The Comforting Thumb
A parent is concerned about their four-and-a-half-year-old daughter's thumb-sucking habit, which occurs during the night without her awareness.
My daughter is four and a half years old and sucks her thumb at night. She started the habit when she was one year old and used to do it all day, especially when she was bored. When she was three, I used a special nail polish meant for people who bite their nails, and it worked — she stopped sucking her thumb!
But in the last 6–8 months, she has started sucking her thumb in the middle of the night, and I have stopped sleeping. She still sleeps with me and my husband, and I find it strange that she has no idea she is doing it. Every time I tell her, "You are sucking your thumb, stop it!" she replies, "Mommy, I am not!" I don't know what to do. At 5 to 7 a.m., I find myself popping her thumb out of her mouth, and I don't sleep! Her teeth are really bad, and I have read that children should stop thumb-sucking by age four to avoid deforming their teeth. I also want her to start sleeping in her own room, but I'm afraid to do so because I won't be around to take her thumb out of her mouth. Please help!
Understanding Thumb-Sucking
When my daughter was about the same age, she did the same thing, and I believed what you believe. So I took her to the dentist for a talk about the potential harm thumb-sucking could do to her teeth. Guess what? He said it did no harm at all and that it was fine to let her continue thumb-sucking. So I did.
Thumb-sucking is a natural comforting behavior for children, and it doesn't necessarily deform the teeth. So, you can allow yourself to sleep and let her suck her thumb; it's okay. If you are concerned, I suggest talking to your own dentist for reassurance.
Encouraging Her to Sleep on Her Own
Here are some steps to help transition your daughter to her own room and address the thumb-sucking concern:
- Plan a Gradual Transition: Suggest to your daughter that when she turns five, she will be old enough to sleep in her own room. She may even decide to stop sucking her thumb on her own by then.
- Create a Comforting Sleep Environment: Buy her a nightlight so she won't be in the dark when she sleeps. Make her room cozy and inviting.
- Establish a Calming Bedtime Routine: Give her a bedtime snack, brush her teeth, and read her a story. Encourage her to start sleeping on her own.
- Stop Worrying About the Thumb: Don't worry too much about the thumb-sucking. Over time, as she becomes more independent and secure in her new routine, she may naturally stop.
Final Thoughts
Thumb-sucking is a common, comforting behavior for children and may not cause the harm you fear. Focus on helping her feel comfortable and secure in her own room, and the rest will likely follow in time.
More About Thumb-Sucking
Elizabeth Morch, a dental hygienist, adds: "Thumb-sucking at 4 years old rarely creates problems for the teeth. However, once the permanent teeth begin to erupt (age 5–6), thumb-sucking can cause significant problems. In severe cases, children can separate the premaxilla (anterior portion of the palate) from the posterior sections and can cause flaring of the anterior teeth. A four year old child that thumbsucks for a couple of hours at night is unlikely to cause damage, and this behaviour often stops by age 5-6 naturally. I would just like this parent to know that if the habit continues when the permanent teeth erupt, seeing a dentist for further advice would be strongly advisable. Timeframes (related to age) are very important for this type of information."
