How to Help Your Child Move Beyond Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking with the Myo Munchee
- Megan Crooks
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
Helping feeding, speech, and function take flight for little ones in Santa Barbara.
Most babies naturally find comfort in sucking - a pacifier, thumb, or finger often becomes their go-to for soothing.
🍼💤 While this is normal in the early months, extended pacifier or thumb sucking habits can start to affect a child’s oral development, speech, and overall health.
The good news? With the right support and tools, children can transition smoothly into healthier oral habits. At Seabird Speech Therapy, Megan Crooks, a certified Myo Munchee practitioner and experienced speech-language pathologist, helps families guide their children toward stronger oral function and lasting success.
🌊💬 Why Pacifier and Thumb Sucking Can Become a Problem 😮💨
When pacifier or thumb sucking continues beyond toddlerhood, it may:
Affect how the teeth grow in 🦷.
Interfere with tongue posture 👅.
Delay natural chewing and swallowing skills 🍎.
Weaken oral muscles needed for speech and eating.
Contribute to speech delays, lisps, or unclear sounds 🗣️.
How Oral Motor Therapy Can Help 💪
Oral motor therapy is like a workout program for the mouth. Through fun, playful exercises, children learn how to:
Rest the tongue in the correct spot.
Close their lips more easily 👄.
Chew food more effectively 🍽️.
Speak with greater clarity and confidence 🎤.
Meet the Myo Munchee: A Tool for Healthier Oral Habits 🧡
The Myo Munchee is a soft, chewable oral appliance that turns passive sucking habits into active, functional chewing.
Benefits of the Myo Munchee:
Provides a fun “big kid” alternative 🧒.
Strengthens the jaw, lips, and tongue 💪.
Supports healthy bite alignment 🦷.
Encourages nasal breathing 🌬️.
For infants, the Bebe Munchee can be introduced around 4–5 months as a pacifier alternative 👶.
How to Introduce the Myo Munchee at Home 🏡
Start small: 1–5 minutes of chewing during calm times.
Offer at key moments: Bedtime, car rides 🚗, or storytime 📚.
Build consistency: Aim for 5 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
Extra Tips from Therapy ✨
Alongside the Munchee, your child may also benefit from:
Tongue and lip exercises 👅.
Swallowing practice with straws 🥤.
Chewing different textures for variety 🥕🍏.
Support for Families in the Transition 💕
Breaking pacifier or thumb habits takes patience, but you don’t have to do it alone. With therapy, encouragement, and tools like the Myo Munchee, your child can thrive with strong oral function, healthy teeth, and clear speech.
At Seabird Speech Therapy, Megan Crooks offers individualized therapy and guidance as a Myo Munchee Certified Practitioner. She partners with families to create smooth, supportive transitions away from non-nutritive sucking habits. 🌟
SEO Keywords: pacifier weaning, thumb sucking alternatives, Myo Munchee for kids, oral motor therapy, speech therapy for pacifier use, how to stop pacifier habit, breaking thumb sucking habit, Seabird Speech Therapy, Megan Crooks.
Comments