Pacifier &Thumb sucking is it

good or bad?

Dr.Osama Arafa Abd EL HamedM. B.,B.CH - M.Sc Pediatrics - Ph. D.

Consultant of

Pediatrics & Neonatology

Head of pediatrics department Port-fouad hospital

By

Many parents and doctors express concern over their child's thumb sucking or use of a pacifier. Often worried about affects

on teeth and language development.

Parents usually ask us can I give him a pacifier? if it is ok when I have to stop it?

My baby sucking his finger should i try to stop or leave him? and for how long?

Infants have strong, pre-determined sucking and rooting reflexes. Finding an object to suck on is an extension of this normal behavior.

About 90 percent of infants in Western cultures engage in what's termed "non-nutritive sucking" (or sucking for purposes other than feeding), on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, blankets, or other objects.

About half of these children will stop on their own by six or seven months of age, but as many as one-third will continue

beyond the preschool years .

Thumb sucking

Infants may use pacifier or thumb or fingers to soothe themselves

Thumb sucking is a behavior found in humans, chimpanzees, and other primates. It usually involves placing the thumb into the mouth and rhythmically repeating sucking contact for a prolonged duration. It can also be accomplished with any piece of skin within reach (such as the big toe) and is considered to be soothing and therapeutic for the person.

Thumb sucking can start as early as 15 weeks of growth in the uterus or within months of being born. Prior to 12 weeks, the foetus has webbed digits. Most thumb-suckers stop gradually by the time they are four years old.

many older children will retain the habit, some into adulthood. Thumb sucking in adults may be due to stereotypic movement disorder

Problems with thumb sucking in infants and toddlers

Fingers can become sore and even infected. Bacteria can be introduced into the mouth by dirty fingers.

There is also the concern that infants and toddlers, happy with their mouths busy sucking, will be less inclined to babble or imitate the sounds around them. When they do attempt to talk around a thumb or pacifier, they are less likely to be understood.

Insecurity and damage to a child's self-esteem result from criticism from adults and other children, however. This leads to more stress for the thumb-sucking child, which only generates a greater need to suck to relieve this stress.

American Academy of Pediatrics Most children suck their thumbs or fingers at some time in their early life. The only time it might cause concern is if it goes on beyond 6 to 8 years of age or affects the shape of the child's mouth and the position of teeth.

American Dental Association Children suck on objects as a natural reflex; however, during and after the eruption of the permanent teeth, such sucking may cause problems with the skeletal development of the mouth and alignment of the teeth.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's "Policy on Thumb, Finger and Pacifier Habits" says: "For most children there is no reason to worry about a sucking habit until the

permanent front teeth are ready to come in".

Problems can actually begin in the preschool years, at around age of five. A number of negative effects can eventually be seen, but the most common is a type of malocclusion called an anterior overbite. Upon closing the mouth, there is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth, with the upper teeth extending out in front

A second potential dental problem is a protrusion of the upper two front teeth. Teeth that protrude are more likely to be damaged or fractured in falls and accidents.

Also there is a concern over premature loss of baby teeth. Normally, pressure on the roots of the primary (baby) teeth from the permanent teeth above them causes them to be resorbed into the body. Without its root, a tooth falls out.

There is some evidence that excessive pressure put on baby teeth from sucking also causes root resorption, and loss of primary teeth before the permanent teeth are ready to replace them. This can lead to abnormal tooth spacing and other problems.

A pacifier (known as a dummy in English speaking countries outside North America and Ireland - where it is known as both a dummy and also a soother) is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to an infant or other young child to suck upon.

In its standard appearance it has a teat, mouth shield, and handle. The mouth shield and/or the handle is large enough to avoid the danger of the child choking on it or swallowing it.

Over the years the pacifier has taken on a general standard appearance, e.g. teat, mouth shield and handle, but in reality the pacifier can be anything that soothes  the baby. Indeed the pacifier of today, evolved from the

teething soothers of yesteryear .

Are pacifiers good or bad?

The decision to use a pacifier — or not — is up to you. Consider the pros and cons as you decide what's best for you

and your baby .

Although the answer to that question is often debated, the American Academy of Pediatrics

gives pacifiers the green light .

The pros

For some babies, pacifiers are the key to contentment between feedings. Consider the advantages:

A pacifier may soothe a fussy baby .Some babies are happiest when they're sucking on something .

A pacifier offers temporary distraction. When your baby's hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few

minutes to find a comfortable spot to nurse or to prepare a bottle .

A pacifier may also come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures .

A pacifier may help your baby fall asleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do

the trick.

Pacifiers may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers have found an association between pacifier use during sleep and a reduced risk of

SIDS.

Pacifiers are disposable .When it's time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your child prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.

A proven medical benefits linked to pacifiers have been seen in preterm babies. Preemies who suck on pacifier gain weight faster, according to a 2005 study published in the Swedish journal Acta Pediatrica. Other research has found that preemies who use pacifiers shortly after birth show earlier sucking patterns and experience fewer health complications. “Sucking promotes oral-muscle function and muscle

development ”,

Overfeeded colicky babies with persistent vomiting & frequent motions can be improved by regulation of the time of feeding

with pacifier use.