Thumb-sucking is a common habit among young children because it offers comfort and security. Many children begin sucking their thumb in utero and continue the habit through the infant and toddler years. If your baby sucks his thumb regularly, you...
Pacifiers soothe many infants and toddlers, providing parents with a useful tool for calming fussiness. Parents often begin thinking about breaking the habit of pacifier use as the toddler years approach. In addition to the social stigma of an...
Thumb sucking is a reflexive action that is generally harmless while children still have their baby teeth, but it can cause serious dental defects once permanent teeth start to come in. About 80 percent of babies and infants suck their thumbs and...
Fascination with bodily fluids and functions is a phase many children go through. Thumb-sucking, nose-picking and nail-biting all are common behaviors in young children. A child with special needs may continue playing with spit beyond a young age...
Pediatric dentists provide preventive care and disease treatment for children's teeth and gums. Children have special dental needs as they develop, so proper dental care at an early age can reduce the risk of dental problems later in life. Some...
A pacifier serves as a form of soothing comfort that helps toddlers cope with stressful situations or adapt to new, unfamiliar scenarios. According to child psychologist Penelope Leach, however, a toddler who becomes overly dependent on a pacifier...
Controversy swirls around whether pacifiers are good for infants and toddlers, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pacifiers can be a beneficial tool for infants if used correctly. Most children stop using pacifiers voluntarily...
Babies suck their thumbs to comfort or entertain themselves. Your baby's tender skin can become red and cracked after constant thumb-sucking. Several home remedies may help alleviate irritation associated with this habit. After treating his skin...
Thumb sucking is a natural activity, not a learned behavior. Before birth, doctors see many babies through prenatal ultrasounds sucking their thumbs. In-utero thumb sucking is the fetus' way of learning to suck. Some babies suck their fists,...
The mouth is an important part of the anatomy. It is at this location where foods and beverages are first consumed.To bite and chew food effectively, your teeth need to be in good working order. Over the course of time, the teeth are subject to...
Bacterial paronychia, a common infection around the nail of a finger, occurs when bacteria enter. Bacteria readily enter small injuries caused by nail biting or picking at the fingers. Thumb sucking can cause paronychia in small children. The area...
Children develop many habits, such as nose picking, thumb sucking or nail biting. These habits can drive parents crazy. You probably tell your child to stop over and over, but eventually, he usually goes back to the habit. According to Kids...
Hair pulling in children often begins as a self-soothing habit, sometimes accompanied by thumb-sucking, reports the Kids Growth website. As a baby advances into toddlerhood, hair pulling may become an attention-getting maneuver, a symptom of...
Humans are the only natural host for the herpes simplex viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected body fluids. Several common herpetic illnesses occur, including herpes labialis, or cold sores; ocular, or...
If you have a child who nibbles her nails, you're not alone. According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, nail biting is a common activity among people of all ages, but it is particularly prominent among kids, with approximately half of...
Prompt treatment of pinworm infections is important in preventing the spread of the worms. Pinworms live in your child's intestine and lay eggs around the anus, causing itching. You may notice small, white worms in your child's underwear or...
The age of the first dental visit for a child may be earlier than some people think. Although a baby is not born with teeth, oral hygiene is important to protect the gums and foster a healthy environment in which teeth can grow. Taking a child for...
If your 3-year-old squeals and squirms when you try to get a toothbrush into her mouth, she's most likely protesting what is -- in her eyes -- an extremely unpleasant experience. It's not uncommon for young children to balk when it's time to...
Bad breath, or halitosis, may be completely harmless, even in children. If your infant sucks on his thumb or a pacifier, bacteria may spread from the mouth to the hand or pacifier. The bacteria may begin to smell, which will make your infant's...
In her book, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, states that in the United States the most widespread parasite problem in children is pinworm infestation. Because pinworms are easily spread, it is important to understand...
Candida overgrowth can be caused by any yeast in the Candida genus, although it's almost always caused by Candida albicans. This species of yeast commonly inhabits human skin but usually doesn't cause any symptoms. Under favorable conditions,...
Herpes whitlow, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus, predominantly affects health care workers, including those in the dental field. Contact with saliva, mucosal and other infected secretions is the general mode of transmission. Both...
Many children, as well as adults, have nervous habits that can cause physical harm. Deliberate cheek or tongue biting falls into this category. There may be a physical cause for this or it simply may be a nervous habit. In some cases, children...
Diarrhea consists of very loose or runny bowel movements, often linked to gastrointestinal infections caused by parasites, bacteria or viruses. According to the website KidsHealth, diarrhea outbreaks in children most often occur from contaminated...
