This is how to stop the habit of thumb sucking in children

Does Little Love thumb sucking? Actually thumb sucking is a natural thing to do children under the age of 2 years. But be careful, Mother. If allowed to drag on, thumb sucking can have a negative impact on your child. Thumb sucking is actually one of the stages of child development. This is usually done by Little to calm down in the face of a situation. Generally, this habit will begin to decrease at the age of 2-4 years.

The Impact of Letting a Child Suck Thumb Habits

Although relatively reasonable, but it is recommended not to let this habit drag on, especially if your child is more than 4 years old. The habit of thumb sucking can bring various negative impacts on your child, especially in the oral cavity, such as:

The upper front teeth are uneven

This can occur because the habit of sucking the thumb increases the pressure in the upper jaw during growth, resulting in changes in shape or structure in the upper jaw.

Bucktoothed

If this continues until baby teeth are removed and adult teeth (permanent teeth) grow, this thumb-sucking habit will increase the risk of your little one having hooked teeth.

Lisp

The structure of the uneven upper front teeth can also change the shape of the jaw, thus affecting the child's speech. Little will probably sound slurred in saying some consonantal letters, such as S and Z. Some children can also have a more sensitive palate because of this habit. In addition, if your hands or nails are not clean, dirt and germs that cause disease can enter his body when he thumbs.

How to stop the habit of thumb sucking

In some children, the habit of thumb sucking will indeed stop on its own. However, Mother and Father still need to help him stop this habit as early as possible, to prevent the various negative effects that have been described above. So that your child can immediately stop the habit of thumb sucking, do the following steps:

1. Find out the cause

First, find out in advance the cause. Usually children suck their thumbs to express feelings of worry or when they are bored. Mother and Father can hug Little to give a sense of calm and comfort when he feels worried. Also teach your child other ways to reduce tension or fear, for example listening to music or taking deep breaths. But if the reason your little one sucks his thumb out of boredom, give him a hand toy to hold.

2. Give a gift

Giving a gift to a child can be one way to motivate him to stop this habit. Prizes given do not have to be in the form of goods, but can also be in the form of relaxed rules. For example, your little one can play in the park if you don't manage to suck your thumb for a day.

3. Give a time limit

For children who are already old enough, Mother and Father can provide a time limit for children in thumb sucking. For example, your little one can only suck thumbs in the afternoon or afternoon. With so little will stop the habit Small.

4. Give it understanding

Give your child an understanding of the dangers of thumb sucking. Explain patiently to Little that thumb sucking can have a negative impact on his health. But remember, do it in a way that fits the stage of age, Mother and Father. For children aged 2 years, Mother and Father can explain it with very simple sentences and use interesting images.

5. Give gloves

If necessary, parents can also wear Little Gloves. This will make him feel uncomfortable when sucking the thumb, so he will slowly stop the habit. Do not forget to praise the Little One if he can resist the urge to suck the thumb. That way, he will be motivated to stop sucking his thumb. It is not easy to stop the habit of thumb sucking, but Mother and Father must not give up and must remain patient. Teach children to calm down in a healthier way, rather than thumb sucking. If your little one is still sucking on the thumb, you should consult with your pediatrician or psychologist to get the right way to stop this habit.