What Do You Do If You Want to suck your Thumb?

Answer 1

Newborns suck their thumbs as part of the suckle (sucking) reflex. If a baby cannot suck, it cannot get nourishment and without medical intervention, the baby would die. As a newborn ages, a baby sucks because hand-mouth exploration is one of the primary ways babies explore their world and learn. Babies may even try to suck their toes! As babies learn to scoot, then crawl, then stand and walk, they ignore their toes for sucking but still return to their thumb when hungry, tired, frustrated, or need self-comforting. Now, they don't need the suckle-reflex but sucking the thumb lingers because it is comforting. By 2-3 years old, toddlers typically stop sucking their thumbs, but many still do until pre-pre-school at age 4. Still many 4-year olds return to the thumb when very stressed. Children who persist in thumb-sucking may need adults to help them to stop. However, many kids still periodically suck a thumb once in a while even up to age 8-9 years old. But by then, kids realize their friends will make fun of them. Between social milestones and peer pressure along with parental guidance, most kids stop thumb-sucking without problem before age 4. If you are in grade school and still suck your thumb sometimes, try putting a band-aid around the thumb as a reminder to stop. Kids who suck thumbs beyond age 4 can mess up the alignment of their teeth, pushing the top teeth forward like Bugs Bunny. This often requires braces later to correct tooth alignment. So whatever you can do now to stop will help you in the long run.

Answer 2

If you decide that thumb sucking is for you, first you'll need to come to terms with the fact that it isn't (yet) a socially acceptable behavior and, when you habitualize it, you may indulge at times that may prove awkward in that regard. Of course, if you decided to suck your thumb, you already realize that there are some advantages to this habit also.

I'd suggest doing it during the times that it is most enjoyable: bed time, while watching a movie or the television, and while reading. Try to do it for at least 1 hour each day in order to facilitate its habituation.

After a time of one to three months thumb sucking will develope a more natural feel to it and it will blossom into something quite enjoyable and even relaxing.

The main thing is to not stop so that it will become your habit. At that point you won't have to think about what to do when you want to suck your thumb; you'll just do it.

Answer 3

It can deform the teeth and also promotes infection.