Why do children suck their thumbs?
Thumb-sucking is a good self-comforting tool for a young baby. It can also be a hard habit to break when the baby gets older. Babies might suck their thumbs because they are hungry, sleepy or frustrated. Watch the babies and toddlers to see when they usually suck their thumbs. Some families don’t like thumb-sucking; others may not want you to interfere in the child’s habit. Find out the parents’ attitude towards thumb-sucking.
What to do?
If your host family would like to try to change the child’s habit, get to know the times when the child sucks and try to change his environment when those times come. For example, does Hunter tend to suck his thumb when he has played for a long time? Maybe he is getting tired and frustrated. Watch out for signs that he is tired and move him to a more quiet activity or a nap before he even wants to suck his thumb.
If a toddler suddenly begins sucking his thumb when he never used to, this may be a sign of something bothering him. Did he just get a new brother or sister? Has anything changed at his home? Try to deal with why he is sucking his thumb instead of making him simply stop. His thumb-sucking might be a way of asking for help.
Thumb-sucking can lead to infections or to crooked teeth when the child grows older. Usually children have stopped sucking their thumbs on their own long before they are old enough to do that kind of damage.