Thumb Sucking - Flagstaff,AZ

I had the same problem with my daughter and it was affecting her teeth and the roof of her mouth and her speech. One of the moms on this site recommended a product called "Stop the Bite" by Hoof. It is sold in the nail care isle at Wal-Mart for about $2.47 a bottle. It worked awesome!!! We were about so spend $80.00 on a splint for her thumb before we bought this product. She hasn't sucked her thumb for the past 4 months and she is still a happy, well adjusted five year old. I hope you have as great a results as we did.

Hi E.!

My daughter is also 4 and is still sucking her thumb. Our pediatric dentist told us some kids don't ever grow out of it and they will have adults in their office weeks before they get married begging them to help them stop, because they do it in their sleep. Our dentist has recommended a thumb guard that helps break the habit, especially during sleep. I am planning on ordering it soon for our daughter. The link to order it is below:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

I wish you all the best! L.

Hi E.,

Have you heard about the book, "David Decides"? I can't remember who its by, but you can't check it out at the library. It gives suggestions and it also has a story geared toward your child. I checked it out for my daughter, and it looks like it might really be a help for you. It didn't for me because my daughter is too young (2 1/2). It's geared more for a child your sons age and older. Hopefully she'll quit before then. But if she's still sucking, I'll definately be checking it out again. Hope this helps. Good luck with whatever helps!

Steph

Hi E.,
With your son sucking his thumb, it is a comfort/security thing. May be if you find something else he feels secure with might help. Children usually stop thumb sucking on their own. The more you push them to stop, the more they will want to do it. So try to ease up on him with that. Also, if he has a favorite super hero, you can remind him that his super hero doesn't suck his thumb, and if he wants to be like his super hero, he can't suck his thumb any more because he's a big boy now. My stepmother put tobaco sauce on my nails when I was little to get me to stop bitting my nails. It didn't work. It just pissed me off and even though it burned my mouth, I started doing it out of spite. Which kids often do. May be giving his hands something else to do, like drawing mommy a picture, or finger painting will help distract him and keep his little fingers busy enough during that time where he won't put them in his mouth. He will get over this stage. :-) I know you're worried about his teeth being bucked because of it, and I would too because it can happen; but with children and trying to get them out of their comfort/security habits is really hard and you have to be careful on how you try to break them of it because they can very well turn around and do it more because they know they're getting a reaction out of you because of it. Best of luck. Hang in there. G.

E.,
When I was four years old, maybe five, my parents told me if I stopped sucking my thumb, they would get me a bike. Well the thumb was out and I got the bike! And I never sucked my thumb again! Good luck, don't stress.

Ok - I've read your request, and I've read the responses thus far. And, I'm talking to you as a former thumb sucker; leave him alone. That sounds rude - I know. But trust me, that's the best way to get him to stop.

I sucked my thumb until I was 9 - I didn't have problems with my teeth; my mother sucked her thumb until she was 12 - she didn't have teeth problems. Please, please understand that I'm NOT saying that nothing will happen to his teeth. I'm saying that sucking his thumb is not a promise of teeth issues. It IS possible, but not a given.

If you are still concerned, then here is my suggestion: tell him that he CAN suck his thumb - in his bed. Not in his room; not just out of sight - it HAS to be in his bed. This is not guaranteed to keep him from doing it. But, it will take the pressure off of him. He can suck his thumb, but within certain perameters. But, you'll have to spend time reminding him at the start. "Remember, you're supposed to be in your bed if you want to suck your thumb. So, would you like to take your thumb out of your mouth, or would you like to get in your bed."

My mother had a thumb guard when she was a kid. She said that every morning, she had her thumb out of it and was sucking her thumb. So, that kinda seems like a waste of money to me.

He will stop, but if you're reminding him a lot, well - it's a control issue. The thumb sucking is something HE can control and you're trying to take that away from him - kinda scary!(for him)

My oldest (almost 7) has an issue with clearing her throat. Every 10 seconds or so she does it. She has been doing it for a long time. Asking her about it causes it to happen more. So, I know what you're going thru - I know the frustration. But reminding him about it, well it will only make things worse.

E. ~

I completely agree with the moms who've suggested not to hassle him about it. I sucked my thumb well past my seventh birthday. My parents took me to a specialist, who told them just that, and when they started ignoring it, I stopped. (I've never had dental repercussions from sucking my thumb, by the way.)

My mom hassled me about biting my lips constantly (a nervous habit since I was very little) and in fact, she still does. And at my dental appointment a month and a half ago, the hygienist warned me about the cancer risks involving biting my lips. Since then I've tried to stop and can't! I think your son will have more trouble breaking the habit if you're making a big deal out of it or constantly reminding him not to do it.

~ R.

Don't make a big deal about it. Some kids suck their thumbs and some don't. My son, who is 6 was sucking his thumb on my ultrasound at 20 weeks! He continued to suck his thumb until age 5 -5 1/2. The amount that he sucked his thumb decreased and by the end usually was only at bedtime or when he was tired. It is a method of self soothing and should not be made an issue. We never made an issue about it and he is fine. It is better for kids to find their thumb than to use a pacifier. Don't worry about the thumb sucking - just enjoy each age with your kids.

L.

A little about me.

I am a working mom - a registered dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition/maternal & child health and a lactation consultant. I have two kids - a 9 year-old daughter and 6 year-old son and have been married for over 10 years.

My son sucked his thumb until he was 7. I tried this stuff called THUMB that worked for a bit. Basically he just had to outgrow it. I wouldnt worry about it until he is older.

Hi E. :)
I am almost 30 and still suck my thumb. My sisters never did. Both of them wore braces, I never had to. I have had dentisits tell me I have perfect teeth and are amazed that I suck my thumb.
An otherwise well adjusted kid will eventually learn on his/her own that it is not socially acceptable to suck his thumb in certain places. I only sucked my thumb once in school (it was the first day of kindergarden)after the kids made fun of me I stopped doing it in school. It never was a problem again at school. I dont suck my thumb a lot now. For me it is a comfort/relaxation device and done only at home. I have had no ill effects from my thumb sucking. I finished college, have been married 7 years and have baby number two on the way (and my three yr old never sucked her thumb even though she saw me).
I am not saying that your son will suck his thumb his whole life (although I have met others like me, it is more common than people will admit). But if he does, he can still have a normal life so please dont stress yourself over this. There is so much more to worry about in life.

This may sound really stupid but I used to suck my fingers when I was little and my mom, like you tried everything to get me stop and nothing was working. I remember that I wanted a rainbow bright doll more than anything, so my mother bribed me with that rainbow bright doll and it worked I stopped sucking my fingers because I wanted that doll so bad. I think you just have to find something that he REALLY REALLY wants and if he continues sucking his thumb than you can take it away from him. Eventually he will get the hint. I hope this helps!