11 Month Old Thumb Sucker...

Gina, thanks for mentioning my name!...My perk is up and running for those who were having a hard time finding it. Website is: www.thumblady.com
This is such a tough engrained habit, and the kids really respond to a positive approach...praise for not sucking, incentives, etc. around age 4 or so. And, if a child is struggling, it's OK to ask for help! Thanks again! G., as far as your comment, 11 months is an age where many children are exploring the world around them, especially with their mouthes, and it's a challenge to fight "Mother Nature". Substituting a toy at a critical moment may deter him for the moment, but one might ask since you had mentioned he is "cutting teeth" if he is using his poor little thumb as a teething ring. :( "The Thumblady".

I do not want to discourage you but I too have a thumb sucker. I have an ultrasound pic of her sucking her thumb b4 she was even born. I tried any and all things suggested and nothing stopped her. I thought that by the time she started school it would stop BUT it just stopped her from sucking her thumb in public. She is now 11 1/2 YEARS old and still sucks her thumb when sleeping and if she is engrossed in a movie, she has no clue that she is even doing it. Her thumb looks horrid, a callus has developed where her teeth rub her thumb. I figure that MAYBE on her wedding night she may not suck her thumb in front of her husband but who knows at this point, she may become a thumb sucking Gramma... LOL

Just do not give up hope, the one thing that the DR suggested that I really thought would help was to loosely wrap an Ace Bandage around her elbow b4 bed. It will naturally pull the arm straight and may keep it from going into the mouth.
*she just took it off, so it did not work for her*

My daughter sucked her thumb. When she was 5 our dentist recommended the Thumblady. She is actually an oral-facial myologist (sp?), and gave us a very rigorous program to stick with. I don't have her contact info handy, but I'm sure you could google her, she has a website. Check her out.

There are things you can put on the thumb to make is taste nasty, I can't remember what it's called, the pharmcist would know. My nephew is 4 and still sucks his two middle fingers and my cousin who in in her late 20's, is married with 2 kids of her own, still sucks her thumb at night! lol so some can let loose and some cannot, but since your son is a bit agressive in his habit I would try the nasty flavored stuff and try to find another favorite toy or blanket to ease the anxiety of loosing his thumb....good luck

My opinion of thumb sucking is that it is unsanitary and could ruin your child's teeth, but in all actuality, thumb sucking is like a security blanket for your child and actually calms your child down. Instead of becoming attached to a blankie or "bun bun" (my son's rabbit LOL) your child has become attached to his thumb. The only think I suggest is to make sure your child washes his hands, a lot! Some child care providers have thumb suckers, although I don't and the only thing they suggest is to wash hands. If you are really set to get him off the thumb, my mom gave me tobasco sauce when I was like 3. I don't know how humane this is, but it worked for her! LOL

Ash