Pacifier &Thumb sucking is it good or bad? 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 In fact, it has been shown that embryos actually suck on their thumbs while in the mother's womb. Thumb sucking and pacifier use both help children become comfortable with their environment, as well as offer children a sense of security. Most children should grow out of thumbsucking and pacifier use by age 3 or 4. As long as the habit is discontinued before their permanent teeth come in (around ages 4-5) your child will be fine. If, however, they continue this habit as their permanent teeth come in it is best to help your child discontinue their habit. In this presentation we will put spotlight on advantages and disadvantages of both pacifiers & thumb sucking trying to answer is it good or bad? Dr.Osama Arafa Abd EL Hamed M. B.,B.CH - M.Sc Pediatrics - Ph. D. Consultant of Pediatrics &Neonatology Head of pediatrics department Port-fouad hospital E mail; osama_1967@hotmail.com ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Tel:- Mob. 010 5196625 Clin. 066 3423252 Hom. 066 3412624

1. Pacifier &Thumb sucking
is it
? good or bad
By
Dr.Osama Arafa Abd EL Hamed
.M. B.,B.CH - M.Sc Pediatrics - Ph. D
Consultant of
Pediatrics & Neonatology
Head of pediatrics department Port-fouad hospital

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

13. 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

14. ?Are pacifiers good or bad
Although the answer to that
question is often debated, the
American Academy of Pediatrics
. gives pacifiers the green light
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

15. 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

16. .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

17. 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