It is such a common occurrence in children that it has been estimated that almost half of children between the ages of two and seven suck their thumb. In the first months of life, this proportion increases even more.
What is this about?
Psychologists and pedagogues agree that this fact is a way to reduce small emotional tensions and also a way to provide well-being.
In the first weeks of life, the baby sucks her thumb to overcome the separation from her mother. After the year, other emotional support points will attract more the child's attention.
From the age of two, there are psychologists who consider it worrying, since it responds to a series of tensions that should already be overcome by the child. However, others claim that maintaining this habit will not cause them any type of future psychological problem and that they will be normal adults.
There are children who continue to do it until they are very old or practice it again at some point in their life, for example, when they have a brother, which can cause emotional insecurity that translates into this type of regressive behavior such as thumb sucking or peeing .
Specialists recommend using techniques that help modify this behavior. One of those that has given the most results in these cases is to positively reinforce the child, rewarding him when he acts appropriately and stimulating him to stop sucking his thumb.
What complications can arise?
The usual posture of thumb sucking by holding the nose with the index finger puts strong pressure on the upper incisors, causing them to lean forward. As a consequence, it can generate muscular imbalances that later translate into incorrect dental positions.
One of the causes that can cause the child to put his finger in his mouth can be boredom. They do not have anything to distract themselves, they usually automatically take their finger to their mouth, so it is advisable to provide some distractions where they preferably use their hands and are distracted while playing and forget to put their finger in their mouth.
It happens that by continually forcing one or more teeth out of place, the rest of the teeth become disordered, causing problems that can even lead to deviation of the jaw.
The consequence is that the affected child will need corrective appliances or perhaps the extraction of a tooth. In severe cases surgery is required.
If the child sucks her thumb very occasionally and sporadically, no action is necessary. You only have to worry if you do it continuously from the age of two.
It should be noted that it is not good to scold the child, or pressure him with punishment. It is more feasible to try to break the habit by distracting your attention so that you remove your finger from your mouth. At night when he is asleep, it is very useful to put your hand under the pillow or also tell them stories or read comics before sleeping to prevent him from falling asleep sucking his thumb.
There are some pediatricians who recommend the use of a training pacifier. However, others do not agree with this substitution.
A child who has habitually sucked his thumb should be seen by a specialized dentist around the age of seven, which is the age at which teeth change. He must say what are the measures to be taken and make the corrections using the necessary devices.
This is a habit that we must correct in children as soon as possible, thus preventing them from reaching adulthood by sucking their thumb.
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