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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 »

Healthy Snacking

5.07.2003 Add new comment Send to friend Print this article

My 4-year-old daughter does not like to eat fruits and vegetables. I was wondering if there is a way I can get her to eat them without her hating me in the process. I give her a vitamin every day but I am still concerned that she is not getting the nutrients she needs.

Forcing specific foods on children usually backlashes on you. Even if you get kids to eat them, they will often not like them when they are older.

What we've recently done with our 4-year-old son who isn't fond of veggies is to let him taste a wide variety of veggies and pick which ones he would like us to serve often. He will eat at least one serving of veggies every day, but he gets to pick which one he likes the most. I have four kids and they each have a different favorite vegetable.

You can also sneak veggies into breads and muffins and fruits into smoothies.

Alan Greene MD FAAP

January 30th, 2003

Reviewed By:

Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin MD & Stephanie D’Augustine M.D.

Last Reviewed:

August 31st, 2008