How to Stop Thumbsucking

If your child sucks his thumb, he's not alone. Thumbsucking is a common behavior among children because it soothes and comforts, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most children outgrow their thumbsucking habit by the time they start school, but older children might continue the habit long into their school years. To prevent mouth and teeth damage, however, it's essential to address the thumbsucking issue to both stop the behavior and help him find alternate ways to soothe and comfort himself.

Instructions

    • 1

      Give your child a gentle reminder to stop sucking his thumb when you see him pop it in his mouth. Perhaps you could simply say, "thumb," or give him the thumbs-up signal to remind him not to suck on it.

    • 2

      Reward your child when he doesn't suck his thumb. For example, if he tends to suck his thumb while he's watching television, make it a point to praise him if he watches his favorite show without sucking his thumb. Stickers and high-fives are additional rewards many children respond to.

    • 3

      Distract your child with other activities. Do a puzzle together, take a trip to the playground or read a good book. When your child is engaged in other activities, he's less likely to suck his thumb. Over time, he'll get used to not sucking his thumb and will be less likely to do it in the future.

    • 4

      Give your child something else to soothe or comfort him. If your child tends to suck his thumb in stressful situations, having a comfort object other than his thumb can help. Let him choose a new stuffed animal to hold or give him a small pillow to squeeze when he gets nervous.

    • 5

      Take your child to the dentist and allow the dentist to show him what thumb-sucking can do to his teeth. This visual representation of what his smile could look like can be motivating enough for older children to work harder at stopping the sucking habit.

    • 6

      Ignore the thumb-sucking. In the case of older children, peer pressure is often all it takes to stop the behavior. By ignoring it and letting nature take its course, you are reaching your goal of having your child stop sucking his thumb, but you're also giving him the control to get it done.

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