#Dr ten thumbs how to

It can be habitual! How long has your child done this? Is it a new development or something they have done since they were a newborn? If the answer is that they’ve done it as long as you can remember, then it is engrained in their working memory as a tool they have to use. This isn’t a bad thing, it just needs to be brought to their attention and alternatives need to be provided.When does she suck her thumb? Are there times its worse? By pinpointing the times it is at its worst its easy to see she uses thumb sucking to self regulate when she is nervous, afraid, or overwhelmed! Remember, this is great that she can do that! When my friend reached out I asked her to tell me about her child’s behaviors. It can be a sign! I want to challenge you to watch your child for me.This is huge! Believe me, I wish my child could self soothe or regulate his own emotions, but he can’t.

#Dr ten thumbs how to

It’s a good sign of self regulation! Congratulations! You have a child that knows how to soothe themselves when they need it.

Whatever that need was that they were trying to fill is still there and they will find a way to soothe it somehow. In fact, you are only going to scare them into no doing around you. Discipline has nothing to do with it! No matter how many times you take something away, put them in time out, or tap their little hands, you are not going to stop the thumb sucking.This is going to be a process and when you prepare yourself for that, you will be in a better place and ready to attack the issue head on. It’s complicated! Don’t expect to get to the bottom of thumb sucking in one day, one strategy or one chewable jewelry.It could be sensory related, habitual, or even anxiety induced. There is no way I can tell you right this second why your child is sucking their thumb. I don’t know about your child’s past and their habits.

You see, I haven’t asked you questions yet. What need exactly is to be determined still.

It’s a need! You read that right, its a need.

It’s not because your baby was bottle fed instead of breastfed, or breast fed instead of bottle fed. It’s not because you didn’t wean in time, or you weaned to early.

It’s not about you! Let go of that guilt.

Ten Things Every Parent Should Know About Thumb Sucking However, today my friend encouraged me to write about what I know and hopefully it can shed some light on your struggles with thumb sucking. Yet, for some reason, I have always steered clear of writing about the topic. In fact, one of our most popular items on our sister site, Project Sensory, is chewable jewelry, which is aimed at helping children with oral sensory needs. Then in the last two years, I have met so many parents and caregivers that have such true concern about their child’s thumb sucking. When I was in the classroom, it never failed, every single year I would have a child that would have difficulty getting work done because it’s incredibly difficult to hold a pencil and suck a thumb at the same time. While my children have never sucked their thumbs, I have had my share of children in my life that did. In fact, I think there are some things that every parent needs to know about thumb sucking that you might not read anywhere else. I usually stay out of the conversations because there really is so much more to the answer than just a quick sentence or two as a response. Usually I am not the first resort, most of the time they have already done their research, asked the doctor, and tried several things without much luck. In fact, in my sensory support group, it gets asked at least once a month by some concerned parent trying to get to the bottom of it. I’ve heard those words many times before. “My 6 year old daughter just won’t stop sucking her thumb.” a friend tells me with concern.