Why does a child suck his thumb - a bad habit or an unsatisfied reflex? How to wean a child to suck a finger: causes and ways to deal with a bad habit

A baby sucking his thumb is not a rare sight. For the first time, future parents can see her on an ultrasound scan: many kids “entertain” themselves in this way in their mother’s stomach. True, over time, the fact that a child sucks a finger causes more a little anxiety than tenderness. Let's find out together when this cute prank turns into bad habit what is behind this behavior of the child and what should parents do so that the child stops putting his fingers in his mouth.

What does the baby dream about while sucking his finger?

The whole life of a newborn child is controlled by instincts and. These are such behavioral programs laid down by nature that help an immature creature survive in big world. Any action performed by the child is a signal for the mother. The needs of the baby are not so many. The child wants to be: dry and warm, full, safe, to be loved, accepted and glad to see him.

Children most often report problems of physical comfort with loud crying (), but if the baby constantly sucks thumb- Mom should “walk” through the remaining points.

Causes of thumb sucking

Where do reflexes end and problems begin?

1 year

Thumb-sucking babies are rarely alarming in adults. Much more problematic is the situation when the child is a year old, and he sucks his thumb. Parents of one-year-old children, too, can still relate to a similar problem without much fear. At this age, sucking continues to be a reflex, and an unwanted habit can be eliminated if the cause is correctly understood and an attempt is made to eliminate it.

2 years

With two-year-olds, the situation is somewhat more serious. If a child at 2 years old continues to suck his thumb, parents should think about the psychological well-being of the baby. Behind such behavior can be fears, anxieties, insecurity in oneself and in one's loved ones, attachment trauma, and many other reasons that have psychological roots.

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Weaning the baby to suck his thumb: do "one", do "two"

How older child, the deeper are the causes of his "sucking" problem. This means that parents will have to make more efforts to eliminate bad habits.

In order not to aggravate the situation, it is better to respond to the very first “symptoms”. Even for those who are still faced with this problem, it is useful to know how to wean a child from sucking his thumb. This knowledge will help to take preventive measures and save the whole family from worries.

Do not deprive the child if there are no serious obstacles to this (severe illness of the mother, taking drugs that are not compatible with feeding). Breast for a child is not only mother's milk but also safety, security, mother's affection and love.
Give up pacifiers and other "mom substitutes" (). Offer your baby a breast for literally every squeak. It is well known that infants who are breastfed on demand have no problem sucking their fingers as their sucking reflex is fully satisfied.
Protect your baby from unnecessary stress. The rule "calm mom - calm child' works flawlessly. Remember that for a newborn child, the mother is his whole world, so you should not overload the baby with new impressions, acquaintances, information. Just be always there, be responsive to his needs. All tensions and conflicts should remain outside the house where there is a child.
With an older baby who hasn't suckled for a long time, increase the amount of physical contact. Gentle hugs, kisses, invitations “on the hands”, joint wallowing in bed, reading a fairy tale on mom’s lap - all this brings the child very close and fills him with a feeling self-importance for an adult.
Stock up on rubber "rodent teeth" for teething. It is better to anticipate the desire of the child to suck his thumb, showing that there are more for these purposes. interesting items. Let these useful toys will always be at hand.
Restrain negative reactions to a child who sucks his thumb. In public, you can safely remove the pen from your mouth, distract. At home, it is best to actively deal with the causes. Just imagine: the child is already bad, he is trying to cope with his stress as best he can, and his beloved mother scolds him for this, driving him into even more stress.

Here, see another way:

What to refrain from while weaning crumbs from sucking fingers?

Using these methods will only lead to the whims of the baby.

Seeing your baby on the screen using an ultrasound machine is happiness for every mother. And if the baby sucks her tiny finger, then there is no limit to tenderness. What to do if this habit migrates from mother's tummy to conscious life? Should I be worried? How to wean a child to suck his thumb? Or wait until it all goes away? About this - in our today's article.

From this article you will learn

Reasons for thumb sucking

With the birth of a baby, his reflexes and instincts are born. Many of them are quite understandable to mom: crying - wants to eat or it's time to change a diaper, rubs her eyes - it's time to sleep. Why does a baby suck his thumb? There are several reasons for this:

And in this short video pediatrician Yulia Rogozina will tell you about the main causes of thumb sucking and how to get rid of this habit.

Age features

Babies under 1 year old

If the baby sucks his finger, then this is the influence of a still strong sucking reflex. It manifests itself more significantly than usual, with tension and stressful situations. This habit can occur during weaning.

Poor or disturbed sleep gives rise to fatigue that does not go away in order to somehow help himself - the child calms himself by sucking. Take a closer look at your baby, check if he is sleeping for the hours he is supposed to. It is worth adjusting the daily routine, as this habit will disappear by itself.

From 1 year to 3 years

At this age, if the child still puts his finger in his mouth, then we can talk about psychological reasons. Catalysts can be: a tense situation in the house, strict upbringing, absence tactile contact with parents.

Getting used to the garden is a moment that rarely passes without tears and fears, help your baby to adapt gently and painlessly. Before weaning a child at this age from an already bad habit, it is worth getting to the bottom of the origins of its appearance.

Children 3-5 years old

The first fears appear - the darkness, dogs, cartoon characters. A large number of incoming information can cause emotional overload. Often, babies are either afraid to tell adults about their experiences, or suffer from something unconsciously.

In these cases, it is worth talking about obsessive behavior, which is expressed in thumb sucking. Weaning from a bad habit will be difficult, you need to choose gentle methods of struggle.

Over 5 years old

If a five-year-old child is seen sucking his thumb, then this is a reason to be wary and seek help from professionals. Often in such situations, one can observe winding hair around a finger, biting nails, scratching the skin, and even an obsessive cough.

All this indicates the presence of neurological or psychological problems (for example, hidden aggression, suppressed emotions of resentment or guilt), which need to be addressed as quickly as possible, otherwise they can lead to psychosomatic illnesses.

At what age does your child suck his thumb?

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Harmful or not

Entering the body of pathogenic viruses, germs and worms, dangerous for work gastrointestinal tract in particular and health in general.
Due to the constant exposure of the teeth, gums and saliva to the skin of the hands cracks, blisters, abrasions may appear. The infection introduced into them can provoke inflammation of the tissues. There is a possibility of deformation of the nails.
Problems with socialization. Giggles and mockery in the direction of a child sucking a finger are provided, and new stress will only add a reason for a bad habit.
The formation of a malocclusion will entail impaired pronunciation of sounds.

What absolutely cannot be done

Fix hands. Many parents go so far as to put special bracelets on their child's hands or, even worse, use mittens. Is it worth talking about psychological consequences binding? Psychosomatics and treatment of neuroses in the future are guaranteed.
Hit on the hands. assault, even if mild form, will not bring any benefit, but will only add new problems: removal from parents → fear of punishment → immersion in oneself → isolation.
Smear your hands with something tasteless. In no case should you smear mustard on your hands, hot pepper, soap. All these products, once on the delicate mucous membrane, will cause a burn.
Pull your hand out of your mouth on your own. If you yourself pull the baby's hand out of the mouth, then the child may perceive this as fun game and get your attention in this way even more often.

Weaning from a bad habit

Watch the video in which child psychologist, perinatal psychologist Natalia Movchan talks in great detail about how to overcome the habit of thumb sucking in children of different ages.

From the previous paragraph it is clear that if you adopt "grandmother's" methods, then you can easily harm both psychological and moral. To get rid of the “habit of putting everything in your mouth”, you must, firstly, find the reason why this finger strives to find a secluded place. And secondly, you need to act according to the age of the child.

Children under 2 years old

The age at which the sucking reflex gradually fades. The method of struggle will depend on the feeding option.

If it's breastfeeding, then it is necessary to provide the child with access to the breast on demand. You should not follow the opinion that it is enough to spend 10 minutes at the chest to saturate. Extend the feeding time as much as your baby wishes.

Important! If you offer two breasts for one feeding, then give the second only after half an hour. So you will be sure that the baby is full, got to the rear fat milk and satisfied his sucking reflex. Let him fall asleep at your chest.

Weaning should take place delicately, preferably not less than six months in advance, otherwise tantrums and whims cannot be avoided. During this time, you gradually cancel one daytime feeding, then move on to nighttime. Remember that WHO recommends breastfeeding until the child is 2 years old.

Artificial feeding milk mixture occurs according to an average schedule. You have the right to focus not on the norms, but on the behavior of your baby. If necessary, the intervals between feedings should be reduced.

Choose a bottle with a hard nipple and fewer holes. This trick will increase the time of eating, which means that the sucking reflex will be satisfied. Artificial children can be offered a pacifier from good stuff corresponding to orthodontic concepts.

Children from 2 to 5 years old

As already mentioned, thumb sucking at this age is psychological in nature. It is better to seek help from a specialist, if this is not possible, use the general recommendations:

The habit of holding a finger in the mouth, preserved after 5 years, should alert parents. Most often this is a signal of the presence of psychological problems. different nature: neuroses and obsessive-compulsive states. Here you can't do it on your own. Only good psychologist is able to get to the origins of this habit and help to get out.

Parents who are faced with such manifestations need to carefully monitor the child, notice all the little things in behavior. There are frequent cases when thumb sucking was subsequently aggravated by anxiety, apathy, and depression.

A psychiatrist or neurologist will be able to choose drugs and techniques that will once again make the baby cheerful, active and cheerful. But only through the relationship of doctors and parents can we expect good result. You, in turn, must maintain a favorable environment at home, make sure that there is no emotional and physical overstrain.

Important! Remember that focusing on a bad habit and punishing it will only aggravate the situation. Be more patient and attentive, surround your baby with love and attention, spend more time with each other, and all adversity will be on your shoulder.

Find an alternative

Dr. Komarovsky says that the fight against instincts and reflexes cannot end in victory. If you already take a finger from a child, then it is worth offering an alternative option.

Prevention

breast feeding on demand – the best prevention thumb sucking. It satisfies not only the sucking reflex, but also contributes to the rapprochement of mother and child, the establishment of close bodily contact, and prevents the appearance of fears and anxiety.
At artificial feeding choose a good quality pacifier for your baby. Remember that the size of the pacifier depends on the age of the child. An incorrectly fitted pacifier can lead to a malocclusion.
Give the baby beautiful teethers, then the process of teething will be easier.
Development fine motor skills beneficial effect on mental capacity, harmonious physical development, the formation of speech. And most importantly, it occupies hands with useful and interesting things: assembling a designer, folding puzzles, playing in the sandbox.

If nothing helps

More recently, an unusual device has appeared on the children's goods market - a nozzle from the habit of children sucking their thumbs. It looks like this.

We agree that not everyone will like the aesthetic appearance of the invention and the presence of something superfluous on the child’s hand, but agree that this is better than seeing the baby’s finger constantly sucked to meat and blood.

Nozzles are produced by different manufacturers and different modifications, but the principle of using them is approximately the same.

In this video you can learn a little more about this device.

More detailed information available on the manufacturer's website: http://dr-thumb.ru/

You can read real reviews about using this device on the Otzovik website.

We wish you and your child the absence of all kinds of bad habits, health and always good mood.

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I found one article on one of the sites ... You can read it. However, maybe someone will come in handy!

Probably, most young parents already in the first six months of their baby's life had to look for an answer to a seemingly simple question: How to wean a child from thumb sucking? Each young family looked for their answers to it with the help of advice from older women, girlfriends, pediatricians, the Internet, finally. But not all advice helps and not all parents remember that in order to eliminate the consequence, you need to find and eliminate the cause. Now together we will try to understand the causes of this bad habit and how to eliminate it.

The habit (as well as the very possibility of performing this action) to suck a finger occurs in children around the third month of life. Until recently, thumb sucking or, alternatively, sucking on some object, maybe the edges of a blanket, was considered, including by doctors, to be just a bad habit. However, doctors found that this can lead to deformation of the shape of the lower jaw, malocclusion, and if the baby already has milk teeth, then to their abnormal growth, curvature. For fingers, frequent sucking is also hardly useful.

But where does the child get such a harmful addiction to suck his thumb?

Scientists, with the help of ultrasound, found out that, even before being born, your baby is already starting to suck his fingers. This is not surprising, because on initial stage sucking for a baby is a reflex that ensures the satisfaction of the most important basic need - the need for food.

Doctors believe that at the age of up to six months, the sucking reflex manifests itself in this way if the child is hungry. And if a mother breastfeeds a newborn often enough, bad habit suck your thumb, it is quite possible that it will not appear at all. Before the age of six months, it will probably be enough to increase the frequency of feedings, because the fact that the baby puts his fingers in his mouth means that the baby is hungry. For example, if a mother feeds a child every four hours, you can try to reduce the interval between feedings by an hour.

But if the baby is already more than six months old, this bad habit should make parents think. At this age, the baby begins to suck his thumb because of the feeling of any discomfort, excitement, stress. Thumb sucking helps you calm down. Look at the face of the child if you caught him doing this. It will never be agitated or anxious. Rather, calm and even happy.

By the way, american doctors don't count at all topical issue: if the baby is not yet a year old. And, accordingly, they do not consider it necessary to take any measures to eliminate the habit of this action. Especially - punitive measures, which, sometimes, can cause more harm to the psyche of your child than the reason for the punishment.

Especially not recommended are various ways to limit the freedom of the baby. Tying the handle to the crib, putting on special cuffs that do not allow the baby to bend the handle at the elbow. It is also not advised to use "grandmother's" methods, such as spreading fingers with pepper or mustard. How can you be sure that you will not let the baby rub his eyes with such a hand?

A fairly common cause of this not-so-good habit in a child, along with stress and excitement, is the desire to sleep. Imagine, the baby has grown a little and left the age of the baby. He is already sleeping in his own bed, which is not at all next to his mother, but in a completely different room - in the nursery. The child is not accustomed to such a state of separation from his parents, especially from his mother. He is worried, perhaps afraid of loneliness. And it is this habit that helps him calm down and fall asleep. How to wean a child from thumb sucking in this case?

Mom, of course, wants to relax in the evening, take some time for herself, perhaps read a book or just go to bed early. This is understandable, but do not stay long in the child's room. Read to him, sing a lullaby, or just be there, holding a little of the baby's arms if he puts them in his mouth. This will make it easier for your child to fall asleep. Over time, the presence of a parent may be replaced by a favorite plush toy.

If the baby is already a year and a half or more, you can try to talk. In no case do not inspire the child that if he sucks his thumb, then he is bad, that you will leave him, stop loving if he does not stop, or something like that. You can’t even imagine how much harm these terrible words for any kid can do! Before how to wean a child from thumb sucking you need to understand that it is not so easy.

It is possible to speak with the baby only from positions of love, clearly dividing the child himself and his habit. Heroes of favorite fairy tales can help to explain to the little one that it is not good to suck a thumb. Try to compose for him, and if age allows, then with him, an easy-to-understand fairy tale about why you should not suck your thumb, tell an interesting and instructive story. This, of course, may seem a little complicated to you, but resist the urge to go down the easier and faster path of bullying your baby. Believe me, this will not be useful, it will only cause the child even more anxiety and disbelief in his own strength in the future.

Thumb sucking is one of the most common bad habits in young children. To kids this lesson gives a lot of pleasure, and parents, realizing what serious consequences it is fraught with, are trying to wean their children from this addiction. In this article, we will find out the reasons that lead to the formation of this habit, and get acquainted with the most effective methods its eradication.

Seemingly harmless habit, in fact, a serious problem.

Finger and baby: looking for reasons

The child keeps his finger in his mouth even during prenatal development. What is the reason for such an early and strong love to the fingers is unknown to anyone.

The habit begins in the womb.

Previously, no one attached much importance to the fact that the baby sucks his finger - they thought it was wrong well-bred kid. Now there is a different opinion - this is not only a harmful, but also a dangerous habit that leads to unwanted health problems for the child.

Experts believe that the main cause of thumb sucking is an unsatisfied sucking reflex.

In addition, the emergence of this habit is provoked by the following factors:

the child does not eat;
the baby is teething.

When a child is teething, he not only acts up, but also sucks his thumb, trying to cope with stress.

It is worth being especially careful if the baby began to suck his thumb after a year. The reasons for this behavior should be looked for in the following states:

the child is deprived of affection and love;
weaning was carried out too abruptly or too early;
fright or emotional stress;
helminthic invasion.

So that the baby does not have obsessive habits, he should always be surrounded by care and love.

Why is thumb sucking dangerous?

Fingers in the mouth contribute to tooth decay.

Do not worry if your baby is between two and four years old. Accidental finger sucking is not capable of harming the teeth, and by the age of four, as a rule, this habit disappears. But if it remains in a child older than four years, you need the help of an orthodontist. This is especially true for babies who have a curvature of the upper teeth or malocclusion.

If the bad habit persists in adult children, it can lead to oral problems.

Thumb sucking can cause speech problems.

Quite often, such children incorrectly pronounce the following sounds "s", "d", "c", "t". In addition, the baby may stick out his tongue when talking.

The child may have speech defects, then you can’t do without classes with a speech therapist.

The occurrence of inflammation on the "problem" finger.

Thumb sucking causes roughening of the skin. If long time the finger is subjected to the pressure of the teeth and the action of the wet tongue, it turns into a hard callus. In some cases, the skin is destroyed and the finger begins to bleed. More serious consequences are also likely - infection of soft tissues (swelling, redness).

Corns are inevitable!

Thumb sucking is socially unacceptable.

Babies don't make fun of their own sucking fingers peers, since thumb sucking is a very common occurrence among children under two years of age. However, while studying at school, the child will be teased for such a habit, and he will become the object of ridicule.

Children will laugh at a child with a finger in their mouth.

Newborn Instincts - Should You Fight Them?

At infants the sucking reflex is highly developed. If the baby sucks his finger before feeding, this is evidence of a growing feeling of hunger, which means there is nothing to worry about. But when you notice a finger in your mouth between meals or right after feeding, look for a way to satisfy the need of a tiny person.

A finger in the mouth serves as a signal that the baby is hungry.

Usually, breastfed babies have less desire to suck their thumbs than artificially fed babies. The reason for this difference is simple - the baby does not let go of the breast even when it is full. The child empties the bottle faster, and the empty one does not attract him.

If the baby sucks his thumb while on breastfeeding do not take the breast until the baby releases it.

Using aids feeding, make sure that the baby spends about 20 minutes on food. If the baby empties faster, pay attention to the hole in the nipple - it may be too big.

Experts do not recommend weaning the baby from this habit by force, applying various “tasteless” substances to the fingers. Thus, you run the risk of causing an internal protest of the baby, and then he will become even more diligent in sucking his thumb.

We change the finger to a pacifier.

The famous pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky believes that to deal with congenital reflexes- sucking, in particular - a waste of time. It is impossible to take a finger from a baby and not give him anything in return. He advises to replace the finger with a pacifier, while experimenting with the weight, shape, and quality of the nipple rubber. Komarovsky assures that parents should definitely fight this habit of the baby, but he sees the goal of the struggle not to eradicate, but to create an alternative.

For the development of motor skills of the child ideal remedy are . You can start training children's hands from the first days of life. This activity will be pleasant for both mothers and babies.

Time to go to nursery and your finger is still in your mouth?

If the thumb sucking habit is observed in children from one year old to three years old, you can do the following:

Find an alternative activity for your child.

Small restless fingers are constantly in search, and not finding anything interesting, they end up in the mouth. It is very important to keep the baby busy: when you see that the finger is approaching the mouth, distract the baby and direct its activity in a different, more useful direction.

Take your child, walk with him more often!

Make the life of your sun calm.

Often at this age, the baby begins to use his fingers for a kind of relaxation. Your task is to create the most peaceful atmosphere in the house. As soon as the child begins to worry or be nervous, try to change his mood from a minus sign to a "+". Play with him, invite him to take a walk outside, or just listen to pleasant music.

The child should always be in a good mood.

If a child between the ages of three and six sucks its thumb, you should:

Show and speak.

The child is already large enough to be a full-fledged interlocutor of an adult. You should explain to your child that this habit is detrimental to the teeth and outline all possible consequences.

The child understands everything, talk to him more often.

Suggest a note.

Tie your finger with duct tape or use a bandage. At night, put mittens or gloves on your baby's handles.

Ordinary mittens can be an effective preventive measure.

Cultivate a competitive habit.

Teach your baby to make a fist when he wants to put his finger in his mouth. At night, you can teach your baby to hide his hands under the pillow while breathing deeply, slowly. In addition, you can teach a child to suck his tongue without putting his fingers in his mouth.

Agree on deadlines and promise rewards.

Offer your child a pleasant and desirable gift in exchange for giving up a bad habit. Install certain period- So little man it will be easier to deal with yourself.

A welcome gift is the best alternative!

Social adaptation.

It is likely that the child sucks his fingers at a conscious age, as he needs social adaptation. You must find out what problems are preventing him from having a normal relationship with his children.

Small child needs not only a crib, a stroller, sliders and vests, but also. To the choice last parents should approach with the utmost responsibility.

Did you know that meat is a storehouse of trace elements necessary for normal development child's body. How to introduce meat complementary foods will tell.

Is there mucus in the baby's stool? when to start worrying and what measures to take are described on this page.

What should not be done?

Some mothers, following the advice of experienced relatives, try to get by with folk methods:

They smear their fingers with pepper, mustard, nail polish, etc.
Bandage the hands to the body.
Come up with various punishments, up to physical measures.

Down with "grandmother's" funds!

Really such cruelty can't bring positive result. As soon as these measures of influence are stopped, the baby again takes up his own.

How moms deal with this habit

Julia, 28 years old.

“With a finger in our mouth, we lived up to 3.5 years. The son sucked the phalanx of his finger so intensively that a tight callus appeared there. I tried a lot of different methods, but I did not achieve any result. But noticing how the baby is watching with interest the process of painting nails, I came up with a little trick. I asked: “Lera, do you also want such beautiful pink nails? The daughter with a huge smile on her face and hope in her eyes nodded in the affirmative. I promised the child that I would paint her nails, but she should treat them very carefully and in no case suck her fingers, as this can ruin all the beauty. Lera agreed, and since then we have not remembered the bad habit.

Oksana, 32 years old.

“The habit of thumb sucking has entered the life of my five-year-old Vlad so much that it seemed that we would never get rid of it. Helped to cope with it our godmother, who promised the baby to give a computer if he did not suck his thumb for 2 months. The child conscientiously fulfilled all the requirements and received the coveted prize, and the habit simply disappeared.”

How to wean a toddler from sucking his thumb different ways. Main, Dear Parents, be patient and surround your child with care and love, because only in this case you can forever forget about any bad habits and prevent the development of new problems.

The vast majority of newborns suck their fingers, and, as you can see in the pictures obtained using ultrasound, even babies in the womb do this.

Such an action is laid down by nature, because the sucking reflex is necessary so that a barely born child can survive and get food - mother's milk.

Thumb sucking for unborn babies means training. That's why a skilled baby with a trained reflex grabs with his lips everything that touches them.

The sucking reflex is so strong that often a newborn sucks his fingers, not only because of hunger, but also in order not to lose an important skill.

The interaction of the facial muscles, trigeminal, vagus and nasopharyngeal nerve trunks during sucking contributes to the stabilization of the central nervous system and activation of brain activity.

An important result of this "action" is not only an improvement in the functioning of the central nervous system small child, but also the evoking of such important emotions for him as a sense of security, calmness and psychological satisfaction.

Why does an older baby suck his thumb?

And if the behavior of a born baby can be explained by basic instincts, then why does a child suck his thumb at an older age? Scientists have identified several main reasons for this behavior:

Fist sucking after 6 months can be explained by the fact that the tongue and oral cavity the child turns into a means of studying the world around and obtaining information important for development. Everything that gets into the hands, the baby sends into the mouth. This includes toys, blankets, pet tails and, naturally, your own fingers.
The obvious reason that the baby sucks his thumb is the feeling of hunger. Whether the baby is breastfed or fed formula, suckling is the only way to get food. That is, a baby who has dragged his fist into his mouth signals to his mother that he is hungry.
Excessively early weaning often leads to a situation where the child sucks his thumb. Moreover, a certain pattern is visible - the shorter the period breastfeeding, the higher the likelihood that the baby will begin to pull the fist into his mouth.
Another reason for sucking fingers is, which is accompanied by soreness. To take off discomfort, "scratch" irritated gums, the child drags into his mouth not only his fingers and fist, but also any other objects that are nearby.
Mother's breast for the baby is a guarantee of security, so he perceives sucking as a way to calm down, to feel safe. That is why, with any emotional discomfort, an alarming situation, the appearance in the house stranger the child reaches for the finger as a substitute maternal breast.
A 2-year-old toddler (a little younger or a little older) may suck his thumb due to lack of parental attention. When a child misses his mother, he subconsciously puts his finger in his mouth to compensate for the warmth of the mother's body.

There is an opinion that children who receive their mother's breasts on demand, without any restrictions, very rarely suck their fingers. This is explained simply: babies satisfy all the basic instincts and the desire to be close to their mother.

Pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky is convinced that thumb sucking is not a child's problem, but a mother's problem. It is the parents who are worried about this, especially if they hear negative comments from others.

Most often, this habit disappears on its own, unless, of course, it is fixed due to the wrong actions of mom or dad. . However, stereotypical behavior can also lead to a number of negative consequences:

When sucking fingers, it is possible to get into digestive tract various harmful microorganisms and larvae. Of course, this does not happen at 2 months or a little later, when the child spends all the time in the crib. But with the onset active period baby starts to explore the world, simultaneously pushing not always clean fingers into the mouth.
According to many orthodontists, such childhood weakness is fraught with the formation of malocclusion (the front upper teeth protrude forward) and even problems with the development of speech skills. This is possible if finger sucking continues after the age of five, when milk teeth begin to fall out.
If the habit has passed into the senior preschool and even primary school age, then the child will have a hard time because of the ridicule of peers. And this is already fraught with serious psychological problems and difficulties with adaptation.
Suffer from sucking and fingers. The impact of teeth, gum pressure, constant contact with saliva leads to the appearance of cracks, calluses, abrasions and deformation of the nails. Through the damaged skin Pathogenic bacteria can enter the bloodstream, resulting in tissue infection and inflammation.

Thus, the ingrained habit of sucking fingers is potentially harmful to the child: both hygienically and psychological points vision.

How to wean the baby from this useless addiction? The choice of method will depend on the reason why the baby reaches for his fingers, his age and personality traits.

How to wean a child from thumb sucking?

More recently, there were, one might say, “old-fashioned” methods of getting rid of this negative habit. And still some well-wishers may advise an anxious mother in such very ambiguous ways as:

Some parents consider such methods quite effective, while others point out their cruelty. For example, mustard can harm the oral mucosa.

Such restrictive measures often end in a relapse of a bad habit. As soon as the parents stop tying their hands or smearing their fingers with something bitter, the baby begins to suck even more intensely in order to calm down and return a positive psychological attitude.

Parents should choose as much as possible painless method extermination of negative addiction. The most reasonable and obvious step is to find and eliminate the root cause for which the baby sucks his fingers.

Up to 2 years

Usually, by the beginning of the second year of life, the sucking reflex fades on its own. However, due to the dissatisfaction of the basic instinct in infancy, thumb sucking can become a habit. The rules for getting rid of addiction will depend on the way the child is fed.

If a baby feeding on mother's milk additionally sucks a finger, the mother, first of all, should make sure how correctly she has adjusted the feeding of the baby. Most likely, the reason is very simple - the child is hungry and requires his mother's breast. What to do?

Try to increase the duration of feeding. Let the baby be at the breast for more than half an hour. In this case sucking baby and eat up, and satisfy the basic instincts.
If you give your baby both breasts during one meal, try offering them at regular intervals. That is, the second breast is given only after the baby sucks the first one for 25 minutes.
You don't have to worry about your baby overeating. No matter how much he is near the mother's breast, he will take the amount of milk that is necessary for complete saturation.
If the baby is distracted by something during feeding, you do not need to turn off the meal. Wait a little, and the child will return to his mother's breast.

If possible, minimize the feeding process gradually. First you need to reduce the amount daily feedings, and only then go to the night. This will allow the child to calmly survive weaning.

If the child is an artificial person, then weaning from a bad habit will be carried out in several other ways. In the case of IV, children are fed according to a certain schedule, and a portion of the mixture is dosed. How to act in such a situation?

If the baby is teething, you need to purchase a high-quality teether with an additional cooling element. This device will help the child to give up fingers.

In general, the advice of experts regarding the habit of sucking fingers at this age boils down to satisfying the sucking reflex. A mother's breast, a bottle of formula, or an orthodontic pacifier can come to the rescue.

2 to 5 years

When a baby is 2 or 3 years old, the factors that make him suck his thumb are no longer associated with reflexive behavior. At the forefront are the psychological causes of obsessive behavior.

Among the main reasons for the formation of a bad habit or its return, experts identify the following "catalysts":

dysfunctional family environment;
strict methods of education;
lack of mother's attention;
problems with getting used to kindergarten;
psycho-emotional overload;
fears.

Before proceeding to solve the problem, you need to install it true reason. This can be done independently by analyzing your own and childish behavior, or contact a specialist who at the same time will tell you how to wean the crumbs from sucking a finger. General recommendations are:

Pay more attention to your child. Read books, communicate, engage in outdoor games, play a small ball more often to keep children's fingers busy. In general, give the child warmth and a sense of security.
Reduce emotional or intellectual stress. This is especially true for those mothers who are passionate about the idea early learning child. Another rule - give up the load in the evening, instead of games, enter the ritual of bathing in the bath.
Closer to the age of five, babies develop various fears and phobias: fear of the dark, monsters, fairy tale characters. An impressionable child tends to suck his thumb and calm down. It is better to deal with this cause with the help of psychologists.
Avoid punishment, especially corporal punishment. Three-year-old children are already able to explain the reason for their behavior. In turn, they can also be told why thumb sucking is ugly and unhygienic.

If you have spent a lot of effort, but have not achieved a positive result, you should contact a psychologist or psychotherapist. A specialist will help you deal with an intractable problem.

From 5 years and older

If a child sucks his thumb even after the age of five, parents should be wary. In most cases, such a habit indicates serious psychological problems that require the intervention of professionals.

For example, some cases of finger sucking by schoolchildren and adolescence are a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder arising from physiological and psychological reasons(for example, due to severe stress).

To make sure that a bad habit is a symptom of this disorder, you need to pay attention to other signs. For example, a thumb sucking child may demonstrate:

winding hair on a finger or pulling out curls;
biting nails or, for example, pencils;
scratching or pinching the skin;
obsessive cough.

Older students often demonstrate obsessive thoughts, various ritual actions, high anxiety, various fears, and a depressive mood.

Naturally, to make or exclude such a diagnosis, you need to contact a neurologist or psychiatrist. The specialist will prescribe the necessary medicines and psychotherapeutic procedures - play, cognitive or art therapy.

Parents in such a situation should follow the following recommendations of specialists:

provide a comfortable home environment;
prevent emotional and intellectual overstrain, so as not to aggravate the course of the disease;
refrain from sharpening children's attention on sucking fingers and other obsessive actions;
track every change in children's behavior.

To scold the baby for such addictions, of course, should not be. Punishment will only increase the manifestation of negative symptoms and lengthen the recovery period.

As a conclusion

You need to unlearn this bad habit, but if nothing works, then you should stop and take a breath. Thumb sucking is, of course, a disturbing sign that requires an adult response. However, it cannot be considered a disaster.

The choice of the preferred method will depend on several factors, including the age of the child, the causes of the negative addiction. It is best to avoid harsh methods like smearing fingers with mustard or tying hands.

Thus, the process of weaning the habit of thumb sucking can take a long time. And yet you should not despair. Mom needs to gain strength and patience, and the baby will definitely give up the idea of \u200b\u200bpulling the fist into her mouth very soon.