Thumb Sucking : When to Interfere and How to Break the Habit

Some babies start sucking their thumb days after birth. Even though this habit is very common and provides a soothing effect to babies, many parents often get concerned and irritated with their little one's thumb sucking habit and become worried and confused about the right time to intervene.

According to health experts at the Mayo Clinic, many  babies start sucking their thumbs when they feel tired, anxious or bored, and there is nothing to  be worried about the habit, as many children stop it themselves when they become 2 to 4 years of age. Peer pressure can prove to be effective when kids continue the habit at school. However, parents should intervene when the kid:

* Continues the habit after age four

* When thumb sucking starts affecting teeth position

* When the kid starts displaying discomfort due to his/her habit

Following are some tips from Mayo Clinic to deal with this problem:

* Try to ignore it - Some kids start thumb sucking to draw attention. Ignoring will help in stopping the habit.

* Adopt positive methods - Motivate the kid to stop thumb sucking by offering small rewards. Avoid applying vinegar on the thumb or similar methods to discourage the kid from sucking.

* Try to identify the reason behind thumb sucking - If the child is sucking his/her thumb to manage stress, parents can solve this problem by comforting them with soft words or hugs.

* Convince the child through reminders - Never scold or criticize. To get attention, children often suck thumbs automatically. So, parents can put an end to this behavior through frequent reminders.

* Consult a dentist, as kids are more likely to listen and give more importance to their words. Dentists can also help install a special mouth guard or other appliances that obstruct the sucking process.