Stopping Thumbsucking

Hi
My daughter had her blanket and sucked her thumb until she was 11. I think the less issue made of it the better as the kids get very resentful. If the kids at school laugh she will then suck at home or when upset. I personally think it is a comforter and shouldn't be taken away until she is ready. Patti

my daughter was a thumb sucker when she discovered her fingers! we thought it was cute when she was a baby, but as she got older it wasn't as cute. my dtr stopped sucking her thumb around 6 yrs. get this, my husband was a thumb sucker until he was 8 yrs old! i believe that when she is ready she will realize she has to stop. good luck on the device.- L.

I had wonderful results getting my 2 year old to stop sucking her thumbs (yes, both!) by using a product called Mavalo. I bought it on Drugstore.com around xmas time. The results were pretty immediate - just breaking the cycle for stress relief, boredom, going to sleep etc. It broke my heart to take it away from her, but it had to be done now, rather than later when it would be so much harder. I sucked my thumb for a very long time... (5th grade.) Most everyone who posted reviews for this product online gave it 5 stars - except for those parents of kids who really persisted despite the bad taste. It is a nail polish type product that tastes horrible.
Good luck!

Hi! We successfully helped my daughter quit by taking her to a specialist but this is what she did:First, we made a big poster with 12 things on it and labeled them one through 12, onefor each week. (my daughter did a horse with flowers, apples etc) Every day she did not suck her thumb at all she would put a sticker on one picture in the poster. IF she sucks her thumb, she had to start at the beginning (she never did, which was miraculous) At the end of weeks 3, 6, and 12 she got a small prize to open. Also, we bought a thing of smiley face stickers and stuck them wherever she liked to suck her thumb the most (tv, the car, her bed etc) to remind her of her pretty smile that she would have if she quit. Also, we got her a bag with a squeezy ball, little things to keep her hands busy, gum, mints etc called her tool bag. at night, we put a knee sock on her hand. good luck!

D.,

I hate to say don't worry about it, but I sucked my thumb until I was 8 or 9. My mom tried everything, from wrapping it to hot sauce, then one day I just stopped. I know nothing she did made me stop,I just did. So maybe if you back off a little and just take one day at a time she'll stop on her own. BTW I just chewed that wrap off, so you could have saved your money.

Good Luck,
D. S

My daughter found her thumb at about 6 weeks old and never looked back. Finally around 5 1/2 we really started concentrating on getting her to stop, and I explained how it could start to affect her permanent teeth. I never tried the wrap, but I tried yucky tasting stuff and it did help, but once it wore off just a little she could get past it. I started just reaching over and pulling out her thumb every time I saw it go in, and it made her more aware of how often she was doing it, so sometimes she could catch herself. In the end it was really mental though. We laid in bed one night as she tried to go to sleep without it. I told her how we all have to do difficult things sometimes because it's better for us. I reminded her of examples within the family, like when her older brother finally stopped biting his nails. She got the point and went to sleep. From that moment on, she never sucked her thumb again.

When she's really ready mentally, she'll stop. In the meantime, doing things to deter her or draw her attention to it will help her get to that point, like the wrap. The fact that she's excited about it sounds to me like she's ready to give it up. Oh and be sure to mark the date. I have a scrapbook page about the momentous day. Makes them feel good about their accomplishment!

I worked for a pediatric dentist for 9 years. Yes, they work. Some thumb habit appliances can cost $750. Some appliances can be covered by your insurance (Dental) at about 550%. They are worth the price, and may save your child from needed braces in the future.

I have a 2 year daughter who before she was born sucked her thumb also. I spoke with her pediatrician about this and she told me not to worry about it. I want to stop it before she starts school. Please keep in inform on how the "Thumbuster" is working for your daughter. Good Luck :)

T.

I've never tried that, but here's an idea that I've heard works too to transition her out of thumb sucking - let her suck her thumb, but only in bed. So anytime she wants to suck her thumb she has to go to bed and do it. Just a thought, maybe worth a try.

If you are in the middle of a divorce, this is not the time to have her make a change in her security. Sucking her thumb is a security thing and I feel you are asking for trouble. If this thumbbuster works, then fine (since you have already told her about it) however, if it doesn't, I would drop the whole issue for some time.

i have a 3 yr old who also started sucking her thumb in the womb. she does it less and less now and seems to be security and when she is tired. i also have a 13 yr old who didnt stop sucking her fingers until she was 10 and was getting ready for braces to fix her bite. my oldest didnt seem to be bothered by it at school. teachers were aware and mentioned it now and then. this sounds like it could be a good idea and if she is excited i say go for it. my parents tried rewards with me. $1 worth of pennies in a jar and i lost one each time i sucked my thumb during the week. then went to nickels and so on. might be worth a try. best advise dont make too big a deal of it. it is a security issue to me and sounds like she might need that. just incourage her. good luck.

I had the same problem when i was young, my mom bought this really gross finger polish that you put on the thumb at night and as a natural reaction I would stop sucking it at night. If you can keep her from sucking her thumb at night she will gradually stop during the day do to peers and growing up. It won't happen at night but my aunt did this for my cousin and it worked for her too. You can find the polish at any local pharmacy.

Well... I sucked my thumb until I was 23 years old. It was the only way my body would relax. I had tried everything. At 18 I came to the realization that it was only when my thumb was in my that every mucsle in my body was at peace. I used to play music to help me relax instead of using my thumb. And I didn't really "suck" it. It just kind of sat in my mouth, while my other hand "worked" a blanket edge. With the everything that is going on in her life, I would not take that away from her too. Unfortunately I did need braces, but my daughter who is now 22 sucked tow of her fingers until she was about 10 and she has perfect teeth. It is a very soothing action. Let her decide when she is ready.
M.A.G.

.Personally, i would let her be. Divorce is too traumatic for a child to take away what is her comfort.
I guarantee she will sub. Something else. Food, biting nails, whatever

Hi D.,
I have the same problem only both my 4 yr. old and my 2 yr. old sucking their two middle fingers. The device you mentioned sounds great. I'm going to see if they have it for other fingers. BUT, I've always read that children who are going through something major in their lives (like their whole world falling apart in a divorce) might be a bit too fragile right now for them to stop sucking their fingers. Their fingers are a great source of comfort. That's my advice. You may not like it but its the truth.

I have never heard of this device. I have a 9 year old boy who sucks his thumb,but only at home because he is embarrased.I would like to know where to purchase this item.

I am a former thumb sucker, the mother of three former thumbsuckers and the grandmother of four grandchildren who have been thumb suckers. I am also an early childhood educator. Your child is fortunate to be able to self soothe and also to be an active participant in trying to stop thumb sucking. I would suggest you use the thumbuster at home and at night rather than having her wear it to school. I would not want her to be self conscious but rather self aware. Her teacher can probably let you know how often and under what circumstances she sucks her thumb. Does she use it when tired or when she is listening to stories? Does her thumb sucking interfere in her social interactions or participation in group activities? Are her peers making reference to the habit? You also mention that you are going through a divorce which also means your child is experiencing family upheaval as well. She may need this comfort a little bit longer. My final advice is to be patient. I can still taste the yuck placed on my own thumb and my mother's tugging on my thumb as I slept. I made sure that I used neither with my own children who stopped sucking their thumbs at about the same time I did. L. R

My youngest is 10, was a thumb sucker. We bought several devices on the market. None of those worked. She could remove them. And she likes the taste of hot sauce. Even considered ordering a dental device. But our pediatrician offered that other than dental damage, thumb sucking wasn't a big deal. Usually, in older kids, its because of some other issue and their need to comfort themselves.

Unfortunately, complete strangers would come up and say some of the meanest things, which in turn freaked her out so she'd suck on her thumb even more.

I decided that we really needed to combate the root issue. In our case, we had some major life changing issues happen at the time she probably should have stopped, and was close to stopping. Unfortunately, she ended up regressing....

So, we took a positive approach. I stopped negative words on my part. I reminded her that other people didn't understand that she sucked her thumb because she was uncomfortable. We talked about the things in our lives that changed and how we could comfort each other as a family. I decided from that point on, never ever to tell her to stop sucking her thumb. Instead, I made a point to try to have a conversation with her so that she would have to take the thumb out. I also gave her things to hold...like at a store, please hold this, hold that....and so on.
We also talked about the "thumbsucking" where I would ask if she wanted to stop, which she did...as she was a bit embarassed. We talked about what she could do instead of sucking her thumb, especially around other kids. Ever hear of going to your happy place? That helped her. I told her not to worry, one day she would stop.

About six months later she stopped...at about 8 years old.

So basically these steps helped us:
I stopped saying anything remotely negative about the thumbsucking process.
I reminded her how much I loved her.
We talked about the current changes in our lives.
Found other things for her to do instead of sucking her thumb.
Let her know she can talk to me about her thumbsucking.
Reminded myself, that it was doubtful that she would go to college with her thumb in her mouth.
In the big scheme of things, thumbsucking is not a big deal (rather have a thumbsucker than a bed-wetter.)
Good luck to you.

My 3 year old stop sucking her thumb after we went to the dentist. She has many older siblings and we all had an appointment one day for our 6 mo. cleaning. She insisted on having an appointment also and insisted on going in back all by herself. She seemed to think she was "too big" for mommy to join her. The dentist checked her mouth (no cleaning of course) and then told her that because she sucks her thumb her teeth are beginning to stick out. She walked out like a big girl with a huge smile on her face and has not sucked her thumb since. It has been over two months now. Every once in a while I find her with her thumb in her mouth while she is asleep but it is not all that often.

We used a sticker chart with larger prize at the end. We talked about the times of the day that our child usually sucked her thumb and gave her a sticker every time she did these activities with out her thumb. For example, she sucked her thumb while watching TV, while riding in the car and for bed time. She was 5 and getting ready to start Kindergarten, so the goal was to be able to send her knowing that she would not do this at school. We made the sticker chart up to 100 since she'd have the chance to get about 5 stickers a day, we wanted to make sure the new habit stuck before getting her prize. It took about a month or so and we were thumb free though out the day before Kindergarten started. She is allowed to suck her thumb in her bed only for sleep, I'm hoping she'll stop that on her own sooner or later?

Dear D.,

I'll be interested to know the advice you get because I have a two year old who sucks his thumb and has since before he was born, too. We haven't tried to make him stop yet but I think we need to try and take care of it as soon as possible.
Good luck and keep us posted on what you find helpful.
C. C.

Hi my name is L., I have a daughter she is almost 8. But she was sucking her thumb until she was 4 and a half, never bother me. but my husband always was telling her to stop, until one day she came to me and told me she don't want to do it any more, and she told me to make a chart,3 weeks later I took her to buy something that she wanted.
You never mencion how old it's your Daughter, but she needs to be ready, and make a desicion for her self, I don't belive in this tricks

My children used to put their fingers in their mouths - I used a product called MAVALA - it tastes digusting. You have to order it on line. After a few times of me putting it on their fingers I just had to show them the bottle and the stopped. It took a few weeks to break the habit but it worked! Good luck. S

Just a thought... it sounds like your girls might be going through a lot right now with the divorce. Although the girls are young, there might be a lot of changes going on in their lives that they haven't adjusted to yet (even if the changes are just mommy's emotional ones. :->).

Perhaps the thumb sucking is her way of dealing with the stress. Yes, she says she is "excited" about it, but she is 6 and will say/do anything to keep her one parent happy right now.

Are you sure you want to make more changes to her life at this point? Are you sure you want to take away her one self-soothing, reassuring security? Are you sure you want to put more pressure on her right now?

There are quite a few people on here saying it's her sense of security because you are going through a divorce and this is her way of comforting herself. Not true, if she has been doing it since she was in the womb it's a habit, nothing more nothing less. My daughter didn't suck her thumb until she was 3 because she saw somebody in daycare doing it. Her Godparents took her to Sea World and when they saw the walruses they told her if she didn't stop sucking her thumb she would end up with teeth like them! lol Everytime I saw her sucking her thumb I would remind her of that. My daughter is very smart for her age. Well, after a week or two she stopped, but went to the index finger. Which was fine because it didn't look as bad and it wouldn't have an impact on her teeth. Eventually after a few more weeks she stopped. What works for some kids might not work for others. But don't feel that because of what you are going through with your husband it's causing her to suck her thumb. It's just not true. Good luck with everything.

Dear D.,

I had a thumb sucker and a finger sucker. They both had what we called "night-nights" (burp clothes that doubled as security blankets). Their father noticed with our oldest that he didn't suck his thumb as much if he didn't have his night-night. The night-nights disappeared, and he stopped sucking his thumb (he was five-ish). The almost exact same thing happened with my baby. We went away for a week, and she forgot to take a night-night. She was fine for that week, so when we got home, I quick ran through the house and scooped up all the night-nights. She was SO upset when she couldn't find any - even though she didn't need one the entire week before. Without the night-nights, she stopped sucking her fingers. So my point, and my question to you is, does your daughter have any triggers (like a night-night) that you can get rid of to help her cut back the urge to suck.

Good luck!
B.

I have the same problem with my 2 1/2. Could you send me info on the thumbuster? Thank you.
I.

My daughter, too, sucked her thumb. We were told that it would ruin her teeth and palet and that she'd be ridiculed at school. So I talked to her pediatrician at the time who was the head of Pediatrics at UCLA. He said to us that if you have a child who sucks their thumb you should put money away. Because you'll either pay for braces or you'll pay for a psychiatrist. And trust me, he said, braces are a whole lot cheaper. (he was a lovely and funny man) His advice was to leave her be. (as he did with his own thumbsucking children) And we did. She was strong enough to tolerate teasing at school. We were very vigilant about it. When it came time for orthodontics, they built a "cage" for the roof of her mouth to stop her sucking her thumb. It worked within 30 days. She was in middle school.

While there is a large range of feelings on the matter, we chose our path with the issue based on the realization that our daughter needed the self soothing and that if she was strong enough to tolerate the reaction from others (although we had rules of what/where/when it was appropriate to suck her thumb) that the practice would have to stop once she had braces. It did and she has a gorgeous smile and is a happy young adult.

I must say, though, her dentist was mortified at the advice of her pediatrician. And we respected his point of view, but chose our plan of action based on our daugher's needs.

I don't believe that our way is the right way for everyone. Each child is different, each family has their own set of values and expectations. I'd be interested in how well the thumbster works. It sounds alot better than the bitter stuff you put on their nails that usually doesn't work anyway. And the fact that she's excited about it seems like she's really ready to kick the habit. Good for her! I do believe the sooner they can stop, the better. I wish you all great success!
B

I haven't even heard of this product before. Would love to try it out on my 4 year old. Please let us know how it works for you!
Becky M

My girls sucked their thumbs until they were 6 3/4. I read somewhere about getting them those squish balls that you squeeze to release tension and/or strengthen your hand muscles. We gave the girls the balls and they were done sucking their thumbs in less than three days. It was like they said, "Oh, great, Mom and Dad found out about the squeeze balls. Now we'll have to stop". The kind we got were very squishy and seemed to be covered in a balloon like material, not the rougher cloth style like I have also seen.

Good Luck.

My daughter is 6 and also sucked her thumb in the womb. She would have to wear a shirt or t-shirt with a satin bow so she could rub the bow and suck he thumb at the same time. I tried taking away the bow but it would upset her so much that I just let her do it. About two months after she turned 6 we went on vacation and met up with all of my family. My 13 year neice had just gotten braces and my husband explained to my daughter that she would probably need them when she got older due to her thumb sucking. She stopped sucking her thumb immediately and when we returned home she had me remove all the satin bows from her t-shirts. She said she did not want to be tempted to such her thumb.

My niece whomis now 22 years of age sucked her thumb until about age ten years old one day she just stopped she did learn to suck it the privacy of her room at night so kids would not make funn of her at school she too was going through a divorce and that could of been why she sucked for so long because it was a security for her while going through rough times if the thumb buster doesn't work then try asking her why she still sucks it and maybe she can find alturnative things that confort her. If she is excited about the thumb buster maybe she is ready to stop by herself she just needs a little encouragement. Good luck hope this helps a little

About me:

Im 41 single mom my daughter was two when I was going through divorce I am a fulltime Director at a facility for adults with disbilites and full time masters student full time mom and I love everybit of it My daughter is now 14 years and A hand full teenagers but I am truely blessed for everything I have

Have a great dsay
And a blessed weekend

D., I have a 4 year old son that sucks his thumb too, but I haven't tried to stop it yet. I would love to hear how the thumbster worked, or not! Good luck!

I also have a thimb sucker (age 4)! She started showing signs of being ready to stop so we simply say "thummy" when she is sucking on it and it reminds her to take it out without making it an issue. I'm so sorry to hear about your divorce. In light of that, be sure that this is an appropriate time to have her stop. Her thumb may be a source of comfort and even control for her in this hard time. good luck!

Hi D.,

My 6 year old son also sucked his thumb in the womb and still does. He won't suck his thumb at school but he does when he is home and tired.

I don't know what to do either. My 24 yr old step daughter still sucks her thumb when she watches t.v. I caught her several times and she says she isn't but I know what I saw.
I know her dad and mom tried it all and nothing worked so they just let it go. So, now she is 24 almost 25 and still sucks her thumb. I worry that our son will be like her in that way.
Hopefully he will break his habit himself. He still sleeps with a tattered pillowcase that is now just a strip of what it once was.

Good luck I want to see what responses you get for this and maybe I'll learn something new.

Sucking your thumb releases endorphins which helps relieve stress. Sucking is a way for a baby to sort itself out. Scientifically proven. If your daughter is stressed she's going to fall to her way of soothing herself, sucking her thumb. Yes sucking a thumb is a habit, but it's a habit developed as a way to cope with stress. My son will be 7 in a few days and sucks his thumb. *But* not nearly as much as he used to.
The bigger deal we make of pointing it out to him and telling him to stop the more he does it. If we don't mention it at all he hardly does it. At this point the only time we really see him sucking it is in super stressful situations or a little bit in him sleep, he's even cut back dramatically on that and when he's really sick sometimes.
When he was little it was impossible to get a pictures of him without his thumb in his mouth, now it's never a problem.
I sucked my thumb when I was little. It continued in my sleep until I was 12 when I got braces and couldn't anymore. Yeah, some of the braces were because I sucked my thumb...but...my niece never sucked her thumb in her life and is currently faced with some of the exact same dental problems that I was and is getting some of the very same treatments I did which makes me wonder how much of it is simply heredity.
Kids do stop eventually. My parents fought with me tooth and nail to get me to stop and I think that hindered instead of helped. My son is stopping more than I even was at this age.
You need to give them ways to cope with stress other than sucking their thumb. You need to keep them busy so they don't start sitting there with nothing to do and plug it in.
You mentioned you're going through a divorce, I am sorry. Maybe take her out and get her a special teddy bear to hold on to to transfer her stress relief to something else. If you have something like a Build A Bear and can afford it take your daughters there and make it something special. Don't tell them the "real" reason for it. They are making a special friend to hold on to and play with and keep them company.
All those odd things on the market never worked with me, I found a way to take the bandaid off in my sleep, the taste of the polish didn't bother me, it goes away pretty quick. Your daughter might get teased about the thumbster more then sucking her thumb, kids are really weird.
Sorry this got a bit rambly. I have a lot to say on the subject LOL
I hope you find your solution. Good luck.

My daughter was a thumb sucker since before birth last year i decided enough was enough and ordered the thumbguard from thumbguard.net they had a question on their website saying does thumbsucking disrupt your parenting and i had to answer myself yes. I was constantly on her so despite my husbands' disproval we got it it came with a dvd that showed how bad the teeth could look after years of thumbsucking. She asked for a week straight to watch the "bad teeth video" we used it at school for the first three weeks and then we used it only at night. I was so surprised at how quickly it worked It changed our whole relationship i wasn't having to tell her to constantly keep her thumb out of her mouth and she realizes she was a big girl not a baby. I'm glad your daughter is excited. If thumbbuster comes with two one for each hand put both on. I thought gee she doesn't suck the other thumb what's the point and so at night she started sucking the other thumb it was crazy. So definitely use both hands at night. It was amazing to watch her sleep the first few nights because it wasn't so much the need to suck her thumb as too she just didn't know where to put her hand so she finally put it up under her chin and that is how she still sleeps one year later.

Hi D.;

I raised four children. My eldest daughter is thumb sucking during when she is growing. I know this one is not nice but I don't have any choice so I put some tabasco sauce on her thumb then the sucking is gone. I don't know how it is work with your daughter. Good luck.

A.

I have two children, a boy who is now 16 and a girl who is 11 years. And they both sucked their fingers, different fingers on different hands. I was so worried about it for so long, socially and also the effects on their teeth. But you know what, they both stopped independently at different times when they were ready around age 8 or so. I also remember sucking my thumb until I was ten and somehow just stopped when the time was right. My advice, let it be, for whatever reason they need that security right now.

Dear D.,

Just let them suck their thumbs. It is a way of comforting themselves. They will quit on their own. O.K.? C. N.

D.,

If you are going through a divorce I would not change anything including thumbsucking. This may your child's way of dealing with stress. You could limit her thumbsucking to her bedroom only.

Good luck.

My daughter also started sucking her thumb in the womb--I think some kids are born with the tendency because my older son never did. Don't worry or focus too much on it. They do eventually stop. My daughter sucked her thumb until she was 5 but only at home because she was too embarrassed to do it in public. She stopped when she saw her gum bleed (for a totally different reason), but thought it was the thumb sucking that caused it. My younger brother who is extremely highly-gifted was the only thumb sucker among 5 siblings and he did it till he was 5. He was way too smart to be fooled by all the tricks we did to get him to stop. A lot of people worry about the teeth alighment but he and my daughter have perfectly straight teeth.

I am an orthodontist and deal with thumb sucking most everyday at work. I suggest you have an orthodontist look at her teeth to determine whether a dental problem is being created. Often thumb sucking does not cause any problems with the teeth. If there isn't a dental problem then i wouldn't worry too much about the habit. if there is a developing dental problem you'll want to try and stop it soon. the wrap may work although i've heard mixed results. there are orthodontic appliances that we put on the roof of the mouth that make it very uncomfortable to have your thumb in there. I have 3 kids of my own and one has a serious thumb habit too.

Good Luck !