Question
My 18-month-old daughter frequently sucks her thumb, and she cries and fusses if I try to stop her. How can I get her to stop this behavior? She wakes up very early in the morning, enjoys playing by herself, and is accustomed to sleeping with an adult’s hand or leg while sucking her lips.
Answer
Thumb-sucking in infancy may be a sign of cognitive development, but it can become a bad habit in early childhood. Possible reasons include a lack of maternal love or stress, with the baby using it as a form of self-soothing. It is recommended to provide ample affection and comfort, establish a regular routine, and try using pacifiers or other methods to distract her attention. Additionally, professional child psychological counseling may be needed to seek more profound solutions for the baby’s behavior.