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Does Thumb Sucking Lead To Appetite Loss?
Question: hi doctor
my daughter is 4 months old now. And since 15 days of her age started sucking her thumb. This I believe is a normal tendency, but what I have started observing & felt is, this act might be leading to the decrease in her appetite. And also to note here, her mother's milk has also started reducing. Please suggest.
my daughter is 4 months old now. And since 15 days of her age started sucking her thumb. This I believe is a normal tendency, but what I have started observing & felt is, this act might be leading to the decrease in her appetite. And also to note here, her mother's milk has also started reducing. Please suggest.
Brief Answer:
Thumb sucking does not reduce breast milk
Detailed Answer:
Namasthe
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Mr XXXXXXX
There are two kinds of sucking in children
1. Nutritional sucking: Sucking at nipple for gaining nutrition
2. Non nutritional sucking: sucking thumb or any other material. It is comforting to baby .
Thumb sucking does not reduce breast milk. It is either an indicator that baby is hungry or needs to suck more or baby wants some comfort.
Babies suck their thumbs because it's comforting and calming. Your baby probably practised this habit while she was still in the womb and perfected it as a baby. Now she may turn to her thumb when she's tired, scared, bored, sick or trying to adjust to challenges. She may also use his thumb to fall asleep at like bedtime and to lull herself back to sleep when she wakes up in the middle of the night.
The key is to notice when and where sucking occurs. If your child sucks her thumb just before her meal and stops after breastfeeding, then it could be associated with hunger. If she sucks her thumb after or between meals, it may just mean that she feels the need to suck some more.
I would advise the following which will be helpful in increasing breast milk output
1. Capsule Lactare thrice a day
2. Shatavarex powder 1 spoon in cup of milk, thrice a day
3. Tablet Domperidone thrice a day
One recipe which increases milk output is as below
Ingredients needed: Ghee( 2 spoons), Whole wheat flour ( 2 spoons) , Pista( 50 gms), Cardomom ( 6 in number), Almonds( 50 gms), Khajur( Dried dates 50 gms), water/milk
In a pan pour 2 spoons of ghee, heat it, add 2 spoons of wheat flour (Atta), cook it till golden brown on low flame till its slightly golden in color. Add 2 Cups of water or Milk and keep stirring it continuously making a thin water paste( same like sira consistency). To this add powdered mixture of rest of ingredients grinded in mixer ( pista, almond, khajur, cardomom).
Mother can have it during breakfast and night especially when she feels hungry.
In case you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Wishing you happy and healthy life
Take Care
Best Regards
Dr Deepak Kishore
MBBS,MS,MCH
Thumb sucking does not reduce breast milk
Detailed Answer:
Namasthe
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Mr XXXXXXX
There are two kinds of sucking in children
1. Nutritional sucking: Sucking at nipple for gaining nutrition
2. Non nutritional sucking: sucking thumb or any other material. It is comforting to baby .
Thumb sucking does not reduce breast milk. It is either an indicator that baby is hungry or needs to suck more or baby wants some comfort.
Babies suck their thumbs because it's comforting and calming. Your baby probably practised this habit while she was still in the womb and perfected it as a baby. Now she may turn to her thumb when she's tired, scared, bored, sick or trying to adjust to challenges. She may also use his thumb to fall asleep at like bedtime and to lull herself back to sleep when she wakes up in the middle of the night.
The key is to notice when and where sucking occurs. If your child sucks her thumb just before her meal and stops after breastfeeding, then it could be associated with hunger. If she sucks her thumb after or between meals, it may just mean that she feels the need to suck some more.
I would advise the following which will be helpful in increasing breast milk output
1. Capsule Lactare thrice a day
2. Shatavarex powder 1 spoon in cup of milk, thrice a day
3. Tablet Domperidone thrice a day
One recipe which increases milk output is as below
Ingredients needed: Ghee( 2 spoons), Whole wheat flour ( 2 spoons) , Pista( 50 gms), Cardomom ( 6 in number), Almonds( 50 gms), Khajur( Dried dates 50 gms), water/milk
In a pan pour 2 spoons of ghee, heat it, add 2 spoons of wheat flour (Atta), cook it till golden brown on low flame till its slightly golden in color. Add 2 Cups of water or Milk and keep stirring it continuously making a thin water paste( same like sira consistency). To this add powdered mixture of rest of ingredients grinded in mixer ( pista, almond, khajur, cardomom).
Mother can have it during breakfast and night especially when she feels hungry.
In case you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Wishing you happy and healthy life
Take Care
Best Regards
Dr Deepak Kishore
MBBS,MS,MCH
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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