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A habit that can seem very cute, especially in newborn babies. But that can continue to occur throughout its growth and later present problems for the child, the act of sucking the finger can begin to occur from the belly.
It is common for mothers to report that on ultrasound during pregnancy, the fetus appeared sucking on their little finger or hand. This is because babies have a very strong sucking reflex , and tend to want to suck whatever is easy and close to their mouths. This is part of breastfeeding training , which is their main food and what will be part of their survival in the first period of life. But it is also natural for this reflex to disappear over time, at around 4 months of the baby, not doing it on its own. Some end up continuing this habit, even using it at bedtime and associating it with a way of calming down or welcoming, then it may be the beginning of a problem.
Sucking a finger can create several problems for child development. If it persists throughout the child’s growth, it can interfere with dental positioning, which will cause the development of crooked teeth . Another very common problem in this case is to develop damage to the bones of the face, especially the jaw that end up suffering pressure with the sucking of the finger, which is usually the thumb that presses the roof of the mouth. The even bigger problem in this case, in addition to all the disorders that can occur due to the habit of sucking a finger, is the parents’ difficulty to remove this mania from the child. If it is already difficult to remove the pacifier, imagine the finger that is there and easily accessible at any time the child wants.
How to Make the Child Stop Sucking His Finger?
This will be a difficult and complicated task, especially if the child is older and has followed this habit for years, since birth. Observing will be the first step, to know where to start and how to act in the face of this change that should occur. Checking when and how the child sucks his finger is the second step. Some use this habit only for sleeping. Others put their fingers in their mouths to relieve some stress or sadness. Being so automatic that they can’t even notice when they’re doing it. The essential thing is to find out the reason why you act this way, to find the best way to get rid of this addiction.
In the case of babies, some pediatricians indicate that the parents offer a pacifier as an exchange . Passing the addiction of sucking the finger to suck the pacifier. Although not the best idea, because the pacifier is also harmful to the development of teeth. The pacifier is easier to withdraw and control the use at certain times. For older adults in the 4 to 6 year olds, talking and stimulating may be the best medicine.
Congratulate when he doesn’t or can develop a reward scheme for every day he can sleep without needing to suck his finger. Show him that it is possible to do what he is used to without having to use his finger. If you suck your finger to calm down, to sleep, to watch television, you can create another habit. Who knows how to hold a stuffed animal or a pet blanket?
Some parents use the tactic of covering the finger, either with a bandage , an id band or even a band. The fact that the finger is not “so available” will cause a certain rejection in the child. But above all the tactics used for the little one to let go of the thumb sucking habit, it is essential that you talk to him. No matter what age or age group you are, parents should expose why they are not doing well and why they should stop.
The child will not give up the habit of sucking the finger if he does not want to. Some due to the parents’ demand to remove the finger from the mouth end up continuing and giving more emphasis to the addiction for pure tantrum. What instead of helping, further accentuates the problem. Therefore, dialogue, patience and a lot of creativity will be essential to resolve this situation.
See also: Worms in Children – What to do?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
