Attempts to steer a child away from thumb-sucking can backfire if they are not tempered with support and guidance. Don't nag or reprimand your child, and don't pull a child's finger out of his mouth.

In certain cases, persistent thumb-sucking might be a child's way of coping with emotional distress or anxiety, hinting at a deeper need for support. It can also be a sign of underlying health ...

Most children typically ditch their thumb-sucking habit between the ages of 2 and 4, with some quitting earlier, by 6 or 7 months old. But if they're still sucking at 5, the American Academy of ...