In every child's habit or actions, there is always an explanation, and so with thumb sucking. Thumb sucking is a natural stage that children undergo. In some cases, kids do not start out sucking on their thumb. Some start with other parts of their bodies - their palm or any part of the hands until they become more coordinated and focus on the thumb or other parts of the body (or foreign bodies, such as toys, pillows, among others) within their reaches.

The thumb sucking habit, as how some experts believe, might start even during pre-birth. That is, when babies are still in the womb and completing the age of gestation. However, this is not yet certain. What is certain though is that this sucking reflex is firstly associated with the means on how children eat, either through breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

Aside from this, and what would also explain why babies who do not rely on breastfeeding or bottle feeding anymore to eat still continue the sucking habit, sucking is also a natural way for babies to soothe themselves. So it's like a therapy for them. Whenever they feel sad, agitated or disturbed, they find relief when they suck on their thumb or a favorite finger or part of the body that they have chosen.

With this being said, you see the importance of careful procedures in helping your kids stop thumb sucking. Taking a negative or aggressive approach would just make your kid cling more to his habit of thumb sucking. His instincts would tell him that he is in danger or that he is in a situation that he does not feel good. And, as a result, his natural reaction would be to make himself feel at ease, thus he would thumb suck more.

That is why, it is very important to take positive measures to guide your kid to stop the thumb sucking habit. In this way, you will not put him in a situation where his only option is to find recluse in his thumb sucking habit. Instead of being harsh and authoritarian, be more inclusive. That is, you let your kid be a part of the whole process. Make him understand that it's a habit that he should outgrow it and that you will help each other in doing so.

Another approach in helping your kid stop thumb sucking is through reinforcements. This kind of reinforcement should not just come from you. Make him take part of the reinforcement. Show to him the times how well he has managed to avoid thumb sucking and make him feel rewarded. Give him a sense of pride in being able to beat his habit.

Your goal why you wanted to make your kid stop thumb sucking is to push him away from the possible dangers that thumb sucking could cause. That is why, because of this idea, you get too blinded and become very aggressive in making your kid stop thumb sucking. Always remember that in helping your kid stop thumb sucking or in any feat that is, do not put your goals in the center of the mission. Rather, it should be your kid in center of things. In this way, in whatever options you take in helping your kid solve any issues that he has, you are sure that it is doing him good.