Thumb sucking is a common habit among young children. However, it can become a problem as they get older. Thumb sucking can create an overbite and lead parents into paying for braces and other dental fees. If your child sucks their thumb, you can step in and stop the habit. Check out our guide on how to encourage kids to stop thumb sucking.

Use Positive Reinforcement

You can praise and reward your child when they don’t suck their thumb. Set attainable goals and offer small incentives for not thumb sucking. For example, if your child goes the whole afternoon without sucking their thumb, you can reward them with extra playtime or their favorite treat. Ultimately, you want to find ways to encourage your child to stop thumb sucking.

Keep Their Hands Occupied

Keeping your child’s hands busy is one of the best ways to prevent thumb sucking. When your child is doing an activity like arts and crafts or playing sports, they can’t suck their thumb. Although it’s impossible to keep your child distracted all the time, you can find ways to keep their hands occupied often. If you’re interested in some activities, here are a few:

  • Baking
  • Bike riding
  • Playing with toys
  • Playing board games
  • Writing

Offer Gentle Reminders

Sometimes, children suck their thumbs without thought, making it a common habit. You can offer gentle reminders that make your child aware of thumb sucking. Although a swift command like “take your thumb out of your mouth” or “stop doing that” may seem effective, it can startle kids and make them feel ridiculed. Instead, you can create subtle hand signals that your child understands. You can use them to communicate that they need to stop sucking their thumb.

Be Patient With Your Child

Thumb sucking is a habit that won’t change overnight. Therefore, it’s essential to be patient with your child and start at a good time. One of the top mistakes parents make when dealing with their child’s thumb sucking is starting too soon. Sometimes, children wean themselves off thumb sucking before it becomes an issue. It’s important to be patient during your child’s journey.

Thumb sucking is a common habit among children, but it can become a problem. Thumb sucking can create an overbite and lead to expensive dental fees. If your child sucks their thumb, always refer to our guide on how to encourage kids to stop thumb sucking for helpful suggestions.