How to disaccustom a child to suck a finger?

You are not happy with the fact that your child is sucking a finger, although he is already 5 years old? And you have been thinking about how to disable a child from sucking a finger? Of course, this habit is sometimes useful as an act of self-determination, it has remained since the moment the child was in the mother's belly. But when a child sucks a finger 5-6 years, it can become an object of pity and ridicule. So at what point did sucking a finger become a bad habit? And how can you help a child stop sucking a finger? How to find other ways that the child could still reassure himself?

Sucking a finger: is it harmful or not?

Most doctors agree that sucking a finger is relatively harmless - but only in the early years of childhood. In fact, if you notice that the baby is sucking a finger and want to stop this addiction before it turns four years old, your efforts can have unpleasant consequences and make the habit of sucking your finger even more often, but secret. The child will simply hide from you.

Most children eventually leave this habit on their own. However, if the sucking finger continues the child in four or five years, it can increase the risk of developing dental problems or problems with speech.

Why does a child suck a finger?

Those who continue to suck at the early preschool age, most likely consider this a return to the comfortable conditions of the mother environment, in which they were before birth. Children can also suck a finger when they are tired or when they are bored.

How to stop the habit of sucking a finger?

If you think that your child is old enough to stop sucking a finger, you can try a few sparing methods to stop this habit. One way to help a child stop sucking a finger is to let him do something with his own hands. Or help find other ways to calm down when a child is nervous or wants to sleep.

You could teach your child to rub a finger in the palm of your hand in rhythmic, circular movements, or rub your cheek with your index finger. Another method to stop sucking a finger is to wrap the baby's thumb in a bandage or a piece of gauze. Of course, this will not physically stop the baby from sucking a finger, but it will be a reminder to him every time he absentmindly puts a finger in his mouth.

You can also apply something unpleasant to the taste, having smeared it with the kid's finger of the substance, taking, for example, such a substance as vinegar. Although some parents say that their children are getting used to the bitter taste of a finger and this taste may even be pleasant after a while.

Child reward system

Although you really want to rid the child of the harmful habit of sucking your finger, try to avoid being charged or punished by your child for what is essentially his self-restraining activity. Praise your child when you see that he makes something useful with his hands, except for sucking a finger. You can also build a system of rewards, such as sticking a schedule for each day without sucking your finger, and give your child gifts for not taking a finger in his mouth.

You should seek help from a doctor if your child has dental problems with speech as a result of sucking a finger. In addition, if your child is teased or he asks you for help in stopping this bad habit, it's your time to intervene and work with the child more actively. Your pediatrician or pediatric dentist should evaluate the situation and find the best ways to help your child.

In general, finger sucking is one of our most natural, reflexive behaviors, and it should not cause too much anxiety. But when sucking a child's finger begins to create difficulties for him (and therefore for the parents), it's time to help the child find another acceptable and more adult way to relax and feel at ease.