Thumb and Finger Sucking: 2 Signs That Matter, and What to Try First

Is thumb sucking a problem, or a normal habit?

Sucking starts as a reflex. Babies learn about the world with their mouths. Rachel and Jessica, two occupational therapy assistants, explain this in the video above. A baby mouths a toy to learn its shape and feel. Over time, looking and touching take over.

So the habit on its own is not a crisis. The real question is whether it gets in the way. Rachel and Jessica give four reasons they would step in:

• Safety. The child puts things in the mouth that are not food.
• Germs. Fingers carry them in and out, more so when a child is sick.
• Fitting in. How the habit sits with friends and at school.
• Teeth and mouth. How the mouth and jaw grow.

The teeth reason has an outside authority behind it. The American Dental Association names long, hard sucking as one cause of bite problems. It also links it to changes in the roof of the mouth. How often, how long and how hard your child sucks all matter. The ADA says the worry grows once permanent teeth come in. It also advises against heavy pressure to make a child stop.

Why does giving my child something to chew not stop it?

Rachel and Jessica name a common mistake themselves. In their words: “My child is chewing, so let’s give them something to chew.” Their advice is to step back and look at the whole body first. In their view, the child often needs more input for the whole body. The mouth is one part of it.

They see sucking and chewing as a need the child is trying to meet. Some children reach for the thumb more when they feel worried or angry. To us, that looks like a child looking for calm, not being naughty. Your child is not broken. This visual guide to sensory seekers and avoiders shows two patterns side by side.

Their first move is “heavy work.” That means pushing, pulling and carrying with the big muscles. Ideas from the video:

• Crawl down the hallway, or race on all fours.
• Climb, or hang from the monkey bars with straight arms.
• Push hard against a wall.
• Push a laundry basket full of toys across the floor.

The pair say this muscle work cuts the need to suck and chew. Here is the honest part. The American Academy of Pediatrics said in 2012 that the evidence for sensory therapies was “limited and inconclusive.” Our parent’s guide to sensory processing covers what the AAP said. Our research files hold no study of heavy work for thumb sucking. So treat it as a free thing to try at home. Then watch what happens with your own child.

What else helps, and when should I call a professional?

Rachel and Jessica give an order to work through. Whole body first. Then play with the mouth. Then crunchy food. Chew tools come last.

• Mouth play. Blow bubbles through a straw into soapy water. Blow a cotton ball across the table. Pick up cereal pieces with a straw and move them to another bowl.
• Crunchy food. Apple slices, carrots, celery, peppers and snap peas. A thick smoothie through a straw.
• A busy morning. Animal walks, crawling the hall, a buzzing toothbrush.
• Tools last. Chew necklaces and pencil toppers come after the rest.

Do these more than once a day. Jessica and Rachel put it this way: “You don’t drink one cup of water and you’re good for the day.” Do them before the hard moments, not only after. We wrote more about a child who chews shirts and pencils.

Two signs mean it is time for more than home ideas. The first is teeth. Watch for long, hard sucking once permanent teeth come in. If you see it, ask your dentist to look. The second is mouthing things that are not food, like dirt, rocks or bark. The pair flag this as a safety and nutrition question. Bring it to your pediatrician.

One more point. The AAP said in 2012 that sensory concerns should lead to a wider look. That look covers things like attention, worry, coordination and autism. If the sucking comes with other worries, start with your pediatrician.