Thumb sucking, picky eating and nose picking are not only a nuisance, but they can have lasting effects on your child’s health. Here are some reasons why they do it (it’s not to annoy you, we swear!) and how you can get them to ditch these bad habits for good:
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It can be unusually hard to get your children to switch from the bottle to a cup. Not only is drinking from a bottle easier, it also provides a sense of comfort to the child because of its familiarity. But drinking too much milk can cause your tot to skip meals and miss out on calcium-rich foods, and falling asleep with a bottle can actually cause infant tooth decay and cavities. Help your child transition to a sippy cup with a straw to help with the switch.
For some unknown reason, children are fascinated with their own snot. We know plenty of kids who think nothing of sticking their little fingers out their noses, picking out a booger and sometimes even popping it into their mouths. Help your child to wipe and blow his nose regularly and remind him to keep his fingers out of his nose. If your child has a cold or infection, a salt water saline spray or gel can clean out his nose and moisten the lining. For babies and toddlers, a bulb syringe can help too.
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Sucking on a pacifier is soothing to a child but using a pacifier for too long can actually cause more harm than good by increasing the risk for ear infections, lead to dental problems, and may affect language development. Putting an end to the pacifier is easy because you can actually get rid of the object but do so slowly. When your child starts to walk, it’s a good idea to limit the pacifier to naps and bedtime to keep it clean and limit the time he uses it.
If you have a child who snubs his vegetables, refuses to eat anything new and only eats a handful of foods, it’s not only unhealthy for his growth and development but it can create a ton of stress in your home. Don’t force anything on your child, let them explore a pea-sized amount of new foods so that they’re armed with information about new foods and will feel safe and empowered to eventually accept them.
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Allowing your child to eat every time he asks not only creates a power struggle, but it teaches your child that temporary hunger must be quelled fast. Grazing all day long, especially on sweet, salty and crunchy snacks, also means your child won’t eat their meals because they’re not hungry. Instead of allowing your child to graze all day, decide on a meal and snack schedule. At snack time, offer fruits and vegetables.
Between 14 and 20 percent of children grind and clench their teeth, usually at night. According to a study presented at the 2008 SLEEP conference, preschool-age children who grind their teeth are more likely to be withdrawn and have problems in school. The good news is that it’s completely reversible. Invest in a mouth guard from your dentist or visit a pediatrician for advice.
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It’s common for babies and toddlers to suck their thumbs or their fingers to soothe themselves. But depending on how intense they suck and how long the habit lingers, it can affect the way their jaws grow causing a crossbite or overbite. You can help your child stop sucking his fingers with a special nail polish that tastes bitter, a cotton glove or a finger guard. But in many cases, the child will stop on their own.