Watching your 6-month-old sleep, fiercely sucking away at their tiny thumb, you feel a rush of immense love for them. But while you know that thumb-sucking is a natural habit and that it soothes your baby as they nap, you also can’t help but wonder, how long is too long when it comes to thumb-sucking? Will they damage their teeth if they keep sucking?

This topic, like most, sees rather a lot of debate amongst parents. Some believe that if you simply leave them to it, babies will eventually stop sucking all on their own, while others suggest that it’s a bad habit that requires our immediate action. So which is it?

Well, let’s explore the different perspectives and find out.

What is the argument for leaving a baby to it?

All experts can agree that baby thumb-sucking is an entirely natural behaviour, a self-soothing technique they actually learn in the womb. A lot of parents will tell you that as a child gets older, they will give up on sucking all on their own, so there’s really nothing to worry about. They’ll tell you that leaving them to it is the best thing you can do!

Now you may be thinking, this sounds pretty conclusive, so why do other parents and experts argue otherwise?

Why do some parents take action against thumb-sucking?

While it certainly isn’t the worst problem in the world, long-term thumb-sucking can have damaging effects on speech and teeth. Unfortunately, it can also lead to teasing from other kids once they’re a little older.

So, many parents will argue that even if the habit won’t actually do any damage right now, surely it’s best to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.

Now that we’ve looked at both sides, let’s see if we can help you come to a decision.

How can I use this information to come to a decision?

For now, there’s little cause for concern. While they’re still a baby with their first set of teeth, sucking won’t actually do any damage. So, at the moment, there’s really very little need to put a stop to this soothing habit.

Try not to see thumb-sucking as problematic or uncommon. If it worries you, try to shift your thinking for the time being. Don’t think of thumb-sucking as a terribly big issue until they’re a little older. Reminding yourself of how common and natural it is might help shift your thinking. That being said, if at some point the habit hasn’t disappeared, you’ll have to help your baby overcome it.

How long should babies suck their thumb?

On Unii’s Baby Development Journey, we share long babies should suck their thumb.