Pacifiers and Thumbsucking: Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down
Pacifiers and Thumbsucking: Thumbs Up Or Thumbs Down?
Are you tired of seeing your adorable toddler with that thumb stuck in her mouth? Or with a pacifier that he just can’t be without? It’s a question every parent has to wrestle with: should you let your child use a pacifier or suck his thumb, and if so, when should he stop?! Well, you’ll get as many different opinions on this as there are different brands of “binkies.” But just because grandma says “I can’t stand the way she looks with that thing in her mouth,” it doesn’t mean it’s in your child’s best interest to put an end to the practice! Learn what the pros and cons really are – and find out “if, when, and how” to break the habit – on this edition of Keeping kids Healthy!
Guests:
Margaret Bostoen, Age 5
Carla Robison Bostoen, Mother of 3, and Margaret’s mom
Madeline Cunniff, 8 months
Meeri Cunniff, Madeline’s mom
Cheryl Hausman, MD - Behavioral Pediatrician; Medical Director, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Pediatrician Specializing in Behavioral Pediatrics
Tips:
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There is no research indicating that pacifiers or thumbsucking will hurt your child emotionally, and they can provide important psychological comfort to the child.
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The main reasons for choosing to stop pacifier use or thumbsucking is either to make them fit more comfortably within their peer group, or – in a child who is beginning to get permanent teeth – to prevent the development of misaligned teeth.
Techniques for parents who may want to stop their child's use of pacifiers or thumbsucking:
- Parents, lighten up! Relax! This is not a critical issue to your child’s wellbeing
- Don’t let this develop into a power struggle – you want your child to stop because they don’t need it anymore – not just because the child wants to please you.
- Read cues from your child to determine whether he/she is ready to stop.
- Do not force them to stop - allow them to lead the way.
- Avoid activities that you have found, in the past, lead to wanting the pacifier or thumb.
- You can put a bandaid on thumb or use a glove, or something that tastes bitter, to help the process.
- But remember, the key is to work together with your child as a team – to agree together that it’s time to stop, and then work together to accomplish that goal.
Resources
Zero To Three
http://www.zerotothree.org/American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
