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Baby and childhood illnesses: thumb sucking BABY AND CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES: THUMB SUCKING
Sucking is a normal inbuilt habit with babies. They all need to suck, and unless they are experts, they will starve. Breast- and bottle-feeding are both dependent on the baby's natural sucking. However, there is much more to it than that, for most babies gain the bulk of breast milk within the first two minutes, experiments have shown. So, the simple act of sucking must in itself be attractive. Sucking a breast, a teat, a dummy, a finger, a thumb. It is all basically the same. It provides comfort, a sense of security, confidence and warmth.
The dire consequences that were once related to the habit are now being revised by most doctors. Fewer now believe it has a sexual connotation, or that it may relate to cigarette and pipe smoking in later life, or to the risks of becoming an alcoholic—all these theories have been put forward in the past. The belief that it distorts the teeth is also being re-examined. The oral pressure occurring from constant sucking may push the upper teeth outwards and the lower ones inwards, but the first set of teeth are only temporary, and unless the child thumb-sucks extensively after the age of six little permanent damage is likely, most now agree. The permanent teeth will not be crooked when they appear. Lots of infants suck their thumb when they are tired and are falling off to sleep. It soothes, pacifies and breeds an air of contentment. Most stop the habit normally and automatically.
Treatment
Despite what you may be told, avoid violent efforts to break the habit. Do not opt for physical gadgets to try to stop it. When the infant is asleep, quietly withdraw the hand; it will usually not be reinserted. As the child gets older, gently encourage him or her to discard baby habits. Most times this will happen without fuss and bother. Gentle persuasion and encouragement pay off.
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