Many parents give their babies pacifiers to help comfort them throughout the day. Often, this allows infants to relax or fall asleep because it engages their instincts and releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins. That chemical release brings on feelings of ease, allowing a baby to calm itself.
However, using a pacifier into toddlerhood can leave your little one feeling like that sucking sensation is the only way to self-soothe. This can leave many parents worried about their child developing thumb or finger sucking habits. Delve into whether pacifiers are a pathway to thumb sucking.
How Pacifiers Influence Thumb Sucking
While using a pacifier doesn’t directly cause thumb sucking, it increases a child’s chances of developing the habit due to the link between them. Pacifiers and thumb sucking both relax children by creating suction in the mouth. The sensation of sucking on a pacifier or finger triggers the brain to release feel-good hormones: dopamine and endorphins.
Using a binky can encourage thumb sucking because your child’s mind already sees a positive association between sucking on something and feeling better. If they don’t have their pacifier, they may try their thumb and become addicted to the sensation.
Parent Tip
Some children also pick up thumb sucking habits once their parents transition them off the pacifier because they still rely on that form of comfort. Work with your child on developing healthy coping mechanisms, such as taking deep breaths or having a special stuffed animal to cuddle with.
The Problem with Both
In addition to pacifiers creating a pathway to thumb sucking, both habits can cause similar dental health problems as a result of putting pressure on the palate. Prolonged pressure, whether from a pacifier or a thumb, can change the shape of the palate over time and lead to serious issues, including:
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Overbite
- Underbite
- High palate
All these issues require dental intervention, such as braces, retainers, or even surgery, to correct. Moreover, these issues can have profound impacts on your child’s speech, ability to eat, and even their smile. Eventually, this can also harm their self-esteem and make it harder for them to socialize in school.
How To Prevent Issues
The best way to prevent serious issues is to address them before they become a problem. In the first year of life, using a pacifier and thumb sucking are perfectly natural parts of development. However, if your little one continues to suck their thumb into late toddlerhood when their jaw and adult teeth are starting to form, these habits can lead to complications.
Ideally, you should help wean your child off of their pacifier and thumb sucking by two years old. If your child has a hard time ending a thumb sucking habit, using a thumb sucking glove is one of the best ways to stop thumb-sucking.
What’s most important is that you help your child break the habit without causing them any emotional distress. With patience, early intervention, and the support of pediatricians or dentists if needed, you can confidently guide your child toward healthier habits.
