{"id":423,"date":"2025-04-10T16:27:50","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T16:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brushforkids.com\/blog\/?p=423"},"modified":"2025-04-18T16:31:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T16:31:43","slug":"is-thumb-sucking-good-or-bad-for-your-childs-oral-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brushforkids.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/10\/is-thumb-sucking-good-or-bad-for-your-childs-oral-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Thumb-Sucking Good or Bad for Your Child\u2019s Oral Development?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It can feel impossible trying to stay up to date with the best practices for parenting and understanding key milestones of your child\u2019s development, especially when it comes to their oral health. While some parents try to keep their children from sucking their thumb altogether, others may advocate for letting them do it until they stop on their own. So, what option is correct? The answer isn\u2019t so crystal clear! Read on to learn what pediatric dentists<\/a> have to say about thumb and pacifier-sucking (non-nutritive habits) and when it\u2019s time to help your child grow out of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Is It Okay for My Child to Suck Their Thumb?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reality is that thumb-sucking is 100% normal and a natural self-soothing habit that babies develop and continue into toddlerhood. As your child grows, you may find them putting other objects in their mouth as well, which is another way for them to explore their surroundings and gain a better understanding of the world. In many cases, children naturally ween themselves out of this behavior, typically by the age of three, but you may find that they occasionally do it when they\u2019re stressed or anxious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When & How Should My Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once your child reaches three years old, if they haven\u2019t stopped or cut back on non-nutritive habits like thumb and pacifier-sucking, it may be time to intervene. Your pediatric dentist in Hinsdale recommends starting the process of curbing this habit between 18 and 22 months due to the fact that most children have a good sense of object permanence after that. By this time, many children have even found other ways to self-soothe as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use these helpful tips, along with guidance from their pediatric dentist in Hinsdale, to help them break their thumb-sucking habit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n