Three Year Old Started Sucking Her Thumb

Where she picked up this new habit isn't as important as to why. Most children suck their thumbs and even their arms for comfort. Something has made her uncomfortable.

From what I've read, don't worry about it. Do NOT put bad tasting things on her thumb in hope she'll stop. That's just mean to her. She wants comfort, not her mommy putting nasty things on her fingers.

She'll stop in time. It's normal for some children to suck their thumbs into school age. It won't do her any harm, so why stop it? Let her have her comfort thing. It'd be like taking her favorite toy away.

Hey J.,
I'm a mother of 4 and my oldest (who's going to be 10) still has to do at sometime during the day. He also started at the age of 2-3 yrs. There's actually a "nail polish" out there that you can apply to the childs nails and it's got a yucky taste. Try that to begin with...I ended up going to the ortho (he needed braces) and he got what's called a "habit corrector"---he wore it from about when he was 7-9 yrs old. Good luck...check the infant section at the pharmacy for the nail stuff.

E.

I agree, she prob saw another child doing it. Children don't just start bad habits like that unless they were introduced to it. I've never had this problem myself but I may one day b/c my 6 month old soothes himself to sleep by sucking his thumb, my first son was a paci baby.BUT, you could try putting something like nail polish removeal or a dab of rubbing alcohol on each of her thumb nails so it will give her a bad taste in her mouth everytime she tries to suck her thumb. Since this isnt really HER habit, just something shes copying it should work fast. Also try explaining to her that it could mess up her teeth. Since a 3 yr old probably wouldnt understand u telling her that it will make her teeth buck for now just tell her that it makes her teeth fall out. That way she understands that its not good for her teeth and the "story" does no harm to her at this age. Naturally she'll figure out this isnt the case as she gets older.But it will help in the meantime.

I think they learn it from other kids. I saw mine do it a few weeks ago after she spent some time at the babysitter's house.

J.,

My daugther started when she was about the same age as yous. She is almost 6 now and continues to suck her thumb daily. It's a very hard habit to break, so nip it in the bud as soon as you can. We are already looking at a very expensive road of Orthodontic care. Sucking on the thumb leads to change in the size and shape of the pallet (sp?) in the mouth, not to mention giving the child buckteeth. Then, they will be teased in school.

If I were you, I'd try the green apple nail polish. It's very bitter like eating a lemon. You could also try rewarding her for going a few days without sucking her thumb. Pull out the stops on this one. It's not something you want her doing for the next few years.

By the way, my daughter picked it up from a little boy in daycare who would suck his thumb until it would bleed.

Good luck.