What is the cause of thumbsucking

Causes, effects, and how to stop

An adult might suck their thumb because of stress, anxiety, or age regression. Over time, this habit may cause blisters or problems with the teeth.

Many children stop sucking their thumb at a young age. However, some people continue to suck their thumbs into adolescence or adulthood.

In this article, we will discuss the causes and effects of adult thumb sucking and look at how someone can stop sucking their thumb.

Share on PinterestAn adult may suck their thumb if they are feeling anxious or stressed.

There is no reliable data on how many adults suck their thumbs. However, thumb sucking is common in children. Research suggests that around 70%–90% of children suck their thumb.

Many babies also suck their thumbs, sometimes in utero. Most children will gradually stop sucking their thumbs as they get older, usually between the ages of 2–4.

Less commonly, thumb sucking will continue into the teenage years. For some, the habit can continue into adulthood.

Thumb sucking is a natural, instinctive behavior that provides comfort. Doctors call it a non-nutritive sucking habit. This is a group of soothing behaviors that also include the use of pacifiers or comfort blankets.

Babies and children begin sucking their thumbs as a reflex, making them feel secure and safe. The behavior may extend into adulthood for similar reasons. Adults may suck their thumbs as a response to stress or anxiety.

Thumb sucking could also be a response to trauma. Psychological trauma is a mental and physical response to events a person finds extremely stressful. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), common examples include bullying, abuse, or a car accident.

According to Freudian psychoanalysis, a person who encounters challenging events may revert to an earlier stage of development as a way of coping. Psychologists call this age regression. Age regression involves a person adopting the behaviors of someone younger than themselves.

According to the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, this could include behaviors such as:

cuddling stuffed animals
engaging in baby talk
sucking objects or body parts, such as the thumb

If a person’s thumb sucking is the result of trauma, they will also experience other signs of trauma, such as:

feeling alert, on edge, or unable to sleep
intense guilt, shame, anger, or panic
flashbacks to the traumatic event

Learn more about trauma types, symptoms, and treatments.

Thumb sucking in babies and children is generally harmless. However, excessive thumb sucking can lead to problems. According to a 2020 article, people who suck their thumb for long periods can develop certain health conditions.

Blisters

Excessive thumb sucking can cause blisters on the thumb. Blisters are fluid-filled lumps that form under the skin. They usually occur when the skin is damaged.

It may be necessary to prevent thumb sucking while the blister heals. A band-aid can protect it from further damage. Avoid bursting the blister to reduce the risk of infection.

Hyperkeratosis

Keratin is a tough protein that hardens the skin. In hyperkeratosis, the skin forms additional layers of keratin, making it tough and hard. This can happen in response to the skin being repeatedly irritated.

Thumb sucking can irritate and put pressure on the skin, which can lead to calluses or corns. Hyperkeratosis can also lead to chronic skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.

Tooth misalignment

Over time, thumb sucking can also lead to someone’s teeth moving out of alignment, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Some people can also develop an overbite.

Dental problems are more common in those who suck their thumb more intensely. Having the thumb passively in the mouth is less likely to lead to tooth misalignment.

The methods that help a person stop sucking their thumb will depend on the cause. If they notice that they suck their thumb in times of stress or worry, addressing this may help.

A person could try:

replacing thumb sucking with a different stress-relieving activity, such as exercise or meditation
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help someone change specific beliefs that may contribute to their anxiety
other types of therapy, such as psychotherapy

The ADA suggest a variety of ways that a parent or caregiver can encourage a child to stop sucking its thumb. An adult can also try similar tactics, such as bandaging the thumb. This makes it difficult to suck, which can help reduce the behavior.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicate that techniques that help people break other habits may also help someone who wants to stop thumb sucking, such as:

setting small goals, such as not sucking the thumb for one day, and then slowly building up
giving oneself rewards for each small milestone
mentally rehearse not sucking the thumb in situations that normally trigger the behavior
asking trusted friends, family, or coworkers for support

If someone is concerned about their thumb sucking habit, they may wish to talk to a doctor or therapist for advice. A dentist may also be able to help with any impact thumb sucking has on the teeth.

Many babies and young children suck their thumbs, but most stop by the age of 4. However, some people will continue to suck their thumb into adulthood. Vigorous thumb sucking can cause blisters, calluses, and dental problems.

Sucking their thumb may help an adult feel calm and reassured after experiencing stress or anxiety. Some people may suck their thumb in respsonse to trauma. Addressing the reasons behind the thumb sucking might help someone to stop.

Causes, effects, and how to stop

An adult might suck their thumb because of stress, anxiety, or age regression. Over time, this habit may cause blisters or problems with the teeth.

Many children stop sucking their thumb at a young age. However, some people continue to suck their thumbs into adolescence or adulthood.

In this article, we will discuss the causes and effects of adult thumb sucking and look at how someone can stop sucking their thumb.

Share on PinterestAn adult may suck their thumb if they are feeling anxious or stressed.

There is no reliable data on how many adults suck their thumbs. However, thumb sucking is common in children. Research suggests that around 70%–90% of children suck their thumb.

Many babies also suck their thumbs, sometimes in utero. Most children will gradually stop sucking their thumbs as they get older, usually between the ages of 2–4.

Less commonly, thumb sucking will continue into the teenage years. For some, the habit can continue into adulthood.

According to the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, this could include behaviors such as:

cuddling stuffed animals
engaging in baby talk
sucking objects or body parts, such as the thumb

If a person’s thumb sucking is the result of trauma, they will also experience other signs of trauma, such as:

feeling alert, on edge, or unable to sleep
intense guilt, shame, anger, or panic
flashbacks to the traumatic event

Learn more about trauma types, symptoms, and treatments.

Blisters

Excessive thumb sucking can cause blisters on the thumb. Blisters are fluid-filled lumps that form under the skin. They usually occur when the skin is damaged.

It may be necessary to prevent thumb sucking while the blister heals. A band-aid can protect it from further damage. Avoid bursting the blister to reduce the risk of infection.

Hyperkeratosis

Thumb sucking can irritate and put pressure on the skin, which can lead to calluses or corns. Hyperkeratosis can also lead to chronic skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.

Tooth misalignment

Over time, thumb sucking can also lead to someone’s teeth moving out of alignment, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Some people can also develop an overbite.

Dental problems are more common in those who suck their thumb more intensely. Having the thumb passively in the mouth is less likely to lead to tooth misalignment.

The methods that help a person stop sucking their thumb will depend on the cause. If they notice that they suck their thumb in times of stress or worry, addressing this may help.

A person could try:

replacing thumb sucking with a different stress-relieving activity, such as exercise or meditation
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help someone change specific beliefs that may contribute to their anxiety
other types of therapy, such as psychotherapy

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicate that techniques that help people break other habits may also help someone who wants to stop thumb sucking, such as:

setting small goals, such as not sucking the thumb for one day, and then slowly building up
giving oneself rewards for each small milestone
mentally rehearse not sucking the thumb in situations that normally trigger the behavior
asking trusted friends, family, or coworkers for support

If someone is concerned about their thumb sucking habit, they may wish to talk to a doctor or therapist for advice. A dentist may also be able to help with any impact thumb sucking has on the teeth.

Reasons why a child sucks his thumb

From the moment a child is born until the time when he becomes an adult, the life of his parents is a continuous series of exciting happy events and experiences. They first deal with an adorable baby who mostly sleeps and eats. But the baby is growing, and he has certain features. One of the most common childhood habits is perhaps the most incomprehensible to moms and dads: almost all babies suck their thumbs. Why? Let's figure it out. nine0003

Causes of the thumb sucking habit

According to the information provided on the NEN Parent Community website, thumb sucking is an absolutely natural action for a baby. Until a certain age, sucking movements are directly associated with the process of breastfeeding or bottle feeding. By making such movements, the child shows that he is hungry. When a baby begins to explore the world around him, sucking his thumb makes him feel safe. In toddlers, some babies continue to suck on their thumb to calm down or fall asleep faster. nine0003

Impact of thumb sucking on tooth development

The main concern of parents is whether this habit will continue in the child when permanent teeth begin to appear. Thumb sucking can affect a baby's oral development, tooth alignment, and palate formation. However, everything here depends mainly on how actively and often the child sucks his thumb. If the baby just sometimes holds his finger in his mouth, the likelihood of dental problems is much lower than if the child constantly sucks his finger intensively, with considerable effort. nine0003

Should I be worried?

Dentists advise parents to listen to the sound that occurs when the baby takes his finger out of his mouth. Specific cotton indicates that the child sucks his thumb too intensively. You hear a similar but quieter sound when you take a pacifier out of your baby's mouth. It should be noted that pacifier sucking can have the same effects as thumb sucking, but to a lesser extent, as pacifier babies tend to suck less aggressively. Many children themselves give up the habit of sucking their thumbs between the ages of two and four. nine0003

How to wean a child from sucking his thumb

If the child continues to suck his thumb, do not rush to start an uncompromising struggle with this habit. The less categorical your prohibitions are, the easier it will be for the baby to give up this activity, and the problem will disappear by itself. If it doesn't, try the following:

Ask your dentist for information on all oral health issues.
Try to identify the reasons for the persistence of the habit as early as possible. As you already know, some children suck their thumb when they are stressed. Watch your child to understand why he starts to suck his thumb, and then talk to him and eliminate the problem that makes him worried and nervous. nine0030

Many new parents wonder why their children suck their thumbs. You can not worry - this is a completely natural, reflex need, which most often disappears by itself over time. Focus your efforts on caring for your child's teeth as soon as they appear. Use the right baby toothpaste to keep your little one's teeth strong and healthy, no matter how difficult the process of teething and growth is.

The child sucks his thumb, what to do about it? nine0006

After all, many experts warn that a seemingly harmless childhood habit is followed by a chain of unpleasant consequences, such as: malocclusion, infection of the gums, destruction of the enamel on the nail plate, etc.

Parents, realizing what serious consequences this is fraught with, try to wean their children from this pernicious habit at all costs. ...

birth, it can begin to manifest itself from the age of three months, when the baby's need for sucking is very pronounced, and he can already control his own movements so much that he can put his finger in his mouth. If the development of the child is successful, then by the year all this will pass. nine0003

Children can suck not only their thumb, but also other objects. Usually these are the same items. Taking them out of sight, as in the case of sucking a pacifier, you can cause a substitution reaction - the child will simply switch to another thing. Simultaneously with thumb sucking, many babies make some other compulsive movements, for example, you can watch them stroking their ears, picking their nose, licking their lips, or sniffing. Habits of this kind help the child calm down, distract from fears, occupy himself in the absence of attention from parents, their affection and communication. nine0003

Very often, such movements are fixed in the baby as a conditioned reflex. For example, a runny nose that repeats several times a year turns into a habit of sniffing, and drying and cracking lips - to their involuntary licking.

Causes of habit formation.

1. Psychological reasons. If the habit of sucking a finger or other objects does not disappear in the right period, being transferred from early childhood to preschool, or, having disappeared, reappears after three years, this is a signal that the child has mental discomfort. Finger sucking indicates that something is bothering the baby, he is not doing well, and he cannot cope with it on his own. The extreme case is "falling into infancy", i.e. he may partially lose acquired skills, speech becomes more childish. This phenomenon indicates a clear trouble, that the child's psyche suffers. nine0003

The main reasons for the appearance of an obsessive habit: quarrels of parents, constant conflicts, divorce and, as a result, leaving the baby to himself. The lack of children's communication and toys, the severity of parents, constant prohibitions and requirements to behave perfectly can also cause thumb sucking.

2. Residual sucking reflex. The sucking reflex and its important role in the development of the infant was discussed in detail in another of our articles (note "Types of Bad Habits - Pacifier Sucking."), since finger sucking may have a similar cause as pacifier sucking. An unsatisfied sucking reflex, when the mother does not breastfeed the baby enough and at the same time does not give a pacifier, can be expressed in the fact that the child begins to put fingers, toys, corners of a pillow or blanket into her mouth. nine0003

3. Hunger . The reason for sucking fingers can also be feeding the child "by the clock" and the hunger that he may experience in between. This habit from physiological can become permanent, obsessive, if you do not change the child's diet. Thumb sucking is never seen in children who are kept by their mothers at the breast for as long as the baby wants.

4. Teething. Teething becomes a completely natural physiological cause of sucking fingers or other objects in children after six months. The gums begin to itch, teeth form, and the child can begin to eliminate the source of anxiety in this way. But do not allow the baby to pull fingers or foreign objects into his mouth. nine0003

5. Medical reasons. As in the case of constant pacifier sucking, thumb sucking may indicate a weakened state of health, constant colds, the presence of helminthic invasions or neuropathies in the baby, as well as intestinal infections.

Physical and psychological ways to fight the habit

Among the psychological reasons for sucking a thumb or other objects, the most basic is the lack of love from parents, especially mothers. Children feel even a veiled hostility and dissatisfaction with them, as a result of which the understanding comes to them that they are unloved and unwanted children. And this understanding becomes a trigger mechanism that provokes the appearance of a harmful compensatory habit in a child. He unwittingly finds a worthy sedative, which is thumb sucking, for example. By the way, there is an opinion among doctors that sucking a finger with a fetus even before birth indicates an unfavorable course of pregnancy in the mother (anxiety, neurosis, pain). If you look closely at the baby at the moment when he sucks his finger, you can see in action a compensatory mechanism that allows the child to cope with psychological discomfort - while sucking a finger or other object, he seems to forget, covering his eyes, disconnecting from the outside world, maybe even smack with pleasure. For such children, thumb sucking compensates for the lack of attention, reducing their loneliness and inseparability of feelings. nine0003

The only way to get out of this situation is to increase the amount of positive attention paid by parents to the child, caress and warmth when communicating with him. Thus, the baby will not feel unwanted and unloved. The same should be done if parents have communication problems. Quarrels, conflicts, scandals of adults with a child are fertile ground for the appearance of obsessive habits and subsequent neuroses in him. A child who witnesses this behavior may feel guilty about what is happening to his parents. In addition, children are much more charged with the emotions reigning around than adults, and therefore they experience each scandal much more acutely. And for relaxation, they will use what they can - bad habits. nine0003

The main advice for parents whose baby has begun to suck a thumb is not to force the fingers out of the mouth. If the child is breastfed, it is better to extend the feeding to 30-40 minutes so that he can satisfy the sucking reflex and be with his mother. Usually the baby manages to drink all the milk from the mother's breast in 10 minutes, the remaining time he just enjoys being next to her, in safety and straining the milk drop by drop. Thus, by stretching the feeding, you can avoid the fact that the child pulls the handle into his mouth. nine0003

With artificial feeding, this method of increasing the feeding time also pays off. Usually, when bottle-feeding, the baby drinks everything in the same 10 minutes. But the nipple wears out over time, and the baby grows and becomes stronger, because of this, feeding time may decrease. Therefore, in order to stretch the feeding time, you need to change the nipples, make sure that the hole in it is small. Then the child will have to work hard to drink milk, thereby satisfying his sucking reflex. nine0003

In addition, the number of feedings and their time should not be reduced if the baby has been observed to be thumb sucking. You can distract him by holding him. A child at this age looks very carefully at the face of the mother, so you can support him in your arms for a longer time. If the baby cannot fall asleep without a finger or a pacifier in his mouth, it is necessary that the mother sit next to the bed, talk calmly with the child before going to bed, hold his hands for a while so that he cannot put his fingers in his mouth, calm down and fall asleep. nine0003

The older the child, the more difficult it is to wean him from sucking his thumb. Along with increased tender attention, one should try to instill confidence in the child in his own strength, placing on him small duties that he is able to cope with under the guidance of his parents. In preschool children, the habit of sucking or chewing something may be associated with increased anxiety and a state of fear. Therefore, first of all, parents need to find out the cause of nervous discomfort in the child and eliminate it. For example, child psychologist Milton Erickson helped a six-year-old kid cope with thumb sucking and nail biting in this way: he told the child's parents in his presence that not all parents understand what babies need. That every kid at the age of 6 should suck his finger and bite his nails, and that he can and even needs to suck his finger and bite his nails for his own pleasure, as all youngsters wish. But when he becomes a big adult boy of 7 years old, then sucking his thumb and biting his nails will already be awkward for him, not that age. Thus, having inspired the boy with self-confidence, the psychologist saved him from this habit, since the boy waited for his seventh birthday (which came after 2 months, he gave up this habit.

Everyone knows such a feature of babies as a tendency to imitate adults. Seeing that mom paints her nails, almost all children, even boys, ask to paint them too. Having shown a creative approach to the issue, you can come up with a game for the child in the “hairdresser's”, but with one condition that the nails of the little “visitor” should remain beautiful and well-groomed until his next visit to the “hairdresser's”. In this way, you can influence the baby's habit of pulling boys into his mouth.

Physically, it is possible to influence the habit of sucking a child's finger, which is just beginning, in several ways. For example, if the baby has no allergies, put fluffy mittens on his hands. Having tried to chew suddenly hairy fingers, the child will stop pulling them into his mouth after a while. In addition, you can make cardboard tubes 10-15 cm long, which can be put on the baby's elbows. They will prevent the arms from bending, and after a few sessions, the child will also stop putting his finger in his mouth. nine0003

If the cause of thumb sucking is hunger, therefore, the child's diet should be reviewed so that during breaks he does not put his fingers in his mouth. In addition, sometimes the cause of thumb sucking is the problem of a sunken nipple, due to which the baby cannot eat normally, and, as a result, swallows air, burps, and is naughty. And then he calms down by sucking his thumb. To prevent this situation and combat sticky nipples, you need to equalize the pressure inside the bottle and outside it. To do this, in the upper wide part of the nipple, you need to make a hole where a clean, narrow cocktail tube is inserted. Each time you will need to use a new clean straw. This method will allow the baby to suck out milk without swallowing air or spitting up. The sucking reflex will thus be satisfied, and the fingers will no longer attract the child. nine0003

In addition to thumb sucking, children develop the habit of holding their fingers in their mouths. The mechanism of this sucking habit is somewhat different from that of pacifier or finger sucking, but does not stand out in a separate category. This habit is very stable, it can haunt a person all his life, manifesting itself in stressful periods of his life in a mild form - a person can simply keep part of his finger in his mouth, focusing on some thought and not thinking about external behavior.

The reason for this habit is internal discomfort, which can provoke any stimulus. Children in this way can express their protest against the inattention of their parents, the fact that they are left alone for a long time. Or they are tormented by an unsolvable question for children's consciousness. nine0003

The best cure for this habit is the attention of adults. Talk to your baby before bed. Calm and gentle communication from day to day will help relieve tension in the child, he will become calmer and will not be so excitable in the evening before bedtime.

In addition, children may keep their fingers in their mouths out of boredom. And in this case, the child needs to be occupied with something interesting, distracted, given an entertaining task. For example, buy a clay whistle and talk about the traditions of Ancient Rus', about a holiday called Whistle, when children and adults devoted several spring days to what they made, decorated with ribbons and gave clay whistles to each other and whistled in them. nine0003

A child can also be influenced verbally. For example, before a long separation (kindergarten), you can kiss all the fingers of the child and ask him to keep the whole kiss. Of course, it needs to be clarified that washing hands before eating will not wash away kisses.

The habit of holding a finger in the mouth can also be an indication of the baby's jealousy of a brother or sister. The child may be dissatisfied with this, try to attract increased attention to himself to make sure that the parents still love him. Therefore, he can curl up, keep his finger in his mouth, pretending that he is still very small and very much in need of them. In such a situation, the child must be treated with understanding, to convince him that he is still loved, and the youngest child is not his competitor in the struggle for parental attention. nine0003

If a child holds his finger in his mouth before falling asleep, it means that he is tense, excited, trying to cope with his condition. To get rid of this habit, parents must put him to bed, tell a good story that will not excite the baby with colorful details, but, on the contrary, will calm him down. If the child is not self-confident, then you can praise him, tell him what good things he did that day, while gently holding his hand so that he does not pull it into his mouth. Such gentle constant parental care will certainly give results, and the tension will release the child after a while. nine0003

The material was prepared according to: Yu.V. Potapova, M.P. Shatalin Crises of childhood: obsessive habits in children.

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Abahaba is a family club where children and parents have fun and enjoy their time. Creativity, communication, exciting activities and family weekends, here everyone will find what he likes. We offer ample opportunities for the development and education of children, the smallest crumbs can attend early development programs, and older children can attend developmental classes and creative studios. Each meeting is an opportunity to express yourself, reveal your abilities and enrich your inner world, and a pleasant atmosphere and professional teachers will make your stay in the club bright and unforgettable. nine0003

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