Expert advises on how children can stop sucking thumb

Speaking in Enugu on Wednesday, Ukpong said the effect depended on its duration, frequency and intensity.

She said most children thumb-suck from infancy and naturally grew out of it at four.

According to her, more than 70 per cent of children suck thumbs from infancy up to age four.

``Thumb sucking is an inborn natural habit that a child uses to comfort himself when anxious, stressed, bored, unhappy or hungry.

``Only about 10 per cent of the children continue with the habit after the age of four, and some children may develop the habit later when they try to imitate a younger sibling,’’ she said.

According to her, the harmful effects include oddly shaped fingers or thumbs while the constant moistened areas of the skin get irritated and may get infected.

``Other children may poke fun at the child in school and socially this may cause some psychological distress for the child,’’ he said.

She explained that such a situation might increase as the child developed while facial problems associated with thumb-sucking such as inability of the front teeth to meet when biting might also develop.

She said this may have effect on chewing, speech, swallowing and the facial appearance, adding that the child could also develop protruding teeth.

The dentist said parents should become concerned about when to intervene as studies had shown that most children want to stop by the age of six.

``Your role as a parent is to guide them without any pressure, to be firm but calm and to support and praise them every step of the way,’’ she added.

She explained that the habit might be unconscious, adding that as a parent, one needed to identify with the child.

``Parents need to calmly help the child understand the potential harm that can result from the habit.

“Show them what their fingers and thumb look like, talk about ‘bad’ germs that live on their fingers that could go into their mouths and make them sick. You could exaggerate a little if it helps,” she advised.

According to her, if it happens at bedtime or while the child is watching television, instead of public places, it is considered as a less serious problem.

“If it is clear that the child is doing it as a result of a stressful situation, then you first may have to deal with the child’s emotional challenges before trying to stop the habit,” she said.

According to her, breaking the habit is much easier when the child is a willing participant.

“Give little motivation rewards to the child with each daily progress made at attaining the set weekly targets such as an open family praise for each day he or she doesn’t thumb-suck,” she advised.

Topical bitter substances, bandages and glove-like devices are normally used and worn on the offending finger, she said.

She also suggested that a dental device could be placed in the mouth of the child once the child is above the age of 6.