My six year old daughter is contantly sucking on her hair during the day and sucking her thumb at night. I'm at a loss as to how to handle this, am I making a big deal about nothing?
My 5 year old seems to have a similar issues, she sucks on her shirt sleeve or whatever she can find, and if she's not eating, she wants something in her mouth, gum, candy, Etc. It's bizarre. I haven't figured out how to handle it though. Good luck. Interested in your responses.
I was that kid and it took through college to get rid of some of my habits. I think my oral fixation also made quiting smoking very difficult. If you can redirect your child now do it. However, if your child NEEDS to suck on something try to find something more hygenic than hands and hair. I got all kinds of diseases from putting stuff in my mouth. good luck! this is quite a tough battle.
Some kids just need something in their mouths...not a big deal and she will probably out grow this (my friend's dad did the ol' tabasco on the thumb trick and it worked). I didn't want to use a pacifier for my baby, but she definitely needed one....but she is still little and I will wean her off that eventually...(6 mos old). When I was growing up I used to put my hair in my mouth, bite the sides of my cheeks, bite my nails and chew on pencils and tons of other things probably....fortunately, I never over-ate...but I did smoke for a few years...when I was an adult I quit biting my nails and needed a replacement oral fixation I guess, but I quit that too...so now I am conscious not to over-eat...and have not 'replaced' any of my fixations so far...but I am in my 30's, so it took a while! I never had any issues at school or socially, so I wouldn't worry about it. She is only 6 so I'm sure she is normal and just fine.
If you continue to let her suck her thumb, you may be looking at bigger dental costs in the long run...it changes the shape of the upper part of the mouth and teeth. Hair can be swallowed and end up inside of the child. Have you ever had a hair caught in the back of your throat? It's not pleasant at all. I believe the dentist can assist you in the thumb sucking arena.
My recently turned 10 still sucks on her shirts and nearly always has a strand of hair in her mouth. Her mouth frequently tells her to stop. She stops for a few minutes and back in it goes. I don't know why she does this and I do find it irritating every once in awhile but I figure it's her shirt and her hair and she can do suck on them if she wants.
She's been diagnosed with ADHD and her writing teacher lets her chew gum in class. She's in a special class because of her ADHD. Some experts say that chewing on something in their mouths helps people with ADHD to focus. It does seem to help her focus. When she's sucking/chewing on one or the other she is calm and when she isn't she's in nearly constant motion, chattering away.
