ON FINGER-SUCKING

Abstract

ONE OF the perennial problems of child care for parents and professional folk alike is that of finger-sucking. Over the years as even now, parents have worried about this practice and brought it to the attention of their physicians who, like dentists, have had strong feelings on the subject.

American pediatric literature from the Eighteenth Century down to the present time has frequently discussed finger-sucking as to its normality, prevention and cure. As with most issues, there have been advocates as well as opponents of the idea that this behavioral trait was beneficial to the well-being of an infant.