A child sucks his finger: a neurologist tells what parents should do in this situation. If a child sucks his thumb... How to stop a child from sucking his thumb in 2.2

A small child requires constant attention and care; lack of parental care often leads to the development of bad habits, such as biting lips, sucking fingers and fists. If a child sucks his finger for a long time, this leads to the destruction of the enamel of the nail plate, deformation of the phalanx of the finger and can cause a curvature of the bite, as well as damage to the gums. In addition to the above-mentioned troubles, constant finger sucking contributes to the introduction of pathogenic bacteria and microbes into the body, which causes all sorts of diseases. Therefore, the best option would be to wean the baby from such a bad habit in a timely manner.

Why does a child suck his fingers?

The sucking reflex in an infant is considered one of the most important, since three main nerves are involved in this process - the ternary, nasopharyngeal and vagus. The simultaneous work of such important organs leads to improved digestion, stabilization of the nervous system and psychological balance of the baby, and activation of brain activity. The need of a newborn baby to suck the breast or anything else is caused not only by the feeling of hunger: in this way the babies calm down and develop.

What should parents do to normalize the baby’s condition? First of all, determine the cause of concern. There is no single reason why a child sucks his thumb; the following may be a prerequisite for this:

lack of breastfeeding– if the child spends little time near the mother’s breast, his sucking reflex is not fully satisfied, so the baby may suck fingers or toys;
pain from teething– the process of cutting the first teeth brings quite painful sensations, and thumb sucking helps soothe irritated gums;
psychological factor– if a baby sucks fingers at the age of 2-3 years, the main reason for this is most likely a lack of attention from relatives. In this way, the baby tries to calm down and make up for the lack of warmth and affection; most often in this situation the child sucks his thumb. Another reason may be fear or excessive excitability, for example, after active games before bed, sucking calms and relieves excess activity;
boredom - the habit of sucking fingers can be acquired due to a lack of interest in what is happening around; it happens that children suck their fingers simply out of boredom.

In any case, having noticed the habit of sucking fingers in their child, parents should take timely measures to eradicate such a harmful manner.

How to stop a child from sucking his thumb?

Few people know what to do when a child sucks his fingers or other objects, so often inexperienced parents take radically irrational and unacceptable measures to eradicate this habit.

There are several ways to wean your child from thumb sucking, for starters you can do this:

For a baby, try increasing your breastfeeding time, leaving him near his mother for 30-40 minutes. If the baby is bottle-fed, choose a nipple with a narrow opening so that the baby takes longer to suck food from the bottle;
For older children who suck their fingers mostly to calm them down, it is important to keep them occupied with something. Offer your child new activities: either clay, folding puzzles or construction sets, etc., so the hands will be busy and the need for sucking will disappear;
Often babies put their hands in their mouths at certain moments, for example, while watching TV or reading together. In such a situation, the easiest way is to switch the baby to another object - give him a soft ball or cube that you can crush with your hands;
Girls can be easily weaned off by offering to give them an adult manicure., of course, with a special children's varnish. Little fashionistas will not want to destroy the beautiful coating, especially if they promise to paint their nails constantly;
Can you visit the dentist together? who, along with checking teeth, will tell you about the dangers of thumb sucking; usually the opinion of such an authoritative person (whom almost all children are afraid of) has a positive impact;
emphasis on age factor also has a significant impact on the child’s behavior. Tell him that grown girls and boys do not suck their fingers, and such behavior is acceptable only for the little ones, remind him of this in those moments when the baby claims that he is already an adult.

Such distracting maneuvers will have to be done for more than one day, so get ready for a long weaning from thumb sucking and do not scold your baby under any circumstances. Remember that the main reason for the appearance of any bad habits is the lack of your attention and affection, so try to spend as much time as possible with your pet and often show him in word and deed how much you love him.

What should you not do to wean your baby from thumb sucking?

Many parents make a lot of mistakes when weaning their children from thumb sucking. There are some measures that cannot be used under any circumstances, these include:

Wrapping arms and legs in gloves or diapers is the most common incorrect way to wean a baby from biting and sucking on arms. This method does not give any result, since immediately after opening the baby will begin to suck his fists again;
smearing fingers with bitter substances (mustard, red pepper, aloe vera, etc.) - this method can lead to damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth and the walls of the child’s stomach;
Shouting and physical measures are a categorically unacceptable measure for raising children, since it is under no circumstances possible to punish a child for disobedience in order to avoid subsequent disorder of the child’s psyche.

All of the listed means of combating a bad habit do not lead to a positive result, but, on the contrary, aggravate the situation and cause whims and anxiety in the baby. It is worth noting that constant punishment and threats of physical harm negatively affect the mental state of the baby, and finger sucking in this case will become the body’s protective reaction to fear.

Ekaterina Rakitina

Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Klinikum, Germany

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Article last updated: 05/02/2019

Many parents have noticed the habit of thumb sucking in their child. Why he does this remains a mystery to many. But the harm from this can be significant. In addition to the destruction of the nail plate and the formation of an incorrect bite, pathogenic bacteria are introduced into the oral cavity. And they can cause various types of infections. It is necessary to understand all the details and find out why the child sucks his thumb.

Revealing the reasons

It is worth noting that the sucking reflex is the main one in a newborn baby. After all, no one lectures him before bringing him to his chest. Of course, they help and guide, but they don’t explain anything verbally. It turns out that this is a natural reflex. With the help of sucking, the baby calms down, his digestion develops, and general development occurs. But when a three-month-old toddler suddenly starts sucking his thumb, this is no longer very good. Let's try to find out why he does this:

Lack of mother's milk.
The little one got bored.
Psychological characteristics.
Teeth are being cut.

Lack of milk

If the baby is on natural feeding, not supplemented with anything, keep an eye on him. How often does he ask to eat, and is the breast empty after the feeding process? These are signs that he is getting enough milk. Perhaps the child eats only the front milk, the most easily accessible one, and then does not want to work? Of course, then he does not eat enough and tries to fill the feeling of hunger.

Let the baby eat his fill, don’t be afraid that he will overeat and feel sick. The baby knows how much food to eat.

The baby is bored

Newborns can also become bored with what is happening around them. When they are just born, their visibility zone is no more than 25 centimeters. This figure increases every month, and by 3-4 months they are able to distinguish objects at a distance. It is this period that is marked by the first touches of toys. The baby may get bored from a monotonous picture, refresh the background with new toys, try not to leave him alone in a lonely crib for a long time.

Psychological characteristics

If a child starts sucking his thumb at 2 years old, it signals a lack of attention. This is a period of rapid development, including speech development. He has many questions, and when an adult is busy with his own affairs for a long time, the child begins to make up for this by sucking his fingers.

Often a problem arises due to a change in the usual environment, for example, transfer to a separate room. Therefore, the sooner the little one gets his own apartment, the easier it will be to get used to it. Optimal age: 1.5 - 2 years. Difficulties may arise later.

Teeth cutting

If this is the reason, then the toddler sucks not only his thumb, but is also able to try to put the entire hand into his mouth. This is understandable; the restless person cannot understand what is happening, pain and discomfort arise. This is accompanied by copious salivation. Sometimes loose stools and fever occur. If these factors occur simultaneously, the reason lies in the appearance of new teeth.

Mistakes parents make

Many doctors are of the opinion that there is no need to wean a baby from thumb sucking until the age of one and a half years. It is by 18 months that you can talk and explain to your child. And he must hear you. Even in the womb, the baby begins to get acquainted with his hands. Then the sucking reflex develops. Having been born, the baby reinforces it when they begin to put it to the breast. During this process, three nerves work: nasopharyngeal, vagus and ternary. They contribute to better digestion and mental balance of the baby. So the baby uses sucking not only when he wants to eat. When a newborn finds his hands at 3 months and begins to actively explore his fingers with his mouth, parents sound the alarm. And the advice of grandmothers and experienced neighbors haunts me. And here are the most common mistakes when mothers and fathers try to wean their children from sucking hands.

They use mustard, aloe juice, special varnishes, and hot pepper. This is just fanaticism over a tiny creature. A fragile body may react unexpectedly to such innovations. Trying to organize proper feeding in order to avoid problems with a fragile intestine, parents harm it with products that they coat their fingers with. Imagine, it will still end up in his mouth and he will swallow it. So this is not the right remedy.
Sew mittens to clothes, tie and bandage handles. The child is so small that as soon as adults grant amnesty, the problem will return. The baby is just going to suffer.
They start screaming and swearing at the baby.

Remember that the child does this unconsciously, do not yell at your child! The baby’s psyche will be disrupted.

All of the above are forceful techniques that can only harm a fragile person. You need to act in other ways.

Harm from sucking foreign objects

It is clear that there is no benefit from the baby sucking its fingers. Yes, this is a calming procedure. But there are special things for this ritual. And the harm here is noticeable:

malocclusion;
crooked teeth;
introduction of harmful microorganisms into the oral cavity;
the danger of a negative event degenerating into a habit;
aesthetic function;
gum damage;
deformation of fingers from a long habit of sucking them.

How to wean yourself from a bad habit

Having figured out why the child sucks his thumb, you can try to wean him from the bad habit.

Remember that intrusive methods are contraindicated. The baby should not feel like he is being pressured. This will worsen the situation, the child will begin to use the prohibited technique more often to calm down.

If the habit affects your newborn, try increasing the breastfeeding time to 40 minutes. This way, the baby will be able to eat to his fill, and there is a chance that the need for thumb sucking will disappear. If your baby is bottle-fed, use a bottle nipple with a smaller hole. This will increase feeding time.
In the case when the fidget has already reached one year of age or more, you can use games that occupy the hands. Offer to assemble construction sets or puzzles. Drawing or sticking interesting pictures. Any activity that uses both hands. Gradually the need to suck will disappear. After all, this has already turned into a habit, and, as you know, they can change.
Some toddlers engage in bad habits while watching cartoons or reading books. Give him a stuffed toy to keep his hands occupied. There are a number of soft-filled items that use pellets inside. When palpated, they are felt. Kids love to crush these things. In addition to getting rid of a negative habit, motor skills will also be trained.
Older girls can be suggested to visit a manicurist. It is unlikely that the little princess will want to destroy the beauty on her nails. This is not about applying bright varnishes, but simply about processing. It is possible to use special products to protect the nail plate. And she will like the process itself.
Visiting the dentist. A good specialist who has an approach to children will help convince and wean the baby from sucking. Fortunately, there are special pediatric dentistries where doctors can and know how to communicate with children.
Focus on age. After 2 years, explanatory conversations are allowed with the child. He is already able to understand the words of an adult. If you focus on age, that adult children do not act this way, a good result is possible. The main thing is not to put pressure and not allow physical methods of influence.
Creating more trusting relationships. If a parent begins to get angry with a tomboy, such behavior will not bring love. With good relationships, children will begin to listen and understand loved ones.

To wean a tomboy from a bad habit, you need a set of activities carried out daily. The approach to each child is individual. And the main reason lies in compensation for attention. If you spend more time with your child, he will probably not develop this bad habit.

Read further:

Many parents consider thumb sucking to be a major problem. However, this is an innate reflex that is necessary in the first months of life and goes away over time. By the way, not every child experiences the same need for sucking. Some suck a bottle or pacifier for 15 minutes, while others – at least 20. In addition, the latter continue to suck their thumb even after the bottle. This is due to physiology, genetics and developmental characteristics.

When does a baby stop sucking his fingers?

A child up to four months simply needs to suck to meet his needs and fully develop. Thumb sucking provides comfort and calms the baby. In addition, this is how he shows his mother that he is hungry. Most often, the baby begins to suck his thumb due to the fact that the baby does not have enough breast or pacifier sucking. Do not confuse finger sucking with chewing on hands or objects, which is often caused by...

By seven months, babies suck their fingers much less often, and after a year they refuse completely. At one year old, finger sucking ceases to be a reflex and gradually fades away. But for some kids, the reflex develops into a habit. Particular concern should be given to those parents whose babies continue to suck their fingers at two years of age and older. Behind this behavior there are often psychological problems, feelings of fear and anxiety. The older the child, the more serious the problem becomes.

There is no need to strictly forbid the child to do this; give the bottle, pacifier or breast longer. Perhaps the baby’s diet is too strict, and he does not have time to pump. Before you take any action, you need to figure out why your baby sucks his thumb.

Causes

Hunger is one of the common reasons. For very young children, sucking is the only way to obtain food, whether the baby is breastfed or formula-fed. Therefore, when he wants to eat, he begins to reflexively suck his finger.

Emotional or psychological discomfort is a common cause of many childhood illnesses. Kids feel tension, bad mood and negative changes. Even a small move can be stressful for a newborn. Infants react especially acutely to separation from their mother. Children who experience feelings of fear and anxiety, discomfort and other negative emotions, eat poorly, are capricious a lot and often get sick.

As a result of psychological problems, the child’s colic increases, his tummy begins to ache, and his overall health deteriorates. In addition, he does not sleep well and often cries for no reason. Such nervousness and lack of communication with the mother become the reason that the baby begins to put his finger in his mouth more often. Sucking calms the baby, and the finger replaces the mother's breast, a symbol of comfort, calm and protection.

Weaning methods

Continue breastfeeding and periodically put your baby to the breast, even if you have already started the transition to complementary feeding. You can safely continue breastfeeding until 2-2.5 years;
Review your diet and increase the number of feedings. Try to breastfeed on demand, and then the baby will fully satisfy the sucking reflex;
Increase the time of latching and feeding. Better yet, wait until the baby releases the nipple on his own or falls asleep at the breast;
Use pacifiers and pacifiers, but not too often. They calm the baby and satisfy the sucking reflex, but they often cause a number of problems, including malocclusion and early caries, digestive disorders and addiction. Read more about using pacifiers for infants;
Protect your baby from stress and anxiety. Take the baby in your arms more often, rock and talk to him, spend more time together and increase the number of physical contacts (games, touching, joint exercises, massage, etc.);
Try to distract your child when he puts his finger in his mouth. Take and carefully remove your finger, offer the baby an interesting game, show the toys. Do not scold the child or shout, be gentle and friendly!;
The famous pediatrician Komarovsky recommends swaddling very young children up to 1.5-3 months along with their arms so that they cannot pull their fingers to their mouth. At the same time, swaddling should not be tight! Older children can wear overalls or blouses with closed arms.

You shouldn’t start fighting too actively in the first year. Offer your baby alternatives in the form of games and toys. If your child sucks his fingers after two years of age and nothing helps, contact your pediatrician.

Some parents use extreme methods, including the use of special gloves and fingertips. This impairs the development of hand motor skills. In addition, the baby will be able to remove the fingertip with his teeth, chew and swallow threads or pieces of material!

Do not lubricate your fingers and hands with mustard, garlic or other bitter substances. This will greatly frighten the child and traumatize the psyche. In addition, such products will severely burn the mucous membrane of the mouth and stomach walls of the baby.

After the birth of their long-awaited first child, all parents immediately find themselves under close control from grandmothers, aunts and other relatives. And the generation that has already raised their children has their own personal opinion on everything, and they constantly strive to give advice to young mothers and fathers. The advice is quite varied, but most often it is absolutely useless. And as soon as all-knowing relatives notice that the baby is sucking his finger, they immediately begin to give recommendations on how to rid the baby of this bad habit. But is this necessary? What to do if your baby constantly puts his hands in his mouth? And why does the baby suck his thumb?

Main reasons

There are several reasons why babies put their hands in their mouths.

Hunger

Often a child starts sucking his thumb when he wants to eat, especially if there is very little time left before feeding, and the baby is already hungry. In this case, there is no need to wait for the allotted time. When breastfeeding, it is better to feed your baby on demand. It happens that an infant, having already eaten, again pulls his arms to the chest. This means that he is not full, and there is no need to refuse him. It is recommended not to give the baby both breasts at one feeding; the baby should drink both foremilk and hindmilk from one breast. This will keep him full for a longer period.

Sucking reflex

A newborn initially has a sucking reflex, which constantly needs to be satisfied. By the way, babies begin to put their fingers and fists in their mouths even in the womb. Most often, children who are bottle-fed begin to suck their fingers. This is explained quite simply. When breastfeeding, the baby eats longer than from a bottle and fully satisfies the innate sucking reflex. But when feeding with a mixture, the innate reflex remains unsatisfied. Thus, if a newborn baby does not receive the breast, then he pulls his hands into his mouth, smacking his lips.

Anxiety

A newborn baby needs to constantly feel the presence of his mother nearby. It is by clinging to his mother's breast that he feels safe. That is, sucking the breast calms the baby and relieves anxiety. Therefore, if a child is nervous for some reason, he puts his hands in his mouth. In such a situation, to get rid of a bad habit, it is enough to simply pay more attention to the baby, play with him, and talk.

First teeth

If, in addition to fingers or a fist, a child begins to put toys and objects that come to hand into his mouth, then the first teeth may be expected to appear soon. Typically, such a sucking process is accompanied by increased salivation. Moreover, this may not just be sucking, but biting objects. The child may feel angry, irritated, and nervous.

Negative influence

Infection

According to pediatricians, a child's thumb or fist sucking has a number of negative consequences. When a baby puts hands in his mouth, he can infect the oral cavity and, accordingly, the stomach. Such a process directly leads to development. Signs of such a disease are abdominal pain,. That is, treatment with medications will be required.

Parents often wonder: where do these dangerous bacteria come from? The fact is that the baby strives to touch everything he can reach. For example, furniture, any objects, towels, adult clothes, mom's hair, plants.

Dehydration

During sucking, salivation inevitably increases. Because of this, the child’s body loses more fluid than it should, and dehydration may begin. The cheeks and neck also begin to get wet, and this directly leads to irritation of the baby’s delicate skin.

Improper jaw development

Thumb sucking can lead to future deformation or abnormal tooth growth.

Some orthodontists, by the way, claim that finger sucking during tooth growth in no way affects the formation of the bite. There is also an assumption that due to finger sucking in infancy, difficulties with speech development may arise in the future. But this is only if you cannot get rid of the habit for a very long time.

Nail deformity

Constant finger sucking leads to abrasions on the child’s delicate skin, calluses and deformation of the nail plates. Moreover, such a habit threatens not only the penetration of dangerous bacteria into the gastrointestinal tract, but also the penetration of fungus under the surface of the nail.

What to do?

If it was noticed that the baby began to suck his finger, then you should not immediately use the numerous advice of relatives who know about everything. Most often, they advise spreading bitter aloe juice or mustard on children’s fingers. Such methods are effective, but not for long. As soon as the bitter taste evaporates, the fingers are back in the mouth. Moreover, such actions can lead to stress in the child.

Some parents begin to limit the baby’s actions and swaddle their hands. But in such a situation, the child has no problem finding a substitute for his fist - a lip.

Weaning off hand sucking must be approached very responsibly. To begin with, you should pay attention to what time the baby puts his fingers in his mouth. Alternatively, you can simply apply it to the breast more often as soon as the baby requires it.

Is it possible to increase the duration of feeding? Of course you can. This will have a positive impact on the current situation. A baby who sucks at the breast as much as he deems necessary will never begin to put his fingers in his mouth. But in no case should you change breasts during one feeding, even if there is an assumption that the baby has eaten everything. The fact is that the baby can pump several more flushes of mother's milk. Moreover, later the milk will be more satisfying and nutritious.

If the child is fed formula, you can offer him a pacifier. But babies who are fed breast milk will most likely not accept the pacifier. Although, you can try to trick the baby by dipping the pacifier in breast milk. Not for long, but the baby will try the pacifier. Under no circumstances should it be used for such a procedure. This product can cause allergies in a child.

You can try to distract the baby or simply keep his hands busy. For example, play with the child, give him toys that develop motor skills. Children usually enjoy playing with clay or special bags filled with cereals.

In cases where a child puts his hands into his mouth to scratch his gums, teethers will come to the rescue. Pharmacies and children's stores offer a wide range of similar products. They come in a variety of shapes and from a variety of materials. Cooling teethers are widely popular because they can relieve irritation from the gums.

Most mothers react absolutely calmly to the fact that the child sucks his thumb, and are not going to interfere with it. They quite correctly believe that if a child receives enough attention from his parents, he will soon give up this habit. In infancy, a child should communicate a lot with mom and dad. You need to play with him, talk to him, and pick him up. The baby should not lie alone in the crib.

Unacceptable measures

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In order to prevent irreparable mistakes when weaning a baby from thumb sucking, the following measures should under no circumstances be used:

Using diapers to wrap your baby's arms and legs. Young parents use this method quite often, but it is absolutely useless. As soon as the baby feels freedom of action, the fingers will be in the mouth again;
Smearing the hands with substances that have a bitter taste. Firstly, substances with bitter tastes, for example, pepper, mustard, can irritate the mucous membrane of a child’s mouth or, even worse, the walls of the stomach. Secondly, as soon as the unpleasant taste disappears, the baby will take up his favorite activity with greater vigor;
There should be no reprimands or punishments for pen sucking. These are unacceptable methods of raising a child. Punishment for such a habit will inevitably entail serious disorders of the child’s psyche.

The above methods of dealing with fingers in the mouth will not help achieve the expected result. They are more likely to complicate the situation and cause the baby’s whims and protest to the demands of mom and dad. Moreover, thumb sucking will become the most effective method of calming a child.

Doctor's opinion

The famous doctor also has his own opinion about the problem under consideration. Komarovsky believes that hand sucking is, first of all, a problem for the parents, not the baby. After all, quite often young mothers are pointed out to the “wrong” actions of her child. But if you don’t focus on such a habit, it goes away by itself.

Many babies calm down in this way and help themselves fall asleep faster. And no one sees these actions except mom and dad.

When weaning a baby from the habit of sucking fingers, you need to act carefully. The main goal of mom and dad is not to harm the psycho-emotional state of the baby. It is important to remember that a child may start sucking fingers due to lack of parental attention. First of all, you must always determine the reasons for the development of such addiction and only then decide on ways to combat it.

The new issue of Educational Program is dedicated to a very common problem that young parents face (because children do not consider this a problem). This article will talk about thumb sucking, how this habit is formed, what it means and when you should start to worry about its presence.

So, the child sucks his thumb. This is fine?

Yes, it is normal. In addition to humans, chimpanzees and lemurs have also been observed engaging in thumb sucking. Children begin sucking their fingers in the womb and then continue to do so once they are born. Therefore, thumb sucking is a completely natural action for a baby. Moreover, often he does not even notice that he has put a finger or fingers in his mouth - it is so common for him, woven into the picture of the world. And the recent study , conducted in New Zealand, found that thumb sucking can help reduce a child's risk of allergic reactions because constant exposure to bacteria stimulates the immune system.

Why does the child even do this?

Sucking in a child’s life is divided into two types: nutritional and nonnutritive. The first, as the name suggests, is necessary to ensure that the baby is full (that is, sucking on the breast or a bottle with formula). The second is to calm down, cheer up, relax, fall asleep or recover from stress or impressions.

Pacifiers and fingers are designed to satisfy the sucking reflex in a non-nutritive form (in the first weeks of life, the breast can also act as a nipple, this is also normal). It is believed that thumb sucking is more physiological than sucking any, even the most sophisticated pacifier. In addition, advanced pediatricians do not recommend offering silicone breast and finger substitutes until the 28th day of a child’s life, so as not to disrupt the development of lactation.

However, compared to a pacifier, fingers have one significant drawback - they are always freely available, so the process of sucking on them can turn into a bad habit.

When should a child stop thumb sucking?

If the child is healthy and developing well, he should self-wean from his favorite finger at 2-4 years. If the child has already stopped sucking his fingers, but then returned to this habit, you need to analyze the events that preceded this regression. It is normal if the beginning of a new cycle of thumb sucking coincides with the period of adaptation to kindergarten, a move, the child getting a nanny, parents’ divorce, and other major events.

Is thumb sucking associated with psychological problems in children?

As mentioned above, thumb sucking is normal for a young child. During the first year of life, 75 percent of all children suck their fingers with varying degrees of intensity. And this, of course, does not mean that they all experience some kind of psychological difficulties. “Even if thumb sucking persists beyond infancy, it does not indicate that the child has emotional problems and is not a warning sign that the child will continue to suck thumbs into adolescence,” says a psychiatrist at the New York School of Medicine. York University Sabine Hack.

However, do not forget that finger sucking can cause communication difficulties for a child. Some children quite seriously refuse to play and talk (for example, in kindergarten) with babies who suck their fingers instead of drawing and running around the group screaming with joy.

Is it true that thumb sucking negatively affects a child's dental health?

Some specialists consider that at an early age - up to 4 years - there is nothing wrong with a child sucking his thumb. Other doctors, in particular, representatives of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and some Russian pediatricians, are of the opinion about finger sucking bad influence on bite formation, jaw development, diction and speech development.

Only his parents and doctors who observe him can assess the situation with a particular child. If you think that thumb sucking has caused a change in the shape or position of a small child's teeth, you should definitely show him or her to a specialist. It is also necessary to contact a pediatrician if you understand that thumb sucking has turned into an obsessive movement, and if it continues at the age of 6-8 years, when there is an intensive replacement of milk teeth with molars - in this case, thumb sucking is absolutely dangerous and can lead to significant changes in bite and tooth shape.

But in most cases, when the intensity of thumb sucking fades gradually, nothing terrible happens in the child's mouth.

What if the sucking has already caused calluses on his fingers?

Calluses and small “abrasions” from thumb sucking may be painless and not cause any discomfort to the child. To moisturize rough areas of skin, apply baby cream to the child's hands while he is sleeping (carrying out a similar procedure while awake risks the cream quickly ending up in the child's mouth).

When calluses bleed, they not only cause discomfort to the child, but are also a source of infection, so it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the skin of the baby’s hands, who have not yet gotten rid of the habit of sucking fingers.

How to properly wean a child from thumb sucking?

First of all, you need to remember and take as a basis your tactics gentleness and the absence of any violent actions, including threats, physical punishment, screaming and other unpleasant methods of influence. Since thumb sucking is directly related to a feeling of psychological comfort, after your scandals the child will look for it, and will begin to put his hands in his mouth with much greater zeal and intensity.
WITH you should do the opposite: do not scold, but praise the child when he himself decides not to suck his fingers in a situation where he usually does it (for example, falling asleep or playing with a soft toy). Positive reinforcement techniques work much more effectively than punishment.

His favorite toys and characters from fairy tales and cartoons can also help a child give up a bad habit - talk to him and explain that they do not put their hands (paws) in their mouth because they have become very big and know how to do without it. In addition, negotiations can help your child feel like an adult, within the framework of which you will come to an agreement that allows the possibility of putting your hands in your mouth: you can suck your fingers only before going to bed, but not on the street or during games.
Try to minimize the number of situations that trigger thumb sucking. During the period of weaning from a bad habit, the child should feel calm and confident that you are nearby and will not scream like a vixen if he breaks down.
Do not mix warm with soft. In the sense that if you are now teaching a child to use a potty, you do not need to wean him off thumb sucking at the same time, this is too much stress on the psyche (and physics).
If your child is already speaking well, help him express his feelings in words, thus distracting him from the thought of putting his finger in his mouth as soon as possible. And be sure to ask if he notices that he sucks his thumb - many children do not even realize how this happens. Such markers in space and time will help the baby understand that he is performing an action that they are trying to wean him from.
Do not encourage cessation of thumb sucking with sweets, cartoons, video games and other not so healthy things. So you simply risk replacing one bad habit with another.

What to do if no amount of persuasion, fairy tales or jokes help a child get rid of the habit of thumb sucking?

Modern Russian pediatric dentists believe that thumb sucking can be considered a bad habit if it continues after one and a half to two years. And if during this period it was not possible to wean the child from thumb sucking using methods of persuasion, encouragement and fairy tale therapy, then special devices can come to the aid of parents (and these should not be homemade gadgets - silicone finger pads, ordinary woolen gloves, bandages on the fingers will only lead to attacks rage).

There are several modern inventions for weaning a child from thumb sucking:

— the vestibular plate is a kind of hybrid of a pacifier and a protective mouthguard; The point is that the plate prevents the tongue from getting between the upper and lower incisors and thus maintains the correct bite. The orthodontist selects the plate depending on the age of the child and the severity of the situation.

— the silicone attachment on the thumb looks intimidating, but the manufacturers claim that the child is quite comfortable wearing such a bracelet (although, as parental practice shows, not everyone agrees to wear it), which kills the whole thrill of sucking, creating a small gap between the finger and the attachment and preventing the appearance of a vacuum in the mouth. Among the disadvantages, many parents note the fact that under the nozzle the finger sweats, and you have to do ventilation using an awl or some other similar object that you probably have lying around on your balcony. Which is a bit of a shame, considering that such a device costs an average of 2,000 rubles.

Why can't you just put mustard on your child's fingers so that he finally stops sucking them?

Because it is simply cruel and ineffective. This pulls the rug out from under the child who believes that putting his finger in his mouth is not doing anything bad. Why you decided to punish him like this, he will not be able to understand, since the stress will be too strong to even understand anything.