Most children stop on their own, but continued thumbsucking could be a sign of a behavioral problem, such as anxiety or depression.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help your child quit the habit:
- Ask your pediatrician about having your child use a thumb guard.
- Apply a bitter-tasting material on your child's thumb. But always check with the child's doctor to make sure it's safe.
- Make a deal with your child. If he or she agrees to stop sucking the thumb, offer a reward.
- Offer praise and attention when you notice that your child isn't thumbsucking.
- If your child's teeth have been affected by thumbsucking, talk to the child's dentist about what can be done to correct it.
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