OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 305, 24 December 1937, Page 2

OUR BABIES

THUMB OR FINGER SUCKING SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PREVENTION (By “Hygeia.”j First of all, how does the habit start? Baby associates anything which touches his mouth with the act of sucking. All’s fish that comes to that net. Wandering fingers find the mouth, and almost at once association sets up a habit, as a result of which the fingers or thumbs go automatically to the mouth. Tuck baby’s hands up in his shawl, so that he will not find and exploit this trick in his drowsy or going-to-sleep times. You need not be afraid of hampering him too much if you bring the shawl round over the shoulders and tuck it back in under the arms. There are many ways of preventing the tiny baby from getting| into the habit whilst still allowing freedom of movement. Try making a splint to fit over baby’s elbow. This is easily done by procuring a piece of good cardboard about lour inches wide and long enough to fit comfortably round the arm at the elbow. Score it with a knife to enable it to bend round the arm, and then cover it with old linen. Have two tapes on each end long enough to fasten the splint. Sew a small loop of tape to the top edge to allow the splint to be fastened with a small safety pin to the garment the child is wearing. This prevents the splint from slipping once it is applied. This has been proved most effective, and has the advantage of allowing' baby free use of his hands and arms, except that he cannot bend his elbow. As baby grows, however, it is essential for him to have his hands free, because his sense of touch is his first and most important means of exploring his world. His own hands and toes, his bed, clothes, toys—everything should come into contact with his hands; not to stay at first, but every different touch teaches him something. Here you see how baby’s field

of activity and interest is restricted if he is abnormally occupied with his mouth. Is it fair to permit him to cultivate a habit which almost entirely shuts him off from the joys experienced by every child as he explores each new object with his hands? However, at this very time baby may develop the habit from boredom if he has not enough normal, natural, healthy stimulation from his immediate environment. Toys It is quite allowable to have a pretty toy, perhaps with a tinkling bell, where it is just within reach of baby’s exploring hands. Take care that it is not too low or too near the eyes. Never force it on his attention. Have it there for him to ( discover and do with as he can and . will. At first he will lie and look at the slowly moving object, then a moving hand touches it, a sensation and a sound result. Gradually, very ■ gradually, it comes under his control, and meanwhile no boredom, but still no over-stimulation. Never jingle the plaything or bounce it up and down. It is a baby’s toy for him to use, not you rs. Mothering

Sometimes thumb - sucking stalls when a baby is weaned, or even later, when another baby comes. It is in this instance probably due to loneliness and want of comfort and love, or an unconscious longing to remain the baby. This may be prevented or cured by extra mothering, wise, loving management, healthy absorbing occupation, and ’ the companionship of other children. Life should be altogether too interesting and happy an affair for the normal baby to want to suck his thumb. Once the habit is firmly established much patience and perseverance wi'l be needed and much supervision to cure it. One “do-or-die” fight is infinitely better than a prolonged halfhearted struggle in which the mother loses influence and the habit gains strength, whilst nerves and tempers are frayed all round.

Gloves, splints, and pinning the hands down may all be tried in dealing with the young baby, and any of these methods, combined with an overhauling of daily routine and management, usually put things right quite quickly. For the older child more subtle treatment is necessary, as we have indicated. Gloves and linger-stalls and bitter aloes may effect a cure in mild cases, but often they are simply disregarded with the most utter unconcern. The aim is to help the child forget the bad habit. If he is nagged at and scolded about it, it is only the more firmly fixed in his mind. Let him do things and feel things and rampage generally in a safe place. As he learns to do more for himself and others, he tends to become so happy and engrossed that he does not seek the consolation of thumb-sucking which he associates unconsciously with the warmth and comfort of breast-feeding and nursing times. The comfort which was normal then, if prolonged beyond its natural limits, tends to dwarf the child’s growth mentally, emotionally, and physically.