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Tips For Getting Them To Stop!
Using bitter nail solutions or using tape to secure your child’s fingers is
often not as not as effective as providing positive reinforcement. Put up a
calendar and place a star for each day they successfully avoid the habit.
After a certain number of days, reward them with a treat. When they do suck
their thumb or use a pacifier, give them a gentle verbal reminder. Avoid
using negative reinforcement or punishment; this often causes the child to
further embrace the habit. Negative reinforcement is particularly
ineffective since thumb sucking and pacifier use are security mechanisms.
Punishing a child increases their desire for security and drives them back
to the habit. Instead, consider giving them a teddy bear, a blanket, or just
lots of affection. If they’re still having a hard time beating the habit,
try gradually increasing the number of hours in which they’re not allowed to
use the pacifier or suck their thumb. You should continue increasing the
number of hours until they’ve been weaned of the habit. Phase out bed time
pacifier use last, as this is the time they need it the most.
How Often Should Rewards Be Given?
The younger the child the more frequent the reward must be given. A five to six-year-old may need some special reward after the first difficult night. Reward periods can gradually be stretched out to several nights, a week and eventually a period of 30 nights without sucking. Many children need a number of small rewards before they lose the impulse to suck until they have
Thumb Sucking Versus A Pacifier
Studies have shown that children who suck their thumbs have greater difficulty breaking their habit than do children who use pacifiers.
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Most embryos actually suck their thumbs while in their mother's womb. Thumbsucking and pacifier use give children a sense of security and help them become more comfortable with their environment. They’re normal habits which most kids forego long before any damage can be done to their teeth and jaws. So, stop worrying!