How to wean a child to suck a finger: tips for parents

Once all young parents are faced with the fact that the child constantly sucks a finger. If this makes a baby who is only a few months old, then this is not scary. Another thing is when the baby is already 2-3 years old, and he does not pull his finger out of his mouth. And parents have only one thing left - to wean him from a bad habit.

Why is sucking reflex so important for children? Infants suck not only from hunger, but also for full development. At the same time, the brain develops in the child, digestion improves, and all the nutrients are completely absorbed. And for the normal development of this reflex, the baby needs a mother's breast. Often, especially when the baby is breast-fed, he replaces the breast with his own finger.

This even confirms the experiment that scientists conducted in the 70s. Then, 50 children who constantly sucked their fingers were taken for study. Their age did not exceed 7 years. This group was compared with another group of babies who did not have such a habit. And it turned out that mothers did not breastfeed the children sucking fingers, unlike the second group of children. And so they replaced the breast with a finger to satisfy their need.

Causes

Most of the actions of young children are caused by reflexes, including finger sucking. But often a child sucks a finger because:

1. He is hungry. It does not matter whether the mother is breastfeeding or the baby is breastfeeding. Most often, sucking a finger means that the baby is hungry.
2. He is worried. Children very well feel the emotional atmosphere in the house. And in the first months of life, children are generally very sensitive to any manifestation of emotions. The appearance of strangers in the house and much more can scare them. The only protection of the child during this period is the mother. And they try to suck a finger, replacing their mother’s breasts.
3. He does not get enough contact with his mother. If mothers wean the baby early from the breast, etc., he feels a lack of love and communication with his mother.
4. His teeth are already being cut. And he begins to pull in his mouth not only his fingers, but also any objects.

When you need to sound the alarm

If a child sucks a finger up to 1 year, rarely what parents pay attention to it. Anxiety begins at the age of 1 year. It would seem that the baby should already stop sucking a finger. But pediatricians say that at this age there is nothing wrong with the fact that the baby continues to pull a finger into his mouth. Most likely, this happens reflexively and over time the child ceases to do this.

And if the baby sucks a finger in 2 years? In this case, parents should pay attention to the emotional and psychological state of the child. Sucking a finger at this age may indicate hidden fears and anxieties. If you miss this moment and do not help him, in the future the condition can only worsen.

How to wean a small child

Do not wait for the child to unlearn how to suck his finger on his own. After all, it is very difficult to get rid of a habit without additional help. Therefore, parents should help the baby quietly stop sucking a finger. To do this, you must:

1. In no case do not deprive the baby of breastfeeding. Of course, if there are no very serious reasons for this. The child should get as much mother’s love and affection as possible, and the most effective way is breastfeeding.
2. Stop using nipples and dummies. As practice shows, they only interfere.
3. Make the baby’s life calm and serene.Mom is able to convey her mood to the child, so she must leave all the stresses and troubles beyond the threshold of the house. For a newborn, his mother is his whole world, so you do not need to immediately press him with a lot of emotions.
4. If the baby's teeth are cut, it is better to stock up on special toys in advance. With their help, the baby will be able to relieve itching in the gums and will not stick fingers in his mouth.

How to wean a child in 2-3 years

Children at this age most often begin to suck their fingers when they try to calm down, because of boredom, etc. Nevertheless, if the child began to suck his finger, then he constantly did this in infancy. Just parents could not wean him from their favorite pastime. And he recalls this, as this action has always reassured him.

Weaning a child at this age is necessary when his habit becomes constant. If almost all the time the baby is cheerful and cheerful, and the finger sucks only, for example, before bedtime, then this will pass over time. In the case when the child does not take out his finger all the time, it means that something very much worries him. Perhaps this is a tense situation in the family.

It is important to find out the reason for this behavior of the child in order to understand how to act. Some children are too shy to play with other children. Such kids can be seen next to other children playing. They just watch what is happening and out of habit suck their finger.

So, you need to wean the baby. No need to scold the child for the fact that he reflexively stuck a finger in his mouth. Also, you can not sharply pull it or immediately give a toy or sweets. In the first case, the child can begin to do the opposite, and in the second, he quickly decides the trick and starts using this method.

With children at this age, you can try to negotiate. Or explain to the baby that he will soon become an adult, but adults don’t do that, etc. It is also necessary to ensure that the child’s hands are always busy with something. To do this, there are lots of toys that will not only distract the baby, but also contribute to its development.

How to wean from the nipples

Most parents make the same mistake - they change their finger on the nipple. And the problem is not going away. In order for the baby to stop sucking the nipple, it is necessary:

1. Make an exchange. This is possible if the child is already 3-4 years old. You can exchange the pacifier for a toy. Let the baby choose a toy in the store and give his nipple to the seller for it.
2. Allow the child to use the pacifier only in a specific place. That is, to put some kind of restriction. For example, let him use it only in his room. Sooner or later, the child will get tired, and he will throw a pacifier.
3. If this does not help, you need to distract the baby. As soon as he puts a pacifier in his mouth, you need to start singing his favorite songs, inflate balloons or read with him. He can not resist and make up the company, forgetting about the nipple.
4. You can talk with the child, explaining to him that using a pacifier, he will not become big and strong. This is especially true for boys. And the girl can be said that she will become prettier if she stops sucking the nipple. But these should be little tricks, and not deception, which the children recognize very well.

What can not be done

Some too busy parents often resort to various methods, which not only do not help to wean a child from sucking a finger, but also harm. For example, you can’t smear your baby’s fingers with garlic or mustard, hoping that he will no longer stick them in his mouth. It can burn such bitter substances in the mucous membrane of the stomach and mouth.

Also, do not shout and scold the child if he does not listen and continues to suck his finger. In public places, the baby’s finger can simply be removed from the mouth. And at home, try to distract him and retrain him. But driving a baby into a stress, which is already in a nervous tension, is not an option at all.Various special children's gloves are not suitable as assistants. The child simply does not understand what his fault is and why they constantly shout or punish him. And very young children up to 3-4 years old due to their development in general can simply forget the instructions of their parents. Therefore, it is necessary from time to time to gently remind and, of course, be patient.

Finger sucking and tooth growth

This is very worrying for many parents whose children continue to suck their fingers out of habit. Any dentist will say that this habit leads to improper tooth growth. The upper teeth often come forward, and the lower teeth begin to grow a little further. And the longer he sucks his fingers, the more the difference between the upper and lower teeth is visible. But since children’s teeth change at the age of 6–7 years, they may not suffer. Of course, if by that age the child is no longer sucking a finger.

Usually, children stop sucking a finger, reaching the age of 5-6 years. But you can prevent the development of this habit. It is enough to breastfeed the baby, and at the same time do it as long as the baby needs. Then the baby's sucking reflex will be satisfied, and he will not suck his finger.

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