Jimmy Rittenhouse – father says, “From the time she was born she never really used a binky or a pacifier or anything along that line, she never really became attached to a blanket per se.”

But three-year-old Sarah did become attached to something on the blankets – the little silky tags!

Jimmy says, “And she takes them with wherever she goes, she doesn’t leave home without them.”

And if a blanket tag isn’t handy, just about any tag will do… little Sarah has even fallen asleep in the car sucking on a tag that was attached to the upholstery! Whether it’s the common pacifier or the even more popular thumb – the sucking reflex is so powerful in young kids that sometimes they just can’t seem to stop.

Joann Condie, RN – counselor, Focus on the Family says, “It gives them self-soothing mechanism, it gives them a security, gives them a sense to calm themselves when the world out there is stressful.”

But is there a point where parents should intervene? It depends – some children have actually damaged their mouths.

Joann says, “I remember a child who was about 18 months old and their soft palate in the roof of their mouth was the exact shape of their thumb.”

That’s why dentists will often recommend an orthopedic pacifier that won’t damage a developing mouth. In Sarah’s case, an expert wasn’t concerned about her habit.

Jimmy says, “When she’s ready to get rid of it she’ll get rid of it, we’re not going to force her to do it, but you know to begin to slowly take the tags from her little by little.”

Gradual and gentle encouragement will help your child to begin to wean themselves off these objects. The same strategy works with the beloved security blanket… when it comes out of the laundry, just snip a bit off each time.

Joann says, “And it begins getting smaller and smaller and eventually the blankie becomes the size of a little hankie that they can carry around until the point where they no longer need it.”

And that of course is the goal – for your child to feel secure enough that she doesn’t need a thumb or a blankie or even a blankie tag!