It's important to remember that thumb
sucking is perfectly natural. In fact 80% of babies at some
point suck their thumb, some as early as the womb. The habit
helps calm in times of stress. It makes babies feel secure.
However, the habit is not without its
negative effects. Often seen in the early stages, thumb-sucking
may cause; chapped lips, cracked skin, calluses and finger nail
infections.
Most children experience only these
minor effects of thumb-sucking and tend to stop around the age
of 2.
It's widely documented that
thumb-sucking should be actively discouraged through toddler years to
avoid more serious effects, which can include;
Hindered speech development
Misaligned teeth, if thumb-sucking continues as adult teeth
begin to grow
An asymmetrical bite. The soft jaws of a child
can begin to
change shape, making room for a thumb if sucked too hard and too
often.
Sources;
1) Blakemore, C. & Jennett, S. (2001) "The Oxford Companion to
the Body." Oxford University Press, London.
2) Hardyment, C. (1983).
"Dream babies. Three centuries of good advice on child care." Harper and Row, New York.
If your child predominantly sucks just one thumb, our research
has shown that it is unlikely they will begin sucking the other
thumb after putting on the guard.
If however, your
child sucks their right and left thumbs interchangeably
showing little to no preference between the two
-then you
should consider two guards to break the habit.
If you're not too sure which size will
best fit your child, try measuring the diameter of their thumb
with a piece of string. The exact measurements of Dr Thumb are
detailed
here.
Note that the thumb poking out of the top of the guard does not
compromise its effectiveness. Dr Thumb is designed with grooves
down the side, so if the thumb does touch the sides, the vacuum
will still be broken.
If after measuring you're still in two
minds; to ensure maximum comfort we would always recommend the
larger size.
If in the instance your child can remove the guard, there are
several
adjustments that can be made to help ensure a more secure fit.
The most important adjustment is
made from the front. Dr Thumb has two loops for the strap to fasten through. Undo the
strap and try going through the top loop as pictured. This
should help to firmly pull the guard down on the thumb
preventing the most determined little Houdini from wriggling
free!
The video below runs through
further adjustments that can be made to offer a secure,
comfortable fit.
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