I need help and advice to help my six year old stop sucking her thumb.
Hi J.,
I had the same problem when I was growing up. I sucked my thumb until I was six years old as well. My mom got me to stop sucking my thumb by putting nasty medicines or tastes on my thumb so that I wouldn't want to taste it. She also tried band-aids. Well good luck, it can be a hard habit to break!
My daughter is 4 and I had a problem with this until I took her to the pediatrician. He recommended a thumb guard. They're about 60 dollars on Amazon, but I had tried everything else and this was the best option. I had to leave it on and she cried for a few days, but I also made sure that while she had it on, she had more activities to occupy her time. After that she was fine and doesn't suck her thumb any more.
Have you chatted with your peditrician or a pediatirc dentist? Are her teeth goofy from the thumb sucking, maybe a pediatric dentist can put a wire in the top of her mouth that reminds her not to suck her thumb when she puts it in her mouth. What about a reward system?
best of luck!
C.
Hello! I used to be a thumb sucker when I was younger. I don't know exactly what stopped me, but I do remember vividly my mother painting both on my thumbs with a clear HORRIBLY bad tasting nail polish like substance. She would sometimes do it when I was asleep, and it tasted so badly that my thumb didn't seem so "tasty" anymore. I think it's called "Thumb" or something close to that. I have also painted my kids nails with it to curb nail biting. We don't have the problem anymore, but I would paint my daughter nails a beautiful color of her choice and then use the Thumb polish as a top coat. Good luck!
I just today bought some stuff at wal-mart. It is about $2 and you just paint it on the fingernails and when the child puts their thumb in their mouth they get a really bitter taste. My 8 yr old is still sucking her thumb. Whenever she tastes this she very abruptly takes her thumb back out of her mouth and gets a drink.
I used it years and years ago to quite bitting my nails.
Hello there - I was a thumb sucker myself and I had a special blanket as well. I sucked my thumb until the 6th grade (had my blankie until then as well). My parents tried everything - the nasty tasting stuff, bribing, rewards, etc. I just wouldn't stop until it was my own choice. My son had a binkie until he was 3 (big mistake) and my daughter sucks her fingers. So, we have two oral kids. I did have braces - but would have anyway due to my genetics. It's difficult to reinforce removal of a comfort when it's attached to their body. But, every child is different - so maybe the nail stuff will work right off the bat. I guess my gist is - try some stuff and if it doesn't work - she will eventually grow out of it. :-) Good luck - N.
PS - I no longer suck my thumb, but I do have my special blankie tucked away (but easily attainable should the need arise) ;-)
I am 41 years old and sucked my thumb until I was 8. I only sucked it at night or when I was tired. I have not had any dental problems at all. My 2 babies, ages 1 and 3 both suck their thumbs. I asked the pediatrician and she said it doesn't always cause dental problems and most kids stop when they get to school and kids tease them. Thats just my 2 cents. Good luck.
Hi...
I sucked my thumb until I was 13. I stopped because I wanted to. I was an age where I was old enough and realized what I was doing to myself. For years my parents tried bribing me, and using weird products on me liked topical treatments on my thumb to make me not want to suck it. None of it worked. I have a friend who was into her 20's and married and she was still sucking her thumb. The orthodontist had to install a 'rake' in her mouth so she couldn't suck her thumb.
Needless to say these are pretty extreme cases. There are a lot of dental problems & jaw problems that can result. Personally my upper and lower jaws never came together so I have an 'open bite' and a 'cross bite' ... it is pretty mild. To correct it I will need 1 year of braces followed by jaw surgery break & reset both upper and lower jaw, followed by another year of braces. Very expensive and not fun! I know you'll hear people say "I sucked my thumb for this long and I am fine". I thought I was fine until I saw an orthodontist. And the last thing you want to do is assume your child will be fine and let the problem go...then come to find out you have a problem.
Its probably not going to be easy to correct it. But honestly, the longer you wait... the harder it will be to break the habit. There has got to be help and support out there. I really wish that my parents were a lot more serious about helping me break the habit when I was younger and sticking with the plan. It would make my life a whole lot easier now. I am sure if you talk to a dentist/pediatric dentist/pediatrician or even search on the internet you'll find a lot of resources and maybe even some good support groups out there. I am sure there's help!
Trust me... keep looking... keep trying and hang in there!
I personally sucked my thumb until I was 7, my parents tried everything to get me to stop, hot stuff, punishment, etc. I finally stopped in my own in 2nd grade, so I wouldn't be made fun of. Because I sucked my thumb so long, I caused my lower jaw not to develop properly and needed braces, although they recommended surgery as a teen. My 1st son sucked his thumb and at 2 the dentist said to get him to stop, she could already see the damage it was doing. Lucky for me my 1st son is not like me, he's a compliant child, I was and am very strong-willed. I put a sock on his hand at night and told him he couldn't take it off or suck his thumb. It was wet a few nights like he tried to suck it through the sock and then he just stopped. Depending on your daughters temperament, sock or the hot stuff may work, or even talking to her about how important it is too stop. Good luck, I know my parents had a rough time with me. I'm just glad my 2nd son liked the paci!
I was a thumb sucker too, and I have to say that with most kids who are thumb suckers there is an emotional connection attached to it.It brings them comfort and safety when they do it.
Your daughter may not understand why she is sucking her thumb, but maybe if you addressed some emotional issues in her life or things that have happened in her life it may make the separation from her thumb sucking a bit easier.
My emotional component of thumb sucking came from my parents divorce when I was about 2.
Her thumb and her sucking are also things that she can control- she can control when she wants to do it and doesn't have to rely on anyone else for that comfort. Forcing her to stop doing it before she ready might cause more problems. And as many have already mentioned- their parents tried all sorts of things to get them to stop, but it wasn't until they wanted to stop that they actually did.
I suggest sitting down with your daughter during a quite time and have an un-rushed conversation about why she sucks her thumb. Ask her why she does it, how does she feel when she does it, when does she feel like doing it: ie: when she's sad, mad, bored, etc.
And then mention that you are concerned about her sucking her thumb because of the the tooth issues that could happen because of it and ask her is there is anything you guys can do together to help create that feeling of comfort and security when she's feeling sad or mad to help replace the thumb sucking.
To take care of the boredom issue of thumb sucking teach her how to knit or crochet or something that keeps her hands busy and her mind active. Reading might not work because a free thumb can always go in the mouth while the other hand holds the book.
A six year old is not to young to learn to knit/crochet or think constructively about problem solving. The more you make it her thing and not something she does that annoys you, the more likely she is to be successful at stopping when she wants, and that most likely will be sooner than later if she's supported in the process.
The main goal is to be supportive of her feelings, allow her to make the decision to stop, and help provide activities that replace or distract from the thumb sucking.
Good luck,
M.
