Tiny baby monkey A Tong had a little habit that made him feel safe whenever he was tired—he loved sucking his thumb. Whenever he became sleepy or wanted comfort, his tiny hand would slowly find its way toward his mouth. Mommy had noticed the habit many times, and that morning, she decided to gently redirect him instead of allowing him to keep doing it.
A Tong was sitting comfortably on his soft blanket when his thumb once again reached his mouth. Mommy noticed immediately.
“A Tong, sweetheart, let’s take your hand out for a moment,” she said softly.
She gently guided his hand away.
A Tong froze.
He stared at Mommy with wide eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened. Then he immediately reached for his thumb again.
Mommy gently redirected his hand.
“No, little one. Let’s try something else.”
That was when A Tong became very unhappy.
“Eeeee! Eeee!”
He pulled his hand back and tried again. Mommy calmly moved his hand away, and A Tong responded with an even louder cry. His tiny face became serious, and he began waving his arms as though he were having a very important disagreement with Mommy.
“You really want your thumb, don’t you?” Mommy asked.
A Tong answered with another dramatic squeak.
He reached toward his mouth again, and Mommy gently offered him her finger to hold instead. A Tong grabbed it immediately, but after only a few seconds, he tried to bring his own thumb back.
Mommy smiled patiently.
“I know it’s comforting, sweetheart. Mommy isn’t angry with you.”
A Tong wasn’t convinced.
He made another loud protest and pulled his hand toward himself. For a moment, it looked like a tiny battle of wills. A Tong wanted his familiar habit, while Mommy wanted to help him find another safe way to relax.
Instead of forcing his hands down or using anything that could restrict him, Mommy stayed gentle. She gave him a soft blanket and held him close, helping him settle through cuddling and reassurance.
A Tong continued complaining for a little while.
“Eee… eee…!”
Then his cries slowly became quieter.
Mommy rubbed his back. “That’s it. You can relax.”
A Tong looked up at her, still slightly annoyed. He held onto the blanket with both hands and rested his cheek against Mommy’s arm. His attention gradually shifted away from his thumb.
“There you go,” Mommy whispered.
After a few minutes, A Tong became sleepy. His little body relaxed, and the angry expression disappeared from his face. He tucked his hands against the blanket and rested quietly in Mommy’s arms.
Mommy knew that changing a comforting habit could take time. She didn’t expect A Tong to understand immediately. Her goal was simply to guide him patiently and avoid turning his frustration into a stressful struggle.
“You’re doing a good job, little A Tong,” she whispered.
A Tong gave one tiny sleepy sound and closed his eyes.
The little disagreement was finally over. A Tong hadn’t gotten exactly what he wanted, but he had discovered that Mommy could still comfort him without forcing him or making him afraid.
And as he drifted into a peaceful nap, Mommy continued gently watching over her stubborn little baby, ready to help him learn new ways to feel safe and comfortable.
