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.

If your child hasn't stopped sucking their thumb by the age of 5, you should intervene. Thumb-sucking at that age could cause breathing problems, speech issues, and crooked teeth. To stop thumb ...