Parenting Tips: Worried About Thumb-Sucking? Simple Home Remedies Can Help!

• Thumb-sucking is a common habit in children, often used for comfort when distressed or agitated, or for stimulation when bored.
• For children under five, experts suggest ignoring occasional thumb-sucking if it doesn't harm teeth or fingers.
• Persistent, intense thumb-sucking after age five can lead to issues like crooked teeth.
• Strategies to help stop include feeding hungry babies, providing comfort during sleep, offering toys to idle children, and explaining potential problems to older kids.
• Engaging older children in activities like drawing can keep their hands busy and reduce the urge to thumb-suck.

Why It Matters: Address children's thumb-sucking with age-appropriate strategies, focusing on comfort, engagement, and gentle guidance.