{"id":242,"date":"2022-02-04T03:02:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T03:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.belchertown-dentist.com\/blog\/?p=242"},"modified":"2022-03-26T03:02:59","modified_gmt":"2022-03-26T03:02:59","slug":"tips-to-help-your-child-stop-thumb-sucking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.belchertown-dentist.com\/blog\/tips-to-help-your-child-stop-thumb-sucking\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Help My Child End Their Thumb-Sucking Habit?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When a child sucks a pacifier or their thumb, it\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, these are great coping mechanisms for infants to comfort themselves. Once a child reaches a certain age, however, problems begin to arise as their oral cavity is developing and teeth are growing in. During Children\u2019s Dental Health Month, keep reading to learn from your children\u2019s dentist in Belchertown<\/a> about how thumb-sucking can affect your child and what you can do to help them stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Do Children Suck Their Thumbs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your infant starts sucking their thumb or is only appeased when you put a pacifier in their mouth, you\u2019re not doing anything wrong! They\u2019re actually born with an instinct to do this, and it\u2019s a completely healthy and natural habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You shouldn\u2019t keep them from doing it either, because thumb-sucking can be an early tool to help them cope when they\u2019re away from you in order to feel safe and comfortable. A physician-conducted study even found that you can reduce your child\u2019s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by offering them a pacifier whenever they nap or sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Does a Child Need to Stop Thumb Sucking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s safe to say thumb-sucking and pacifier use isn\u2019t harmful to infants. However, once your child is 3-4 years old, you\u2019ll want to start encouraging them to break the habit. At this point, their mouth will be in its key development stage. The constant intense, forceful suction from this habit can cause their oral cavity to develop with a misaligned bite or jutted-out teeth, which will require serious orthodontic intervention down the road. It can also lead to narrowed airways that can make breathing difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Help Wean My Child from Sucking Their Thumb or a Pacifier?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few different ways you can help wean your child from their pacifier or thumb, depending on which they prefer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n