My 4 year old just started to suck his thumb 6 months ago. He was copying his neighbor friend and now it is a habit. My 2 other kids used a pacifier which is much easier to control when they use it and when to get rid of it. However, I'm struggling with how to get my son to 1) limit where an when he is sucking his thumb and 2) how to get him to stop sucking it completely. Of course it is now cold and flu season so all the germs are going straight in his mouth. I appreciate any recommendations mom's have on solutions that have worked for them.
A friend of mine took her daughter to "the thumb lady" in Long Grove. They do a positive reinforcment program that seems to really work. She's no longer sucking on her fingers...
Hi A.,
My son, now 5, sucked his thumb from birth til last Spring. He was getting an overbite from it and we were getting concerned. We hadn't "tried everything" to get him to quit but we started researching what to do when we took him for his 2nd cleaning at the dentist. We talked about it to the dentist in front of him and then she talked to my son directly about it with us there, how it wasn't good for his teeth and how it was affecting his bite, etc...But then, she talked to his THUMB. I thought it was SO hokey i was almost started laughing, but my son was mesmirized so kept it together.(She was telling his thumb that he was hurting William's teeth, etc...) That night at bed time, my son said "Mom, my thumb wants to go in my mouth but i am not going to let him because it's not good for my teeth." And i swear to God, he has never sucked his thumb since. I realize this might be a fluke, and that we were very very lucky, but you might try it next time you go to the dentist. Sometimes 4 year olds are listening more than we think.....good luck! (The dentist was in Michigan, otherwise i would recommend her!)
You've gotten lots of useful advice and since no two kids are alike you can try different approaches. Here's what I have to add:
1) My very smart pediatrician warmed that a child will replace the thumb sucking with something else, so if you use a deterrent (bad tasting stuff on thumbs) be sure to replace it with something that is less objectionable.
2) If you can afford it,(or if all else fails) go to the Thumblady. We went; and I have to say that Shari is just brilliant, she addresses all of the issues and uses positive reinforcements beautifully. She doesn't shame the kids or drive them crazy. My daughter went there and the 2 sons of a friend went. These are three kids with very different personalities and all of them were successful and LIKED going. This was truly an experience that exceeded my expectations. We had to drive 45 minutes (sometimes and hour) and it cost a lot of money. But the Thumblady is in a class by herself, as of three years ago, no one else provided comprehensive approach in such an appealing environment.
Put something VERY distasteful on both his thumbs so he won't want them in his mouth. Hang his pacifier from his shirt so he has it with him all the time to use at will. He'll catch on by himself. They are very smart little people. Good luck and happy holidays.
I'm embarrassed to say this, but I sucked my thumb until I was 9! The rules were, only in bed and at night. This meant I had to wash my hands before I went to bed to make sure I didn't get any germs. I finally stopped when my dentist told me my parents would have to spend a lot of money on an retainer to help me stop sucking my thumb. The guilt worked!
I think he's trying to find comfort and his thumb provides that. The more you make of it, the more he'll want it. Just gently remind him he's only allowed to suck his thumb at night in bed, after he's washed his hands. It will eventually go away.
Best of luck!
I just saw a device you can wear... I believe it was through the One Step Ahead catalog. I'm sure you can find them online if you search.
:)
Hope this helps,
M.
I was a thumb sucker. I know there are mittens or a clear nail polish that is supposed to deter them from sucking, but i don't think it works. If it's comfort to him, let him suck. You never seea colleg aged child sucking his thumb. he will grow out of it! And according to my dentist, it does not damage their teeth or cause braces..that is a myth!
My 3 and 4 year old are thumb suckers. My 4 year old started a month after the 3 year old was born. I naively thought it was a passing thing just because of the new baby, but now he is a more intense thumb sucker than the 3 year old! Can't blame them completely since I sucked my thumb at times through 5th grade and my mom through 7th grade. I really think it has to be their idea to not want to...the more we push it telling them not to suck their thumb, the more they will cling to it for comfort. At this point, it has lessened for us, but the 4 year old surely still sucks his thumb when tired, bored/real relaxed, or nervous. I remind him to take it out so I can understand him so he's not talking with his thumb in his mouth...natural reason for it to come out. I also remind him at times that he's sucking his thumb...sometimes he then takes it out if he wants to be that big boy, and other times he says "I don't want to suck my thumb, but my body really wants me to suck my thumb" and I just tell him, "yeah, we need to work on that body and tell it your a big boy so you don't need to suck your thumb". And then that's that, he continues sucking until he is comfortable or distracted at that moment and it usually comes out pretty quickly on his terms. The boys like to wear gloves in the house and such which I am all for because it helps distract from the thumb naturally. Best wishes to you!! I'm in the same kind of situation. Our dentist too said not to worry about it...the teeth show some effect now, but he said they should move back okay when they stop sucking their thumbs.
