Question
My baby is eight months old and he often puts his right thumb in his mouth. He even has to suck on it while sleeping. Some people told me that as children grow older, they will naturally stop this behavior. Is this true? I’m mainly worried that his fingers might get something wrong, and also that his teeth might have issues, as he has three teeth on top now and they are particularly sparse. I hope the doctor can give me some guidance, thank you.
Answer
When children are teething, their gums can become itchy, so it’s recommended to give them biscuits, noodles, and other foods to help them break the habit of finger-sucking. Long-term finger-sucking may be detrimental to tooth growth. For parents, it’s very important to detect and treat children’s finger-sucking habits early on to ensure their healthy growth.