Getting kids to finally give up their soothers can be a nightmare of a process.
When they become so dependent on them for comfort, it can be quite the task to end the habit.
According to the HSE, thumb sucking and soothers can affect your child’s tooth and jaw development – particularly when adult teeth start to appear in their mouth.
It can affect their jaw even when they still have baby teeth, so at some point, it is advised that you encourage your child to do something else instead.
Your child may not have enough time to practice using their lips and tongue for talking or may not want to talk.
This may take some time to correct.
A child who is thumb-sucking or using a soother may not have the same opportunities to talk, the HSE warns.
However, there are many ways you can help a child to give up the habit without causing too much upset.
Some ways to try and combat the issue include:
- Only use soothers at set times
- Remove the soother when the child is asleep
- Take your child’s soother out when they are trying to talk or busy playing
- Give them rewards other than food. For older children, try using a star chart to praise them
- Do not replace lost soothers. Throw all other soothers away
- Give the soother to Santa, Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny
- Once your child has given up the soother, do not be tempted to give it back. They will forget about it in time
If your child sucks their thumb, here are some tips for kicking the habit:
- Give your child something else to do with their hands when they are playing or relaxing. They will be less likely to suck their thumb
- Make sure your child’s hands are clean so they do not get an infection in their mouth
- Give your child encouragement. Praise them for small successes when they try to stop thumb-sucking
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