To stop thumb sucking, the child must want to stop on their own; otherwise, parental support alone is not effective.
Even the transition away from a pacifier should be decided by the child, making the initial period without their beloved “comfort object” easier.
The risk of replacing the pacifier with thumb sucking is lower in this case. If so, it is better to allow the child to keep the pacifier.
The following six tips will make it easier to transition away from the pacifier or thumb sucking:
- Observe when your child needs the thumb or pacifier the most. Many children suck out of boredom or habit rather than for comfort. Keep the child engaged in activities and ensure that using the thumb or pacifier makes those activities more difficult. For example, read a book together and discuss it afterward, explaining that you can’t understand them if their mouth is “full.” If the child sucks their thumb during the day, give them small tasks that require both hands.
- Be gentle. If your child still uses the pacifier frequently, do not take it away suddenly. Avoid punishments or applying bitter substances to their nails, as these rarely work. As a “shock treatment” for persistent thumb suckers, you can show pictures of severe dental damage caused by prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking (this approach may not suit all children, so it’s up to you to decide).
- Never punish but reward successes! Punishments cause stress, increasing the child’s need for thumb or pacifier sucking. This is not an effective way to break the habit. Praise your child for each night they go without sucking their thumb or pacifier. Even better, offer a small reward for the first few days or nights without it. Give them a small gift or surprise. You can create a simple calendar—each day or night they go without sucking earns a point. After a set number of points, they receive a small reward.
- Explain why it’s time to stop sucking the pacifier or thumb. Tell them, for example, that you can understand them better when their mouth is free, or that their teeth will grow straighter and look better without a pacifier or thumb.
- Set “sucking-free” zones. Agree with your child that thumb or pacifier sucking is only allowed at certain times or in specific places. For children who suck constantly, start by limiting it to the home, then only their bedroom, and finally, only in bed.
- During the weaning period, offer alternative comfort. Your child will need your attention, affection, and cuddles. To help them fall asleep, hold their hand, stroke their chin or belly, read a bedtime story in a soft voice, or sing to them.
A practical method to help your child stop using the pacifier is to cut the tip of the nipple so that it no longer creates a vacuum. This way, the child won’t get the expected satisfaction from sucking. Each child reacts differently, so patience is required from parents to prevent stress and avoid opposite results.