Pacifiers / Thumbsucking

Does your child use a pacifier, or suck his/her thumb? How often do they rely on it for comfort or habit? And how long do you let them us it?

We have experienced both the pacifier and thumbsucking situations. It was a long journey to be successful at breaking our son of thumbsucking. We did intermittently use a medicine. It wasn't the cure-all, but did help...along with being very persistent at reminding our son that we didn't want him to suck his thumb anymore. And even though he was under 6 we discussed with him the possible effects to his teeth. Did he understand? Probably not...but it did make him feel a little more grown up, and involved :-)

Our girls used pacifiers, and around 12 months we stopped them cold turkey. It only took a few days/nights of extra comfort & distractions from us and they were over it.

I definitely believe that the longer you wait, the harder it is. The longer a habit is ongoing, the longer the cure. Also, as a child gets older & starts attending pre-school, kids may start to tease. Trust me...kids can be cruel about anything and everything. Make the cure as positive for all involved. As a parent you may need all the patience you can grab hold of.

Finally...make sure all caregivers for your child know the situation and the rules/instructions involved. This includes both parents, older siblings, day care providers, and especially Grandparents ;-)

From the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry:

Most children stop sucking on thumbs, pacifiers or other objects on their own between two and four years of age. No harm is done to their teeth or jaws. However, some children repeatedly suck on a finger, pacifier or other object over long periods of time. In these children, the upper front teeth may tip toward the lip or not come in properly.

How can you help your child break the habit?

Excessive pressure can do more harm than good. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Instead of scolding your child for sucking, offer praise for not sucking.
• Remember that children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or seeking comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety instead of the thumbsucking, and comfort your child.
• Reward children when they avoid sucking during difficult periods, such as being separated from their parents.
• If your child is older, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping.
• Your dentist can encourage children to stop sucking and explain what could happen to teeth if they do not stop.
• If these approaches do not work, remind your child of the habit by bandaging the thumb or putting a sock over the hand at night. Your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe either the use of a mouth appliance or a bitter medication to coat the thumb.

From WebMD:

Usually, treatment can be done at home and includes parents setting rules and providing distractions. It may be helpful to limit the times and places that your child is allowed to suck his or her thumb and to put away blankets or other items your child associates with thumb-sucking. Offering praise and rewards for not thumb-sucking may also help your child break the habit. As your child matures, usually around age 5, he or she may be able to take a more active role in treatment.

• Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking.
• Put gloves on your child's hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.
• Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar or otherwise recording each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.
• Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting nail coating, such as Thum. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.

Please share your experiences ~ it may help others who are currently going thru this.