Young mothers sooner or later have a question: "How to wean a child from sucking a finger?" They are trying to find an answer to it among the older generation. You can ask your grandmother or mother in law for advice, consult a pediatrician. First of all, you should find the reason why the baby pulls a finger in his mouth. Now let's try to figure it out.
Doctors have found that such an action can lead to malocclusion, as well as to deformation of the lower jaw of the child. And if the baby’s teeth are already beginning to cut, then sucking a finger can affect their growth, leading to curvature. But finding out where this addiction comes from, the scientists came to the conclusion with the help of ultrasound that, not yet born, the baby begins to suck his fingers. This is his reflex basic need - the need for food.
If a young mother breastfeeds a baby, then it is quite possible that the child will not have such a habit. If you see that your child begins to deliciously “smack his fingers”, then increase the frequency of feeding, because your baby is simply hungry. From three months, the
teeth begin to
cut in children
, and therefore there is an urgent need to constantly nibble. Doctors advise at this time to buy special gnawing bites so that they are always with the baby. Special chamomile-based cooling gels are sold in stores that can facilitate teething.
How to wean a child from sucking a finger if he is already older than six months?
If the baby is already more than six months old, and he continues to suck his fingers, then this procedure is more soothing in nature. Perhaps the baby is worried or upset about something, something is disturbing him, he feels discomfort. This lesson will be his medicine. American pediatricians do not see any problem at all, and most importantly, the need for how to wean a child from sucking a finger, especially in the application of punitive measures, as is customary in Russia. In addition, our grandmother’s methods are very relevant, in particular this: smear the fingers with a bitter remedy (for example, pepper). Can you be sure that the little one will not rub eyes with his hand? Some moms even wear special cuffs that hamper the baby's movements. And you try to approach the solution of this problem without aggression and negativity, but with love and your motherly tenderness. Maybe he is just afraid of being alone in his crib? In this case, stay longer in the child’s room, read a fairy tale to him, show calm pictures. Classical music or the sounds of nature can be a good therapy. Such a recipe will help: wean a child to suck a finger by singing. Sing him yourself a gentle lullaby, holding the handles slightly, if the baby wants to pull them into his mouth.
The kid is already very big
If the baby is already more than a year old, then try to talk to him gently and gently, come up with an instructive story about why you can’t suck a finger. And most importantly - never scold your child, do not say that he is "bad", because you can injure your baby.
How to wean a child from sucking a finger? This is not an easy task, but if you enter his position, understand him as a loving mother, then you will certainly succeed.