If thumb sucking becomes normal after a certain age, it may cause it to become a habit. Habits are behaviors that begin in the womb. Babies sucking milk and sucking their thumbs and toes are the strongest reflexes they have from birth. Sometimes it may be related to early weaning, bottle or false breast use, and not satisfying the sucking instinct. Sucking is a pleasurable action and provides psychological satisfaction for the baby. Therefore, it is not considered a harmful behavior. It is seen as a normal behavior until the age of three. Families often see it as a sign of hunger, but it is not related to hunger.
Psychological Reasons for Thumb Sucking
If children continue to suck their thumb after the age of 4, they may have difficulty controlling their emotions. Children who feel disapproved by their parents, who feel indifferent, who feel unloved, who feel lonely, who do not feel safe, who feel ashamed, who are jealous of their siblings, who experience communication disorders with their parents and who witness their arguments may also exhibit regressive behavior. This may cause children to want to remain in the oral stage.
If the thumb sucking behavior does not stop after the age of 4, psychological reasons should be considered. It is very important for the family to remain calm and patient. One should know that change will not happen suddenly, but will happen slowly and gradually. In this case, the first thing the family should do is: give affection, understand, not be oppressive, talk to the child and look for the underlying reasons for the behavior. For this purpose, small rewards (stickers) and snacks that keep the mouth busy can be given. Alternative activities can be created or verbal cues can be given to keep the finger busy (thumb sucking-thumb sucking).
What Should the Family Do?
The family should never scold the child, criticize him, avoid hitting his hand and One should avoid putting something bitter on one's finger and trying to tie one's hand.
Things to be careful about: Tape or cloth should not be tied to the finger. It may cause the child to swallow his finger while trying to suck it.
Harms of Thumb Sucking
When we look at the harms of thumb sucking, over time, problems in the teeth and jaw skeleton and deformations of the finger can occur over time. It may cause speech disorders (stuttering).
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