Finger in the mouth in children: meaning and remedies
"Get your hands out of your mouth!" How many times have we heard mothers address this peremptory invitation to their puppies? Yet, as we explained above "indeed, thumb sucking is a natural and instinctive gesture that appears already before birth (in many ultrasound scans you can see the fetus bringing the finger to the mouth) and for this there is no reason to prevent it. , quite different: for the newborn, in fact, sucking the thumb or the entire fist of the hand is a pleasure and also a way of calming down (while hunger c "enters little or nothing). As the child grows, however, the benefits of sucking decrease and the finger in the mouth can have a negative effect on the development of the dental arches: only in this case, if he has not already lost the habit alone (as happens in most part of the cases), should be "encouraged" to stop sucking the finger.
Why do babies suck their thumbs?
Yeah, why do babies suck their thumbs? Obviously it is useless to ask the interested parties, since they would hardly answer! But it is a common opinion, supported by authoritative medical studies, that the meaning of the finger in the mouth in children is to be found in a form of consolation and compensation to which the little one resorts in stressful conditions, for example during the night or in moments of momentary detachment from the reference figure (the mother in primis). The thumb-sucking gesture allows him to release tension and is a powerful antidote to fear and a sense of loneliness for the child, making him feel relaxed and protected instead.
Thumb sucking, which as mentioned already begins in the womb, usually occurs in the first three months of life, rarely later. It concerns about 80% of newborns and does not depend on hunger needs.
When is the time to take your finger out of children's mouths?
Up to the age of three or four, the finger in the mouth is an occasional pleasure that should not in any way be denied to the child. It is a harmless behavior that often tends to disappear on its own in the instant in which the child develops other mechanisms. to calm down or not to get bored, or when he begins to "socially" hang out with his little peers. However, it may happen that the habit continues for a longer time, after the age of four or five. Why does this happen? According to some, the insistence on thumb sucking could be due to early weaning or problems related to stressful family situations and emotional shortages.
And this is precisely the moment in which it is necessary to intervene to remove the finger in the mouth of children. In fact, there is a risk that the habit of thumb sucking beyond the right age can cause problems in the long run by changing the shape of the palate and thus creating imbalances in the child's teeth, not to mention other discomfort such as the possible infection to the nail of the sucked finger (due to the microbes that take root in an area of macerated skin and therefore without defenses). Furthermore, the child who sucks the thumb easily introduces air into the stomach resulting in bloating.
How to get babies to stop sucking their finger: the most common remedies
We have seen that when they pass a certain age (usually 4 or 5 years) it becomes important to make children stop sucking their finger: luckily the remedies are there and usually always work. It is enough just to approach the "problem" with the right attitude, remembering that interrupting an activity as reassuring as the beloved thumb sucking can have psychological implications for the child, since he will experience it as a painful loss. Patience and perseverance on the part of mum and dad are therefore necessary, also because probable relapses must be taken into account.
So, let's see how to remove the finger in the mouth of children: first of all it is absolutely necessary to avoid resorting to oppression, trying to make them stop by force or even violence (even if only verbal). This would only increase their stubbornness, obtaining the opposite effect. It is also not recommended to use remedies that are a bit "extreme" such as bitter nail polish or vinegar.
On the other hand, it is essential to work above all on the self-esteem of children, offering them many activities and manual games to favor their autonomy and shift their interests to external reality, thus preventing them from resorting to the consoling practice of sucking their thumb. A good tactic also consists in establishing prizes to be given to children when they do not suck their thumbs (not necessarily a toy, an extra amount of kisses or cuddles, the promise of a trip or a walk in the park, etc. may be enough.) Or think of a useful palliative which could be a particularly welcome dish.
Better pacifier or finger in mouth?
It is a doubt that haunts many mothers but in reality the solution is quite simple: the pacifier of the finger in the mouth is much better, for various reasons. For example, contrary to thumb sucking, the pacifier not only does not interfere with teething but, on the contrary, promotes the correct development of the mouth: in fact, while the finger exerts a very intense pressure on the teeth and on the palate, the anatomical pacifier is perfectly adapted to the child's mouth, ensuring a correct distribution of the pressure of the tongue on the palate. Furthermore, the habit of the finger in the mouth is more difficult to remove: the pacifier can be made to disappear, the baby's thumb cannot.
The finger in the mouth of children: the opinion of mothers
In the Alfemminile forum, many mothers share daily opinions and testimonies on the subject of thumb sucking, comparing themselves with other mothers sensitive to the issue. There are those who ask for help because the child does not want to let go of their thumb, and those who ask illuminating opinions on how and when to get rid of the habit of the finger, while a worried mother wants to understand why her child has started to get nervous. hands and fingers in the mouth and yet another tries to know if it is better to switch to the pacifier. A world made up of mothers always ready to listen and to give valuable advice on this and other topics of the female universe.
