Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Thumb-sucking

All babies are born with a sucking reflex. They will suck on a nipple, thumb, fist, finger, or anything else that comes in contact with their mouths. Babies soon come to associate sucking with feelings of security. As they grow older, it is normal to suck on thumbs and fingers. The habit soothes and calms the child. About 9 out of 10 children engage in the habit during their early life.

Over half of thumb or finger suckers stop by age 6 or 7 months. Most will have stopped by age 4 years. For those that continue with the habit, problems begin around age 5. Children may keep the habit because:

• it is soothing, calming, and gratifying
• it has become a power struggle between parent and child or
• it has become a deeply ingrained habit

Parents need to be concerned if the habit affects the shape of the child's mouth. Prolonged thumb or finger-sucking can interfere with the alignment of the teeth. This can result in crooked teeth.

Distract the child or simply ignore thumb-sucking behavior if the child is younger than age 4. Never pull the child's hand out of his or her mouth. Do not punish or scold the child. Doing so will make the problem worse.

After 4 years of age, help your child give up thumb-sucking during the day. Appeal to the vanity of older preschool children. Talk to the child about stopping the habit during a time when he or she is not stressed, unhappy, or sick. Ask the child if he or she wants to stop. Give gentle reminders each time the habit is continued.

Thumb sucking by itself is not a cause or symptom of physical or psychological problems. Most children have some sort of self- comforting behaviors (such as, pulling and twisting hair or stroking a blanket). Encourage the child to stop by reinforcing positive behavior.

Children will naturally stop daytime sucking habits before they progress too far in school. Peer pressure is usually the reason they stop. Nighttime sucking may continue as a way of going to sleep. Your child may thumb-suck to calm down when he or she is upset. Do not worry, most children will eventually stop this habit on their own.

Talk to your child's dentist or healthcare provider about any concerns you have about this habit.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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