Things to Note
- Many children have habits such as nail biting, thumb sucking, or nose picking.
- Habits usually disappear on their own.
- To help your child stop a habit, gently remind them when they do it and praise them when they don’t.
What are habits?
Habits are behaviors that children repeat over and over again, with little thought. Children’s habits are usually nothing to worry about.
Children’s habits usually involve touching or playing with their face or parts of their body. Children may or may not be aware of their habits.
Some common habits in children include:
- Sucking fingers, thumbs, or pacifiers
- Bitting or picking nails
- Twisting and pulling hair
- Picking noses or wounds
- Picking lips or the inside of cheeks
- Chewing objects such as pencils or clothing
- Grinding teeth.
Why do habits form? Habits can be calming for children. Sucking is a good example. Once a toddler leaves infancy, habits like thumb sucking become a way to relieve stress and anxiety.
Sometimes children develop habits because they are bored, which means the behavior is simply a way for them to entertain themselves. For example, children are more likely to bite their nails while watching TV or doing nothing than when they are restless.
Sometimes habits are formed for practical reasons but persist even after the practical reasons have disappeared. For example, young children who have colds often pick their noses to get rid of them. Children who continue to pick their noses even after they are old enough to blow their noses may have a habit.
You are a role model for your children. If you notice your child picking up a habit, you may wonder if it’s your own. For example, nail biting can run in families.
Note: Some young children seem to self-soothe with normal, but somewhat abnormal, behaviors, such as rocking, turning their head, or head-banging. Most children stop this behavior by age 5.
Breaking the Habit
Most habits disappear on their own. However, if your child’s habit is interfering with daily life, embarrassing, or harmful, something needs to be done.
For example, thumb or finger sucking is common and often not a problem, but your child may suck their finger all the time. If this interferes with speaking or eating, or if your child’s friends tease them because of it, it may be time to break the habit.
Tips for breaking a habit
Gently remind your child about the habit. For example, if your child licks his sleeve, you can say, “Please don’t bite my sleeve, it’s gross.”
Encourage your child to do something else in their free time. For example, you can encourage him to play with a toy that has moving parts while watching TV. Or you can suggest a fidget game like “Winnie the Pooh.”
Find out why your child has this habit and suggest alternatives. For example, if your child fidgets when they want to pee or poop instead of going to the toilet, you might say, “Do I need to go to the toilet? Tell me in words.”
When to seek help for a habit
Around age 3, thumb sucking or finger sucking can cause problems for your child’s dental development. If your child is still sucking his or her thumb after three years, talk to your pharmacist about other methods, such as bandages or liniments. Solutions give the fingers a bitter taste. You can also ask your dentist if a palate block can be used. This device makes thumb or finger sucking unpleasant for the child.
If you think fear may be the cause of the habit, you may need to address the cause of the fear. Ask your doctor about a referral to another doctor, such as a psychologist, who can teach your child simple steps to quitting the habit.
