Dangerous Baby Habits: Tips On How Parents Can Stop These Behaviors

Thumb sucking and picky eating are some of the most common habits of babies. They may appear harmless but experts warn that these behaviors can give lasting negative effects on the child's health.

Babies and toddlers typically suck their thumbs or fingers as a way to soothe themselves. The habit, however, becomes harmful when the sucking gets too intense to the point that a baby's jaw growth is affected, according to Fox News.

Thumb sucking can make a baby's upper jaw develop narrowly, which then leads to a crossbite or an overbite. The habit can also make the upper teeth become flared and the lower teeth pushed backwards.

Children usually grow out of thumb sucking on their own between two and four years old, BabyCenter wrote. Peer pressure is often the cause of them letting go of the habit, or they find other ways to calm themselves.

If a child's thumb sucking gets too vigorous, parents can use a special nail polish that tastes bitter and use a cotton glove or a finger guard. Kids can also be encouraged to give up the habit when parents praise them for not doing it.

Hanging onto a bottle also does harm to a child, especially when he/she is allowed to sleep with a bottle in his/her mouth. This habit can cause cavities and tooth decay.

BabyCenter noted that the habit can also increase a child's dependence on the bottle to go to sleep. As replacements, parents can introduce other nighttime comfort objects to a child such as a teddy bear, a soft blanket, or a tiny pillow.

Picky eating, on the other hand, can make a child miss out on foods' contribution to his/her growth and development. To stop this behavior, parents can introduce a pea-sized amount of new foods to a toddler and ask the child what the food looks, smells and feels like.

Dr. Dina Rose, author of "It's Not About the Broccoli: Three Habits to Teach Your Kids for a Lifetime of Healthy Eating," said that this trick can teach kids about food from a sensory perspective instead from a nutrition angle. The former can be more interesting for children.

Teeth grinding or bruxism usually happens when children are stressed out or anxious, or when new teeth are appearing. Fox News reported that kids who grind their teeth are more prone to being withdrawn from people and encounter issues in school. When a child's grinding becomes too severe, parents can take him/her to a dentist for a mouth guard.

Does your child have any of these habits? What do you do to make him/her stop? Tell us below.