Breaking the Thumb Sucking Habit

That's a tough one because it takes tough love. Love, discipline and patience...and...hang in there.

She'll eventually grow out of it.

We are dealing with this with our 3 year old right now. Although 3 is very young to worry about thumb sucking, she was doing a lot of damage to her mouth already and the dentist said it had to stop immediately. So our ped. recommended the thumb guard. It is an appliance that you place over the thumb and secure with a bracelet, it doesn't allow them to form suction because it keeps the air flowing past their thumb. This takes away the comfort they get from it. They say it takes four weeks to break a habit so you have your child wear this for 4 weeks and then they should be done. Our daughter stopped in two weeks and she got a blister on her thumb so we took it off early and now three weeks later she is putting her thumb in her mouth again, she says she just forgot so we are going to put it back on for another week or so. I really think it is working though, because she sucked non-stop, all-day, every day and she didn't even think about it after two weeks, she didn't even miss it after 2 or 3 days. The website is www.thumbguard.net The thumb guard comes in 3 sizes and it is cheapest on eBay. Also if your child is older there is a glove like device called Thumbusters that is for kids age 5-12, that won't stop them if they are determined because they can just take it off, but if she justs needs a reminder this is much more cost effective. Their web site is www.stopthumbsucking.net I know this can be so hard to decide what to do. Hope this helps. Good Luck! D.

This one was tough for us, too! Ours was 8 and in 2nd grade but she has been thumb-free for 6 months now!!! What we learned is SHE HAS TO BUY IN or your efforts will fail. This took about 6 weeks but she doesn't even WANT to suck her thumb now and doesn't understand now why she ever did! Here's our approach:

1. Step One: we helped her see how often she sucked her thumb to show HER there was a problem. Prior to that it was OUR problem as she was only being unintentionally comforted. She learned when and why she was doing it (sadness, fear, boredom, etc.) WE DIDN'T NAG HER OR PUT HER DOWN. We'd stop what we were doing and talk gently with her, hug her and help her see why she was using her thumb and most importantly re-direct her. SHE didn't really realize she was doing it so often before then!

2. Step two. Education. Seriously! We showed her pics of little girls and adults who had sucked their fingers/thumbs with pics from the internet. When we encountered people in daily life we quietly and gently showed her what could happen to her mouth. We took her to the Dentist and they explained the dental side. She got to buy new toothbrushes, pastes, colorless or shimmery lip gloss to bring attention to her pretty mouth.

3. Step Three. Buy In! After we'd taken about two whole weeks preparing her, we took her to the drug store and bought the horrible tasting nail polish and began FOR THE 1ST TIME helping her stop. For the 1st few days we used the polish only at night and weaned her off her thumb. IF SHE WAS REALLY HURT OR SAD we gave her a minute or so to suck her thumb, then sat with her, comforting her and would tell her it was time to stop. THEN we painted her thumb.

At first she argued but within a few days, with reminders of how lovely her new teeth would be when they came in straight and how much healthier she'd be (reduced colds, etc) she began having fewer times when she needed it during the day.

Bedtimes were tough. Let's be real! She initally cried and it took a little longer to find a new sleep routine but we found one that worked for her. We just learned that meant a little more attention at bedtime and comforting!And when she felt she had to suck her thumb she hugged us or a stuffed animal. At times she really was angry, cried but this slowly went away with alot of caring and patience on our part.(REMEMBERE, IN HER CASE SHE'D BEEN DOING THIS FOR 8 YEARS! IT WAS HARD FOR HER)

At first we let her suck her thumb for a few minutes before we painted on the yucky stuff! That time diminished and after a week, she told us she didn't need her "thumb-sucking time!"

Step Four. Finally there had been enough prep work done and we were able to really hit it hard! We did the old reward thing! She chose something BIG to work toward and created a "reward calendar" and we kept it in her room. Each day she didn't suck her thumb she got a sticker. She earned a small gift every week. Then after 2 months of NOT sucking her thumb at all, she earned her GRAND PRIZE! SHE LOVED putting the stickers on the poster! Occasionally she failed and didn't get her sticker but was sooooo ready to try harder the next day!

It was worth the $$ and time spent! She chose to work for something she really wanted and now 6 months later, her thumb-sucking is just a memory!

She constantly tells us how proud she is of herself for achieving SUCH a big goal! Her Dentist is even getting involved and we are going there this week for THEM too give her a special reward for being thumb-free for 6 months!

The bottom line is this is like smoking or losing weight for us. IT IS TOUGH for them. Yelling, nagging and negativism will only make this a tough process for everyone!(Sadly, we tried "forcing" her and got NO WHERE! Give the positive way a try! Be prepared for lots of cuddling and some tears but it will get better. It's ALOT of work but WELL worth it!Promise! L.

My daughter is 12 now so I do not know if this is still around . I used No bite and painted it on her thumb. No bite is a nail polish that is non toxic that taste really bad and is used for people who bite thier nails. I got it at walmart.

M.,
This is B. (deaffmommie). I was a thumb sucker. I was 12 yrs old before I stopped.

It has to be your DAUGHTER'S choice to stop. What does she want to do that Big Girls do. Babies who suck their thumbs can't do certain things. They are too little.

I understand all about the braces. I never got them, but that is a whole nuther story.

Anyway, I had my parents put socks on my hands, I took them off, I had my mom put pepper on my thumb... I washed it off. Mother bought Bitter Nail polish. I took polish remover and took it off.

Bottom line find something to keep her hands busy. If you notice she is tired and the thumb goes in the mouth, she needs a nap. Hand her a blanket or a stuff toy to hold.

If she is scared or having a transition time, the need for the comfort of her thumb is going to be there.

I do not know how old you daughter is, but my niece continued to suck even with an appliance in place for her to quit. Yep Ashley had braces,, twice. So if the will to have the thumb is stronger than her desire to stop then you are fighting a battle. Your daughter controls this. The more attention you focus on this habit, the MORE she will do it.

What about a sticker chart for not having her thumb in her mouth? Each time she is using her hands correctly, a star,

I made my kids binky babies, because you can take a binky, you have a harder time with breaking a thumb habit.

I hope this helps,
B.
deaffmommie

I had 6 kids and two of them, both girls, sucked their thumbs until they were 6 or 7. Both of these girls had a personality that was a bit fearful so the thumb sucking helped them have security. Neither needed braces! Leave her be, she'll out grow it. If you keep pestering her about it, she will just become more fearful.

Let me know the secret to stopping thumb sucking. I have a 4/four year old that is hooked. I am at ____@____.com

Hi M.-
My daughter will be turning three at the end of June and she is a thumb sucker. I plan on tackling it when she does turn three. I know some parents and doctors would probably think it's too late but oh well. I do know that there is an apparatus that can be placed at the roof of the mouth... like a retainer that stops thumb sucking. My son's dentist confirmed that there is such a thing. I don't know how much it costs... I hope it doesn't come to it. Good Luck!

For my 21 month old, we did the Mavala Stop solution that you put on the fingernail. It only took a few times of putting the fingers in her mouth that she stopped all together. We applied morning and night for about 2 weeks just in case but really after the first two days it was not needed. Be prepared for a few hard nights, they tend to put the fingers in during sleep and may cry. The taste is bitter, not hot. I am a dental hygienist and we recommend this product at my office. I found it on ebay for 6.99 with $2 shipping. Hope this helps.
J.

All I can say is that i sucked my thumb until I was about 12. I did it only at night so I don't know if that matters or not but I didn't need braces. I have heard of parents using hot sauce and other things but thumb sucking is a comfort mechanism. Until the child is secure enough they might hold on to the habbit longer than other kids. Unfortnaltely military kids are put through more stressful situations than regular kids and may need that little extra comfort.

There is a great place for those plastic thumb covers to help stop thumb sucking and finger sucking. onestepahead.com is a great place to help moms with little things like that. My son,3, is a runner. He won't hold my hand and is very indepentant so I went to this web site and they had a harness to help me control him but also give him his freedom. They have great products that should help you.

Hi M., I have the same problem and just posted a similar question. I have two girls 4 and 2 1/2 who both suck and their dentist got on me about it because she said it was affecting their bite. I, myself, sucked my thumb until I went to kindergarten--my mom never made a big deal about it as it was a source of comfort for me until I went to school and she said it was not something big girls did. I stopped right away, but started biting my nails really bad and did so until I was in my early twenties.
Anyway, the dentist told me about Mavala stop--apparently you can get it online and she has been told it works really well. I have also heard that the reward system works for not sucking. We have spoken to my older daughter about what the dentist said and she agreed to keep it to a minimum and only suck at night. I don't know that she does it at school so much, but once she gets home and in her bed she does. Good luck to you and let me know if you have any advice to send my way. Thanks! NJ