Advice If Your Baby Sucks On His Fingers

Children resort to several habits to relax and be satisfied. Some of these practices can have harmful consequences for their health. Therefore, we will give you some advice if your baby sucks on his fingers.

Mothers have many concerns regarding certain types of behavior in their children. One of the most common questions arises if a baby sucks on his fingers. Generally, it is a habit that occurs while the baby is in the womb. Therefore, it is completely normal in newborns and it lasts, as a rule, for a long time.

Most babies put a single finger in their mouth and suck on it. Others prefer two fingers or even parts of their fist. Some rub themselves with a blanket or cloth while sucking. It’s all part of a baby’s beautiful ritual or natural relaxation. But, for how long is this behavior considered normal?

Why do babies suck on their fingers?

By sucking on his fingers, pacifiers or cloths, an appropriate contact is established between the baby and the world around him or her. This habit can last up to 2 or 3 years. If the child is nervous, insecure or very spoiled, they can last much longer.

How long can I allow it?

It is advisable to monitor this habit and not let it last too long  as it can have consequences for your baby’s health. Many children stop this practice by themselves. Others have a little more trouble and need help, while some replace their fingers with a pacifier.

Generally,  this habit is associated with the need to calm down in an unpleasant situation or feeling. You could say it’s their way of relaxing.

If children suck on their fingers for a long time, it  increases the likelihood of defects or abnormalities  that will show up on the teeth and gums later, as well as problems with the jaw joint.

My baby sucks on his fingers – what are the consequences?

Infants who start sucking on their fingers at a very young age often get  many problems with their mouths. Having your fingers permanently in your mouth can delay the eruption of your teeth and cause deformities.

As a consequence, sucking and pushing with the tongue will probably create a need for the use of braces in the future.

When a baby puts pressure on the palate and pushes it upwards, what is called an ogival palate is created. This impulse steals the necessary space for the nostrils to breathe properly and therefore it can be the cause of breathing through the mouth.

Furthermore,  the fingers will prevent the tongue from moving freely. It creates flat tongue syndrome,  which can lead to speech problems.

Another problem is that the upper teeth move forward – especially the two in the middle. This is known as open bite or malocclusion. To improve this deformity, it is necessary to use special braces on the teeth.

However, not all consequences are oral. This habit can also cause certain problems in other parts of the body, such as headaches and pain in the ears.

How can you stop your baby sucking on his fingers?

Taking into account all the consequences of long-term practice of this habit, it is of utmost importance that parents respond in a timely manner. It will always be a process that takes time when one wants to get his baby to stop sucking on his fingers as it creates many satisfying feelings in the baby.

If the baby places his fingers in his mouth to fall asleep, you can choose to give your baby a soft rag doll or a stuffed animal to help him or her relax through touch.

If the habit only takes place when the baby is alone or bored, it is best to offer alternative activities. That way, you make the child feel encouraged and accompanied. For example, you can go for a walk, read a book, tell a personal story or play a game.

On the other hand, there are other, old-fashioned alternatives that may have worked in the past. It was, for example, putting gloves on the baby, putting bandages or bandages on the finger or smearing unpleasant substances on the fingers – such as spices or lemon.

However,  nowadays, it is better to work with positive reinforcement through reward  when your baby does not spend time sucking on his fingers. That way, your child will feel motivated to achieve the goal of getting his or her reward.

With this motivation and demonstrations of pride after each period when the child does not put his fingers in his mouth, you will have the most important element to minimize the consequences of this innate habit successfully. Of course, you also have to accompany this with lots of patience and perseverance.