Why do three-year-old babies suck their fingers?

It is normal for babies to suck their fingers when they are young, but if the baby is still sucking his fingers after the age of three, it means that there is a problem with the baby. If a three-year-old baby sucks his fingers without obedience, it will be detrimental to the baby's growth. Therefore, parents must find out the reason in time and correct the child's bad habit. So what is the reason for a three-year-old baby to suck his fingers? Here are the reasons why three-year-old babies suck their fingers.

Reasons why three-year-old babies suck their fingers

There are many reasons behind this behavior. First of all, when children are under too much pressure or lack a sense of security, they may use the action of sucking their fingers to reduce anxiety and relax. Over time, sucking your fingers becomes a habit.

Secondly, improper education methods are the reason why children can never change. When parents see their children sucking their fingers, they become very anxious and immediately reprimand them harshly or even beat them. Parents do not realize that doing so will make their children more nervous and anxious, and even create a confrontational attitude towards their parents, making it more difficult to correct the bad habits.

How should parents deal with their children's bad habit of sucking their fingers?

1. Behavioral neglect

If the situation is not particularly serious, parents can just ignore it. Too much attention, correction, and blame will cause children to pay more attention to their behavior and become more nervous, which will reinforce the behavior and cause them to suck their fingers even more.

2. Attention and love

Did you know that sometimes children suck their fingers to get their parents' attention, because they rarely get their parents' attention, but if they do this, it can effectively attract their parents.

3. Occupy both hands

Parents can think of various ways to occupy their children's hands and let them do things or games that require both hands. In this way, the time children spend sucking their fingers will gradually decrease, and this habit may eventually disappear.

4. Appropriate rewards

Many professionals have successfully used reward programs to reduce thumb sucking behavior in children aged 4-11 years. Mom and dad can also try to find some things or items that their children like as rewards. If the child can avoid sucking his fingers within the specified time, give him a reward.

5. Seek professional help

If a child's habit of sucking his or her fingers has been seriously affected in his or her life, study, and interpersonal relationships, parents need to seek help from professionals in order to help the child correct the habit.

6. Lots of partners and lots of activities

Mom and Dad can let the baby play with his friends more often, encourage him to make friends and get in touch with the new world outside; arrange rich and colorful activities for the baby and try not to let him be idle alone, so that he will not remember to suck his thumb.

7. Create a relaxed and warm atmosphere

It is best for parents to create a warm, comfortable, stable and relaxed environment for their children to grow up in, so that they can grow up happily.

It is obviously abnormal for a three-year-old baby to suck his fingers. There are many reasons for babies to suck their fingers. You'd better observe your baby carefully to find out why your baby sucks his fingers, and then take active measures to improve this problem of your baby.