No, you don’t have to stop your child from sucking her thumb while she’s a baby. Babies generally suck their fingers to soothe themselves, which is good, because they need to learn how to rely on their own resources.

The ability to regulate or control one’s behavior and emotions is an important developmental challenge. When your child sucks her fingers, she’s finding ways to make herself feel better without your help because it feels like breastfeeding.

Do they baby get irritated by sucking their thumbs?

In general, thumb-sucking is more irritating to parents than it is harmful to kids. Your baby will stop when she’s ready and has developed other ways of soothing herself.

But if your child is still sucking vigorously by age 3 or 4, you may want to check with her dentist about ways to help her stop so her teeth and jaw aren’t affected.

Read more about

• Gripe water for babies: Does it work?
• What to do when your baby’s crying for no reason
• Colic in babies: What it is, how long it lasts, and what you can do
• Five types of baby cries and what they might mean
• What is baby witching hour?