Mostly this habit is normal for infants and toddlers. But this activity would decrease by the age of four to five. But I know many children who are suffering with this habit, as they cannot leave this bad habit even they are 10.

Many parents try home remedies like applying foul tasting substances for their children's fingers, some apply bandages and more on. But the first thing that has to be done is to find the cause for this. Mostly, parent’s responses to trauma" can cause children to be overcome by anxiety. Their anxiety can lead to clutching to their parents, crying, screaming, wetting the bed, having nightmares, and... sucking their thumbs.

1. So try advising the child the cause of thumb sucking. Tell him that if the habit persists through permanent front tooth eruption, there can be lasting damage: flared or protruded upper teeth, delayed eruption of upper or lower front teeth, and the aforementioned open bite. This can result in chewing difficulties, speech abnormalities, and an unattractive smile. Then the child may understand the situation and may stop the habit.

2. Use a reward system. Take a Calendar and mark the days the child does not suck his thumb. At each end of the month, take him out if he has decreased his habit than the previous month.

3. Most importantly Don't Yell. Although you may feel frustrated when your child slides back into his or her thumb-sucking behavior, don't punish or yell at the child. You will only make him or her nervous and upset, which will probably lead to more thumb sucking.

Take a look at the sources I have given below to get some more clear idea :)
Source(s):
http://health.yahoo.com/oralcare-child/thumb-sucking-helping-your-child-sto...
http://www.ehow.com/how_2086362_stop-thumb-sucking.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/38141/home_remedies_to_stop_thumb_...
http://health.howstuffworks.com/home-remedies-for-thumb-sucking.htm

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