Patient's question:
Expert, hello: My baby is now 3 years and 8 months old. When he was young, he never used to suck his thumb, but recently for the past half year, he has been sucking his thumb frequently. He also often puts toys and objects in his mouth to bite. His fingernails on his small hands are never cut. For this matter, we have scolded him many times and even hit him, but he still hasn’t changed this bad habit. It’s really frustrating! I want to ask the expert if my baby’s thumb sucking is due to a deficiency in any trace elements! Is it possible that thumb sucking could mean he has worms in his stomach? What should I supplement? (I have also given him products like "Growing Happy" and calcium supplements in the past.) How can I get him to stop sucking his thumb? Thank you!First follow-up question: Hello! Baby
Doctor's answer:
Hello, thumb sucking is a psychological need for children. If you don't restrict her, let her suck her thumb until she's satisfied, and this behavior will naturally disappear once she passes this stage. When she's thumb sucking, it's suggested to pretend not to notice and let her suck to her heart's content. Of course, you can also naturally offer her some food or teethers as substitutes to meet her sucking and chewing needs.