Thumb Sucking - San Antonio, TX

My daughter is now 5 1/2 and still sucks her thumb to go to bed. I was like you and was worried about problems that may arise from this problem. My pediatrician said that as long as she stops around 5 years old she will be okay. At one point she sucked her thumb so bad that she caused a blister and subsequent infection. Don't worry about stopping it now-it is her way of soothing herself-can you imagine life without it???

Try using on her nails some of that stuff you can buy to stop women from biting on their nails, she's bound to stop then. Neither of my children took a pacifier or sucked their thumbs.

I know some say that it won't affect the children and that they will eventually stop by the time they are 5, but that's just not exactly true. I grew up with a girl that sucked her thumb all the way through High School, and not just at night either, i can remember looking at her in the middle of class and her thumb was poked right into her mouth, she had a very nasty overbite and all of her teeth kinda pointed outwards instead of being straight.

My first daughter sucked her thumb until she was about 2 and a half and her pediatrician told me it was fine as long as she stopped by the time she was 5. Her teeth are fine and I never put anything on her fingers. She will probably eventually stop on her own but if not don't worry about it for a few years!

I am going through the same thing with my 3 year old son, and his father says you can already see the effects of the thumb sucking! (Me personally, I don't see it...but hey, I guess I'm a little biased...) His pediatrician advised to wrap an ace bandage (loosely of course) around his elbow at night. He can still put his thumb in his mouth, but as soon as he falls asleep...POP!...the arm straightens out and no more thumb!!! It has been working pretty well for the last few weeks. I put it on under his jammies and he forgets it's even there. It didn't work so well during the summer because I was so afraid that he would take it off and get tangled in it, but long sleeves seems to keep it from his mind! In any case, you may want to try it...see if she can stay asleep long enough without her thumb! Good luck!!!

M., I know there are tons of people who will not agree with what I am saying. But my brother, my sister, and myself all sucked our thumbs until we were 5 or 6 (maybe longer for them, I don't know). We all have very straight beautiful teeth, of course no braces or anything like that. I know of several people who sucked their thumbs when they were little who also have perfectly straight teeth and no big overbite or buck teeth or anything.
The only problem I do see in thumb sucking is it is very hard to break a child of this because you cannot take it away from them which is probably why I was 5 or 6 before I quit doing it. But I do not see that it will make your child have buck teeth.

Ok, take it from me you will not get buck teeth from sucking your thumb! I did it involentary at night until the age of 15. Yes 15 years old, My teeth are fine. It is a very normal thing for any kid to do I think in my case my blanky was taken from me when I was 7 and that turned me more to my thumb. In time it will go away. don't worry. If it is concerning you that it is happening durring the day or in public and you do not approve let your child know that the behavoir is for "night night time" and not polite to have your thumb in your mouth in public. even at a very young age children understand. My little one is turnning 3 and she still needs her thumb and I am not going to take it away. she will do that when the time is right.
be paitent its perfectly normal.
Jenn:0)

My DD is 2 yrs 9 mos. and I've been seriously trying to get her to stop for about three months. My main concern is not just buck teeth, but her jaw is accomodating the thumb, and her teeth are pulled forward on the uppers and the lower teeth look caved in so her thumb can fit right in there. Kinda scary when you notice that. I'm really trying because my older DD is 5 1/2, and she has always sucked her thumb also. She has only sucked her thumb in her sleep for the last 2 years or so, but the way her upper teeth look , I don't want my little one's teeth to look like that if I can help it! She has a hard time trying to keep her lips over her teeth, and usually has her upper teeth hanging out, just out of habit.
Here are some of the things I've tried:
I tried the "thumb guard"(look it up online, by Med et. al) on my 2 3/4 y.o., but she was able to yank it up and off of her thumb, then was able to put it back on her thumb most of the time. I only figured that out towards the end of the 30 day trial period, fortunately. I sent it back and got my $$ back. But I'm sure it works for some, but they would probably tell you that 15 mos. is too young.
I also tried the nail polish like stuff which has a bitter taste, mine is called "Thum". That also didn't work, and when I tried it recently, she actually liked it.
Right now the bribe is a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's and a pizza there. For whatever reason that is something she really wants and when I tell her "no Chuck e. Cheese's then" she pulls her thumb right out and says, "pizza too?" Hey whatever works! Of course the thumb goes right back in pretty quickly, but she does understand NOW that she has a bad habit. It did take 3 months to get to this point, and she's much older than yours, so I suggest you not worry about it for at least another year. HTH!

I don't know if you should do this or not, but I've known moms to put ceyenne pepper or hot sauce on their childs thumb. The child was cured quickly of thumb sucking.

Myself and my older brother sucked our thumbs also when we were little. I actually sucked my thumb until I was in 2nd grade (only at night then). But, my mom use to put peroxide on my brother's thumb and that cured him. I had to get a permanently place thumbsucking device put in the roof of my mouth from the orthodontist. I didn't have major bucked teeth but there was a slight overbite that was cured in no time with a retainer worn at night for about a year. After I stopped sucking my thumb the thumbsucking device was taken out. I think they mounted on my back molars but there was a wire barrier that prevented me from getting my thumb to the roof of my mouth. It obviously worked--there was no way around the wire trap. Those are just my experiences with it but you could look it up on the internet too. I'm sure a lot of the pediatric sites have cures and you may also ask your pediatrician. They always have the ideas that work the best.

Good luck!

M.

Hey, If you don't want to try the hot pepper maybe you could just find something else that tastes nasty, like the vinegar idea, or Lemons, something bad tasteing but that won't burn. It probably wouldn't take long to get them to stop if you do that.

my daughter is 15 mos and sucks her thumb. I agree that at this point its not a problem. If they dont stop by kindergarten then Id try something (but not peppers or hot sauce).

I sucked my thumb until I was 4 and I didn't have bucked teeth!
Dentists are so ready to 'fix' teeth now. Does he have a relative who's a ortho that he's trying to get business for???
Just let her suck her thumb. Wait until she's older to try and make her stop. My mom put chili on my thumb.

According to the ADA (American Dental Association), thumb sucking does not affect a child's teeth unless they do it beyond about age 4 or 5; and most children will stop thumb sucking on their own before this age. I tell my clients not to worry about it too much in babies and young toddlers. I don't recommend putting some foul-tasting thing on their thumbs at all, but especially not at this age. I would recommend that you reserve that practice as a last-ditch effort if she doesn't stop on her own. And even at that point, use vinegar or a commercial product rather than hot sauce or cayenne pepper. Children's taste buds are very sensitive, and using something that burns their mouth is just plain mean.

L.
Parenting Coach, Newborn Specialist, Sleep Trainer
www.NannyForNewborns.com

try wrapping band-aids around her thumbs. it worked for a little girl i knew.

Hi M.

I have the same problem...my dentists' nurse gave me some good stuff that works..it's called Nibble No More and you put it on the nail of the finger they suck and it gives them a nasty taste each time they put it in thier mouth...it works too...it's not sold over the counter. You may want to ask your dentist office if they sell it..my dentist office sells it for 9.00 a bottle and it lasts...I will give you the number in case you want to get it from them...###-###-####

M.,

My daughter sucked her two middle fingers until she was in 2nd grade. Yes, she has been in a retainer for the past 3 years now, but more for the shape of the roof of her mouth than having bucked teeth.

When she had to stop, we just put a mitten on her hand at night. We tied a ribbon around the wrist (not too tight) so she couldn't just pull it off in her sleep. It worked wonderfully. I can't imagine putting pepper sauce on your child's fingers/thumb. How long would it take for them to get it on their skin or in their eyes? That would be tragic.

Jo

I don't know if the habit has been overcome but to me this "Great" idea of hot sauce or peppers is freaking ridiculous!!! How can you suggest this to a person? Honestly have you no guilt or compassion. Have you seen the way they cry when you give them something that burns their little tastebuds??? It's like the world is going to end and to see them rubbing their faces in an attempt to stop the burning. To me that's and TRAUMATIC event. You can seriously traumatize a baby like that!
I agree that it is something they will grow out of. Give it time and she will find something else to soothe her. Your her mom and you know what's best for her. I hope this helps.

Hi M.,

I've read a lot of books and I think that thumbsucking is way that children find to comfort themselves. Why take that away from her? You don't know how long she will continue, but I am sure as she gets older she will find other measures of comforting herself. Personally I think it shows a great stride of independance and self-reliance on her part. (or maybe it's just a habit...who really knows). But either way...worst case scenario she will need braces. And practically all kids get braces these days as a rite-of-passage. My opinion is to let her have her comfort. Good Luck.