Sucking of fingers means putting fingers or thumb in the mouth.
Some kids even put toys in their mouths. Until they are unaware of toys it's fine but as they grow up the habit should be stopped. Do not ignore this otherwise kids won't stop even in adolescence.
Kids suck fingers to know about it, but the grown-up kid does it due to habitual problems.
Kids below 2 years:
It is completely normal to suck fingers and toes. A newborn is always keen to learn new things and they keep sucking everything they want to know about.
My daughter at 3-4 months used to suck her fingers, I asked my paediatrician about it. She said it's completely normal and doesn't stop her. She even said after a few months she will suck her toes too and yes, she started sucking her toes at 5 months😆.
Kids above 3 years:
It's fine until kids' permanent teeth come but sucking at this age can cause dental problems and through research, it is found that thumb or finger sucking is due to habit continuation.
Stop the kid's habit as early as possible.
It is said that thumb sucking is due to a deficiency of vitamins in kids but it's not yet proven.
The only reason found is dental problems which can worsen if not stopped soon.
What to do?
- Explain to kids why sucking is a bad habit. Talk to them, and tell them about the causes they will have to face if not stopped.
- Give them time, don't think they will stop in a few days.
- Do not ignore this, it affects dental health and also if the hands are not clean they can cause stomach infections.
- Show them various videos explaining why sucking is bad, kids sometimes convince by others' saying and not parents.
Do not stress, give your child time. Every kid is different and so they will take their time but always keep trying.
I hope it helps. Keep reading and enjoy parenthood🥰.
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