Why do children suck on things?
Sucking is a normal and natural reflex for babies. It makes infants and children feel secure and happy, and helps them learn about the world around them. Young children often suck on a thumb or a pacifier to soothe themselves. For this reason sucking usually occurs at bedtime or at difficult or stressful times.
Sucking is one of a baby’s natural reflexes. As infants get older, sucking serves many purposes. Infants and young children may suck on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or other objects because it makes them feel secure and happy and helps them learn about there world. Young children may also suck to soothe themselves. Placing a finger or thumb into their mouth provides a since of security at difficult periods such as after a scolding or when being separated from their parents. Since thumbsucking is relaxing, it may induce sleep. For this reason, young children often suck in the evening or when they are tried.
Sucking is one of a baby’s natural reflexes, and can occur even before birth. As newborns get older, sucking serves many purposes. Infants and young children may suck on thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or other objects because it makes them feel secure and happy, and helps them learn about their world. Young children also may suck to soothe themselves. Placing a finger or thumb in their mouth provides a sense of security at difficult periods such as after a scolding or when being separated from their parents. Since thumbsucking is relaxing, it may help induce sleep. For this reason, young children often suck in the evenings or at other times when they are tired. If you offer your baby a pacifier, use a clean one. Never dip a pacifier in sugar or honey before giving it to a baby. Prolonged use of pacifiers can harm the teeth just like prolonged thumb sucking, but it often is easier to wean a child from a pacifier than a thumb.
