If you are a parent, you may have heard that pacifiers can be removed from an older child to prevent dental problems, while it is more difficult to do so if the child sucks his or her thumb. It must be said, however, that some children do not like pacifiers! For many parents, preventing a child from sucking their finger can be very difficult.
Keep in mind that thumb sucking is not a problem for the baby until teeth appear. Many (but not all) children lose this habit when they develop permanent teeth. Also, finger sucking is a natural method that babies use to calm down, and this can help parents a lot. However, if you are concerned that your child may not be able to shed this habit in time, here are some useful tips.
Steps
Step 1. Wait
If you want to breastfeed your baby, wait until he is used to breastfeeding to avoid pacifier confusion with nipples (some babies do not suffer from this problem, so you can use the pacifier right away). Until you introduce the pacifier, gently remove the baby's hands from his mouth when he seems to want to suck them. If hunger seems to be the reason your baby sucks his thumb, nursing him can be a great way to prevent this habit. It can also be helpful to have your child wear gloves or long-sleeved dresses that can be folded over their little hands to cover them.
Step 2. Slowly introduce the use of the pacifier to gauge your baby's reaction
A great time to do this is when she's about to fall asleep while breastfeeding. This is because you can take advantage of three factors: the baby is in a good mood, still wants to suck, and is sleepy and therefore more receptive and easy to move.
Be careful to avoid doing anything that can make your first pacifier experience traumatic. Try to avoid giving the pacifier to an uninterested, hungry, or irritable baby, as this could make him angry and associate the baby with a negative memory of the pacifier. Also, avoid trying to insert the pacifier too fast or at an incorrect angle, as you could cause your baby to choke, which would start to hate him (if you've already unintentionally done something your baby hates the pacifier for, don't worry - you can do it anyway. !)
Step 3. If the baby reacts positively to the pacifier, go ahead and read the next step
If he doesn't seem interested or doesn't like the pacifier, try these tips:
- First, if your baby starts sucking on the pacifier but then spits it out, try tugging on it lightly when it is in your baby's mouth. This will cause the baby to reflex to suck it. Be careful not to accidentally push it when it is in the baby's mouth, as it will have the opposite effect, which is to make him spit it out.
- If this trick doesn't get your baby to take the pacifier, try giving it back to him later when he's in a better mood. Try a couple of times and find the mood to use it.
- If you still don't get results, try pacifiers of different shapes and sizes. For some babies (especially infants), normal pacifiers are too big and can choke them. There are special pacifiers for babies and premature babies that may be more suitable.
- If all else fails, try putting something sweet on the pacifier as a last resort, like fruit jam or sugar water. This is certainly not the best method, but unfortunately some children refuse to take the pacifier unless it is presented this way. Keep offering the pacifier to your baby until he starts sucking it (it can take up to two weeks, don't give up! If you keep trying, you will eventually succeed).
Step 4. Now that your baby is interested in the pacifier, always keep one close at hand and offer it whenever he starts sucking his thumbs or hands
It may be useful to buy a pacifier pin to attach it directly to the baby's clothes (it is better to choose one with a not too long thread, to avoid the risk of strangulation). Alternatively, you could always carry one with you in your pocket, diaper pack, or attached to your clothes.
Another option is to buy many pacifiers and keep one in all the places where you could keep your baby resting (for example, one in the crib, one in the baby swing, one in the car)
Advice
- When a baby is teething, keep a pacifier in the refrigerator to relieve his gum pain.
- If you have a young child who is used to sucking their thumbs, take note of when this attitude occurs most frequently (for example, when they are sleeping, when they are angry, bored or when watching TV) and always be ready with a pacifier or a '. alternative, such as stuffed animals to keep for comfort, an activity that involves the use of both hands or a solution to what is troubling him.
- If you have an older child who sucks his thumb, a great way to get him to stop and switch to a pacifier is to have your youngest child take the pacifier! Older babies are extremely interested in everything they see their new baby do, and if they see him take a pacifier, they'll want to do it too (this is why potty-trained babies want their diapers back when comes a little brother).
Warnings
- Remember never to force the pacifier! This will only turn the issue into a struggle! Don't worry if you already have. Keep following the advice in this article and eventually your child will get the pacifier.
- Do not give up! You will likely feel discouraged or downright angry in some cases. This is normal: keep trying and eventually you will make it.
