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Fast Fact

Children who suck their thumbs are able to begin at an early age to meet their own need for sucking. These children fall asleep more easily, are able to put themselves back to sleep at night more easily, and sleep through the night much earlier than infants who do not suck their thumbs.
A study by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton indicates that as many as 94% have finished with sucking their thumbs by their first birthdays.
According to the American Dental Association, thumb sucking does not cause permanent problems with the teeth or jaw line, unless it is continued beyond four to five years of age.
Many studies have looked at the number of children who continue to suck their thumbs at this time. As it turns out, somewhere between 85% to 99% of children have finished thumb sucking spontaneously before this period (the numbers vary depending on the study).
When investigators looked at this group of late thumb-suckers for common traits, they found that they had one thing in common that distinguished them from other children -- a prolonged history of a strong battle with thumb sucking at an earlier age. It is striking that many well-meaning parents have actually encouraged this behavior by trying to forcibly take the thumb out of their children's mouths.

see Fast Facts about Thumb Sucking »

Hiccups

10.30.2002 Add new comment Send to friend Print this article

Introduction to hiccups:

Many moms can remember feeling their babies hiccupping even before birth. Sometimes hiccups are seen on prenatal ultrasounds – in peaceful, healthy babies. Hiccups seem to bother parents and older children much more than they do babies.

What is hiccups?

Hiccups are frequent, sudden contractions of the diaphragm muscle.

They can be caused by irritation or stimulation anywhere along the path from the brain, down the phrenic nerve, to the diaphragm muscle itself.

Who gets hiccups?

Most healthy babies will get hiccups from time to time, especially in the early months. This is entirely normal.

An episode of hiccups sometimes results from over stimulation.

They are even more common among babies with gastroesophageal reflux. Hiccups are rarely caused by other medical problems, such as pneumonia or reaction to a drug.

What are the symptoms of hiccups?

The symptom is the hiccup noise and movement as the diaphragm muscle contracts forcefully. Most babies seem otherwise comfortable, unless the hiccups are interfering with a much-desired meal.

Is hiccups contagious?

How long does hiccups last?

An individual session of hiccups usually lasts only minutes. The tendency to hiccup frequently usually disappears within the first year.

How is hiccups diagnosed?

Hiccups are easily recognized, and no diagnostic tests are needed unless either the hiccups are unusually prolonged or are accompanied by other symptoms.

How is hiccups treated?

Folklore is filled with many suggestions to help a child break a cycle of hiccups. Nothing needs to be done unless the child seems upset or the hiccups last longer than five or ten minutes.

Burping or taking a few sips of water will often break the cycle, if you want to try something. Or, you might offer your baby something to suck on.

Honey is an old remedy for hiccups that should not be given to babies in the first year.

How can hiccups be prevented?

Generally nothing needs to be done to prevent them. Feeding when the baby is calm, and before the baby gets too hungry, may prevent some episodes of hiccups.