and wean themselves off the habit. Bringing awareness to their behaviors can help a child regulate how they react to certain statements and situations.

3. Figure Out What Triggers It 

Thumb-sucking can manifest in adults, too. It's often a response to stress and anxiety, and it's a soothing behavior that can help an adult relax, though it isn't entirely good for them. Your child may also feel attached to their thumb-sucking habit as a response to stress. Next time they do it, ask them why. Does it make them feel better? Do they want to talk through their emotions? Once you know what triggers your child sucking on their thumb, you can better address the issue.

4. Use Positive Reinforcement 

Whenever you want someone to unlearn bad behavior, you have to follow up with positive reinforcement when they do something correctly. It works more effectively than punishment and will prevent your child from feeling afraid of doing the action. Set little goals for your child. If they don't suck their thumb for an hour before bed, tell them that you'll read them an additional bedtime story. They may like the idea of the reward and do their best to abstain from the behavior.

5. Start Slow 

Thumb-sucking habits don't go away overnight. They take time to unlearn, so being slow and gentle with a child trying to break this habit is for the best. Set realistic, attainable goals for the child according to their age. You might say that one goal would be for your kid to stop sucking their thumb in public, but it's okay for now to do it during naptime or bedtime. Baby steps are still progress, no matter how slow they may seem.

Always Be Gentle and Understanding 

Scaring a child out of sucking their thumb won't yield great results. Instead, you want to focus on working with your child to a point where they feel comfortable letting go of this bad habit. You can work through this growing pain together, and it will strengthen your bond and prepare you for supporting your child through other trials as the years go on.