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Digit sucking is very normal infant behavior. However, millions of children continue the activity well beyond early childhood. Unfortunately, they rise significant and often preventable dental, speech, learning and emotional problems.
The prolonged sucking activity is a source of frustration and confusion to parents and professionals alike. The following information is not intended to stimulate alarm among parents. Its purpose is to help you understand the sucking behavior, stimulate an attitude of tolerance and prevention and find positive courses of action that will benefit you and your child.
The Beginnings
Through ultrasound imaging, we know that many infants suck their thumbs and fingers in the womb. Many babies begin the activity between three and six months when motor skills are sufficiently developed to effectively bring a thumb or finger to the mouth at will. Many toddlers will begin digit sucking by imitating the sucking activity of a sibling or other children at daycare or preschool.
It is common misconception that children who suck pacifiers will rarely suck thumbs or fingers or bite their nails. Many children become programmed to habitual sucking activity through overuse of pacifiers. These youngsters often begin sucking thumbs or fingers when parents discontinue the use of the pacifier. They may also begin sucking their tongue, lip, blanket, nails, or other object when the pacifier is taken away.
The Biological, Psychological and Physiological Connection
Many activities create changes in mood through increased and decreased neurotransmission and subsequent alteration in brain chemistry. Decreased neurotransmission during digit sucking induces a calming, relaxing sensation that is associated with the production of endorphins, which also reduce feelings of discomfort or pain. As time passes, children often indulge in the pleasure of the sucking activity unconsciously. Some cues that stimulate digit sucking are fatigue, boredom, excitement, hunger, fear, and physical or emotional stress.
The Vicious Cycle
Many parents unwittingly-entrench-the behavior by trying to eliminate the habit too soon-before the child can understand why digit sucking is a problem or has adequate emotional development to practice self-control. They begin using gentle reminders, Band Aids, charts, prizes, socks and gloves. When these methods fail, frustration sets in and parents resort to punitive measures such as foul tasting liquids painted on the offending digit, nagging denying privileges, or shaming the child. Such tactics only make matters worse by creating anxiety and physical distress-the very cues that stimulate the desire for the relief that digit sucking and nail biting provides.
The Emotionally crippling consequences
It is a common assumption that children with a digit sucking habit or nail biting are emotionally insecure. Often however, it is the habit and the negative response of others to it that lead to emotional trauma. Abnormal dental and speech development can compound the negative responses and psychological distress. Eventually these children can begin viewing themselves as inadequate or flawed.
Child Development: An Important Consideration
Research has shown that a child’s thought processes and perceptions of the world are quite different depending on his her age and stage of emotional and intellectual development. In deciding when to begin to program to eliminate a sucking habit, it is important that the child is able to: Understand cause and effect relationships, grasp another person’s point of view, comprehend concepts of time, have some appreciation of intrinsic values( doing something out of a sense of pride because it is the right thing to do), Discriminate between right and wrong, Practice some degree of self-control and self-denial. Most five year olds are developmentally ready to meet these criteria. Preschoolers are not.
Intellectual & Emotional Development of Preschoolers
It is very difficult to understand abstract concepts, logical reasoning and cause and effect relationships. Comments about crooked teeth from digit sucking have little impact on this age group because they are not concerned about appearances. Their thought processes are dominated by sensory impressions. They only understand the pleasure they derive from the sucking activity and nail biting and cannot comprehend why adults want them to quit.
When parents promise a reward next week for not sucking, they may as well be talking about 100 yrs from now because preschoolers live minute to minute, understanding the here and now. They remember the promise of a reward because they are oriented toward self gratification and the need for this gratification is immediate. They know nothing about patience, self control or self deprivation.
All children rely on the sucking activity to induce realization and sleep. Nightmares are common in preschoolers, with their fantasy oriented stage of development and vivid imaginations. It is unreasonable to expect these children to give up the comfort of the sucking activity when they truly believe that monsters lurk under their bed. Preschoolers can be cajoled into tiring not to suck by the promise of a reward, but will often hide under a blanket and sneak a little suck, then deny the transgression. They are not lying deliberately because they have not reached the stage of development where they can understand being dishonest. They simply do not want to miss out on the promised treat and cannot sort out what they wished had happened from what really did.
Because many preschoolers are very articulate, parents assume that they are more mature than they actually are. If pressed beyond their capabilities these children suffer “burnout” and frustration to the point where they resist any program to eliminate the nail biting or sucking habit. Each time they try and fail, they lose self confidence and eventually come to believe they cannot succeed. This is where parental involvement can guide the child through the process of reaching a goal, and the small defeats that may sometimes arise in getting there.
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