How Do I Get My 5 Year Old to Stop Suckingher Thumb?

all thumb suckers are different, One poster said her teeth are fine and she's right, but if your daughter is actually sucking down hard at times, she is putting pressure on her teeth that will change how they bite, and she'll need braces. Her dentist can make a hayrake appliance to stop thumb sucking. They fit bands on their teeth and make a mold of her mouth to make the appliance, then 3 wks later, it gets cemented in. It is like a retainer and it just interferes with her putting her thumb up there. The great thing about this is, it works 24/7 even when she's sleeping. After 4 to 6 weeks, the habit is broken and the appliance is removed (nothing is permanantly changed). I've done several of these and they WORK! If your dentist won't do it, call me, I can make one for your daughter. It's easy, and way cheaper than braces.

V. DiMario DDS
4413 N Clark St
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Anne, unfortunately I don't think there's too much that you can do to make her stop sucking her thumb. She's going to stop when she's ready to stop. My son is also 5 years old and he sucks his thumb. Every time I see him during the day I ask that he take his thumb out of his mouth. He does but it doesn't stop. He promises me that he's not sucking his thumb at school but I think at times he just doesn't realize it. I sucked my thumb when I was young. When I asked my mom about it and how she got me to stop sucking she said she tried various methods to get me to stop but in the end I stopped when I was ready to stop. She had even rubbed my thumb with jalapenos but the heat only lasts so long. My suggestion; work with her, give her gentle reminders when you see her sucking on it during the day to please take her thumb out. After she goes to sleep go into her room and gently pull the thumb out of her mouth. Remember, if you push hard she's going to resist or she might revert and start sucking even more. Baby steps, she's sucked on her thumb for her entire little life and it's going to be difficult for her to just stop because you're asking her to stop. Eventually she's going to stop. Good luck!

One thing I am trying with my son is bribery! I have told him that when he's completely done sucking his thumb that we're going shopping. What child doesn't like toys/games. I know it's cheap but if it works, then I'm all for it.

As a past thumb sucker, I can tell you nothing made me want to quit...except myself. I was very old when I would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night with my thumb in my mouth. Habit I guess. The only thing that made me want to quit was the embarressment of a callous on my thumb from all the years of sucking. I didn't want my friends to see. Any little "tricks" are probably not going to work, sorry to say. She will quit when she is ready. sorry. (oh yeah, I have absolutely NO problems with my teeth...never needed braces)

Studies all show that the more you push them to stop, the more they'll cling to it. So it really does need to be their choice to stop...though it's a habit, so it's hard even when it IS their choice. My 3 year old sucks his thumb a lot and wants to stop and yet doesn't want to stop the comfort he feels from it. I tried the praising when he's NOT sucking his thumb, though for him it just reminded him to pop that thumb back in. I'm thinking of trying the bad tasting stuff like vinegar or pickle juice on his thumb to help remind him. I guess your supposed to change the tastes every so often because we can learn to like any taste. So the biggest thing is getting HER to want to stop. Maybe gently telling her that the other kids her age don't suck their thumbs (wherever you are around other kids her age) for that positive peer pressure. A lot of the things on the internet say to not push it and then let them use positive peer pressure to help them want to stop when they hit going to school age. Hope this helps and best wishes to you!

My neice sucks her thumb, she is 8. I sucked 2 of my fingers until I was 9 or 10. It ends when they are ready to end it. I think that if she is already down to basically nights that it is a good sign she will end with in a yr. Good luck... oh yeah, I had braces for 3 yrs. But, so did MANY of the kids in my high school who did not suck their thumbs.

I sucked my thumb until I was 11. Both of my girls, 2.5 and 4 both suck their thumbs. My 4 year old does it mostly at night, but the 2 year old does it more often. At preschool, they tell her to "unplug." At home she won't even when we say "unplug." I had a metal contraption put in my mouth that had two prongs that would poke my thumb if I tried to put it in my mouth. That did not work. Once it was off, I sucked my thumb again. Then, I had a orthdontist put a wavy metal contraption in my mouth. It was less intimidating. He gave me a cintract to sign and made me feel grown up so I stopped. My parents/grandparents tried tobabcoo, the clear stuff, bribery, you name it. With my 4 year old, I may try to do a contract with pretty stickers and encouragment to stop since the other ways didn't work for me. Good Luck. If you do find something that works, please write back!

I talked about pretty nails and manicures. That worked for 1 of my girls
Good Luck!
B.

Hi Anne,

I have 2 current thumb suckers (only night time) and I had a pacifier user. When she was 3, went to dentist & he tried the "scare tactic" of telling me that she would definately have braces. I threw it back in his face as I had a pacifier until I was 6 (all the time) and I never had braces. My husband was neither a thumb sucker or pacifier user and he did have braces! I don't mind that the 2 still suck at night, I think it is ok and when they are good and ready they will stop on their own, you can't force it!

Good luck
C.

I had 2 thumb suckers. My son, the middle child, only sucked at night. He stopped on his own somewhere between kindergarten & 1st grade. My youngest is 7 and in 2nd grade and still sucks her thumb. With her, she grabs her stuffed animal, puts her fingers between the tag, and then sucks. Our rule with her is lamby can only come out at bedtime. It is a definite mental thing with her, lamby/thumb.
Our doctor told us not to push it. As long as our dentist saw no damage, to let it go. Luckily with both of them, their teeth are fine. Believe it or not their permanent teeth are in better shape than our oldest daughter that never sucked.
Every child must be different.