When Older Kids Suck Their Thumb

Dear Dr. Bill:

My 6-year-old son still carries a blanket around the house, and he still sucks his thumb. Do you have any suggestions about helping him to break the habit?

— Will

Dear Will:

Focus on the Family's book The Complete Book of Baby and Child Care addresses the issue of thumb-sucking. The book, compiled by a group of pediatricians, mentions that every human being is born with a sucking reflex — it's satisfying to a baby and necessary for survival. Ultrasound studies have shown babies sucking their thumb in the womb. Most children give up thumb-sucking after they pass through toddlerhood, but many don't. One study found that 45 percent of 3 and 4-year-olds, 15 percent of 5-year-olds and 6 percent of 6-year-olds continued to suck their thumbs.

When thumb-sucking persists into childhood, it can cause a dental problem called "malocclusion" — an improper fit between the upper and lower teeth when biting down. In addition, kids who continue to suck their thumb into the school-age years may face teasing and ridicule from other children. This can negatively impact their self-esteem for years to come.

Most pediatricians will tell you that it's nearly impossible to stop a child from sucking his thumb until he decides to stop. This usually occurs when the negative consequences — such as teasing from other kids — outweigh the positives.

If your son wants to stop sucking his thumb but can't seem to kick the habit, there are a few things you can do to help him. Most pharmacies sell a bitter tasting substance called "Stop-zit" which can be applied to a child's thumb. You might also try offering him positive rewards for not sucking his thumb. He might earn a point or token for every hour that he avoids the behavior — and he can trade in the tokens for a special toy or privilege.

Most experts advise against punishing a child for thumb-sucking. Instead, parents can devise a simple, nonjudgmental signal to remind their child to stop sucking — such as a wink or a neutral word.

As far as the blanket issue goes, here's a suggestion. Tell your son he's getting much too old to be carrying a blanket around the house. Explain that you are going to cut a small piece out of his favorite blanket and allow him carry it with him in his pocket. This can act as a sort of "transitional object," weaning him from carrying the blanket without forcing him to give it up "cold turkey."

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