Thumb Sucking - Newbury Park, CA

Hi A.~
Wow! I get to share thumb sucking advice !!
Here goes~ do nothing!
There is nothing you can do to make her quit. It gives her comfort and it is a habit.
It is HER thumb so you can't take it away.
I have 3 children all who were thumb suckers and I was and so was my brother. I had braces on my bottom teeth, not related to thumb sucking and my two older kids sucked their thumbs and had braces but also not related to thumb sucking.
My parents tried so many remedies Cayenne pepper on the thumb, some over the counter nasty tasting stuff, a metal cap that fit over my thumb and tied with ribbon around my wrist. I still sucked my thumb. I quit when I started liking boys (11)
The more you talk to her about it, nag, etc. the more she will think about it and then do it more.
She is very close to the quitting time on her own. (My youngest son had serious emotional issues and sucked his thumb publically until he was 13 years old.) That's another story entirely!
C.

A.
A friend the other night told me that for him to break the habit he had bandaids on his fingers (that he sucked rather than a thumb). He said they tasted so bad it stopped. Good luck!!
A.

My brother was 11 or 12 when he stopped. Honestly, I think he stopped once he got braces.

I don't know of any tricks, in my family we all did it and all stopped...eventually.

M.

My wonderful dentist put an appliance in my 6 year old daughter's mouth. It looked like an ancient torture device, semi-permanent with metal prongs. When she stuck her fingers in her mouth, they would hit the prongs and out came the fingers. The only time it bothered her was in the beginning when she was getting used to the appliance. The prongs didn't hurt, just annoyed her. The habit is gone, but the finger sucking has already caused damage! Good luck!

I too have had a similar problem, but I found the best solution. It has worked for my 2 thumb suckers. Here is the link to where I actually purchased this stuff called STOP for thumb sucking and nail biting.
http://www.folica.com/MAVALA_Stop_for_d442.html
Its truly worth it. It worked like a charm!!!!

D.

This is serious, that it's affecting her teeth AND her speech, and she is doing it everywhere.

Suggest you give her some alternative.
Maybe try breathing exercises - they are great for comfort and distract her from doing it as well as making the need for comfort, less.
If possible all through the nose, (mouth breathing increase stress).

FOR ANXIETY

Breath in slowly through nose, counting to (whatever, 8?
Slowly breath out, through nose, for longer

If she does better with variety, keep her focussed by imagining different colors, working through the rain bow towards purple.
If she doesn't need a focus, the counting can go.

NB
Readers do the opposite FOR DEPRESSION

Breath in for AS MANY AS POSSIBLE and make a shorter faster exhale.

feel free to contact me for more information.
;-) I teach this, T'ai Chi and yoga / Pilates in north county San Diego.

Namaste.

I am a 55 year old mother of adult daughters and have 6 grandchildren. One of my daughters was a thumb sucker until about age nine when the orthodontist convinced her that she was getting a bit old for sucking her thumb and he needed her to stop so he could straighten her teeth. She willingly complied and broke the habit by wrapping her thumb and hand in her favorite blanket (that she still slept with) so she could still put that hand by her face at night but not suck her thumb. She actually continued that way into her twenties. I'm not sure if she's continued since she's become a wife and mother.

If something like that doesn't work or your daughter just can't stop... maybe it's time to be recommended to a trustworthy counselor/psychologist. There may be more behind the thumb sucking than just enjoyment. The fact that you say you are very interested in staying married makes me wonder is there are marriage issues going on that affects this daughter and she uses the thumb sucking as her comfort?... don't know but thought I'd throw that out there as well. Another thing is, sometimes we stay at home moms that are so involved in our children's activities have a tendency to be so involved in being the good mom we often miss what is really going on with our kids and/or don't pick up on those subtle messages... (I've been there and done that, so can speak from experience!).

You obviously are concerned about your daughter... interesting that she doesn't care what her friends think which would be very appropriate at this age... are you really sure this is a display of confidence? Growing up in general can be scary and thumb sucking keeps her in the baby world, the safe world. Maybe she would be convinced if you both worked on a way to help her move forward (if that seems to be what she needs). Find a reward method that appeals to her. Every night she doesn't suck her thumb... a small reward. Five nights in a row a bigger reward, etc.

Anyway, those are some thoughts and ideas that came to mind. Hope they help.

Hi Agnie,

I sucked my fingers when I was young. To get me to stop my mom safety pinned my dad's socks over my hand and to my pjs. She did this just before I went to bed at night. I am sure that getting a mouthful of my dad's socks was enough to get me to stop because I did. I don't know how long this took, but thinking about it now, I would think it would take me just one night!

Good luck,

L. H.

it's funny that people said to you "at least it's not a pacifier" since i always say the opposite about pacifiers - at least it's not the thumb, you can remove a pacifier. in any case i've heard that discussing the issue with your child and making a progress chart with incentives helps (sorta like potty training). good luck!

Hi A....

I had a thumb sucker myself. That and a "touchie" as we called it (a piece of fabric that felt like a slip one would wear under a skirt). Anyway...she wanted braces and we said not until you quit sucking your thumb. Eventually it became more important to have the braces then it did to suck her thumb and she stopped. She was between 10 and 11 years old. She gave up her touchie little by little as I would start to cut it from a blanket to a small piece of cloth until it was lost. She was around age 7 when I "lost' the last piece of touchie. Usually they will give this up on their own when they realize they could have a wonderful smile. My daughter's orthodontics cost nearly $5,000.00 in total due to the damages of thumb sucking. I hope she can kick the habbit for your sake. Of course, there is always the statement that if she doesn't quit and continues then she will have to pay for her braces on her own. Just a thought. She certainly is old enough to understand what it means to meet somewhere in the middle.

Good Luck,

B., Santee San Diego

I was a thumb sucker and it did require 5 years of braces to repair. I was in second grade when I first had the braces put on and they put small prongs on the back of the braces for the two front top teeth. Every time I put my thumb in it hurt and in a week I stopped and the prongs broke off. It sounds mean but I think my mom was at her witts end by that time. Good Luck.

A.,
I had a thumbsucker myself from day one. The way we got him to stop was we would give him $5.00 a week if he didn't suck his thumb. For everytime he was caught sucking his thumb we took a quarter away. It seemed to work.

Hi
Was just at the peds dentist.... recommended a book/regimen that is laid out in the book. Pretty old school, but he stands by it. I have just ordered the book, no feedback for you on if it really works. "David Decides About Thumbsucking" Susan Heitler, PhD ISBN 0-###-###-####-2-0
I have another friend who bought her son some cool spiderman gloves - for especially at night when that subconcious urge is to suck - and it helped him remember not to suck his thumb. Good Luck!

Dear A.,

If you think that's bad, I sucked my thumb till I was in high school, 15 years old to be exact. My parent's tried everything to have me stop (chili on it, sock on at night, slap of the hand every time they saw me....) One day I just didn't do it anymore, out of no where just completely stopped. I have a slight over bight but nothing noticeable, don't worry too much your child will stop on there own.

I myself was a thumb sucker until I was 9. What finally worked with me is that my parents kept painting the bitter nail polish (for nail biters) on my thumb nail. It was gross and I hated it. Sometimes though I would just suck my thumb anyways, but after several months of them diligently painting my thumb every night (sometimes they would even wait til I was asleep and take my thumb out of my mouth and then paint the bitter stuff on), I was finally able to kick the habit. I also sucked my thumb during the day and began chewing gum to kick the daytime sucking.

Growing up I was a person who sucked her thumb. My parents tried everything and nothing worked. It got to the point that when I was 10 my parents told me that I was only allowed to suck my thumb in my room. I had no TV in my room so eventually I stopped (I think it was around the time that I got braces.) It is really hard to suck your thumb when you wear braces.

At one step ahead.com they have an actual thumb guard the child wears to help kick the habit. I would give that a whi

Question ~ has anyone else ever broken you of a habit? Most likely not. It must come from within. You can try tons of suggestions, but she won't stop until she wants to. Even then, this is a ten year habit now. It won't be easy for her in any event, but you cannot force her any more than you can stop an alcoholic from drinking or a smoker from smoking. What will eventually make the difference? Puberty. Boys. Growing up. Chances are she will not be sucking her thumb at 15. Her thumb sucking may delay her orthodonture, or the orthodonture may help the matter. Thumb sucking is not as comfortable with braces. :0)

My daugther also sucked her thumb (an untrasound showed her sucking in utero) and it also was affecting her mouth and would have required surgery to correct if she didn't quit. Our orthodontist put an appliance on the roof of her mouth that had metal spikes-not sharp-that wouldn't allow her to put her thumb all the way back, so she couldn't suck her thumb. This was done to break the habit before braces could be put on. (Unlike your daughter, my daughter only would suck at night or when nobody was around, and she had to have her blanket which was very raggedy at that point and is in shreds now which she still sleeps with!) Anyway, when she couldn't suck her thumb to go to sleep, she cried and said it was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do. I felt badly of course, and promised that she could get a parakeet when she didn't suck anymore! (We couldn't have dogs or cats because of allergies & asthma!) My daughter was also in the fifth grade when this was done. I hope this helps. SW

I was about the same age when I stopped sucking my thumb! My parents bribed me. ;) They said I could have anything I wanted. I wanted a walkman. I wanted it so bad that I had to sleep with my hands under my pillow with my head on top the pillow. I did it and I'm successfully a non-thumb sucker! :) You may want to see what she wants before making a deal...things like the Wii are a little toucher on the budget!

A. I have a daughter that has the same confidence she was 8 1/2 y.o. and she did not want to get rid of her thumb I tried everything, nail polish for thumb sucking,chili,garlic and she would just wipe it off,sock,I could go on & on you name it I tried it but she would just wipe it off or ignore it.She looked so cute she was still my baby but I thought her teeth were gonna get ruined.I was trying to avoid the orhto but it was my last option I took her to the orthodontist and they put a device in her mouth I forgot what it was called but it was just a little bridge kind of a thing that went on her palate she wore it for 8 months (about $400) and it worked she is now 10 and does not suck her thumb and thank god her teeth did not need any ortho work. So, I don't think that teeth get ruined because of thumb sucking I think everychilds mouth is different. So I'm sorry to say that most likely you would of had the ortho bill anyways thumbsucking or not

Read the book, "Don't shoot the dog" by Karen Pryor. It is amazing!!! How to teach & train behavior (in human or animal- even fish) using positive reinforcement instead of punishment!! It is way more effective, long lasting, and not damaging!!

Best of luck!

A.

A.,

We matched up pretty well with the thumbsucking and interested in staying married! My oldest is eight and he still sucks his thumb I have tried several things too. Same with him on the huge confidence. On the bus a kid said to him "your a baby you still suck your thumb?" and he just said YEP! The orthodontist would call him like every other day for a few minutes each day. They would just have a little chat and he would ask him how he is doing with it for the day and give him a goal it helped a little more then anything I've had tried but its such a comfort to them they really forget when they put it in. I am going to go ahead and get him the mouth guard the orthodontist offers. They really want them to try to stop by their self so its not so innvasive. I think nagging at them is the worst. Anyway a little note in staying married for the kids or you. I have gone through this for soooo long. All situations are different. I feel it should be for both. You just have to try your hardest so you'll have no regrets. If you and your husband are willing to work on the marriage (go to counseling ect.) That is definatly what you should do. That was what I was trying to get my husband to do. It was completly all me who cared so much to be happy. He lost it, the caring part, he loves his kids but stoped loving me and just plain old doesn't want to be married anymore. I fought it for a long time because this is the last thing I wanted for my kids. But I know I did and offered all I could and it crossed the line for me to take care of my own feelings not just stay married for the kids which I wanted so bad to do. The kids are doing fine. Nothing like mommys love. I didn't want to wonder everyday if he loved me anymore because I know I deserve better. Anyway making it work is the very best thing if TWO people are willing, for you guys and the kids. Hope this helped a little. I wish you the best good luck with both. Crystal Brooking

I quit when I was 13...when boys began to matter.

None of my five children suck their Thumbs, but I always wished they would :) yet they also have appointments with the orthodontist.

Only she can break the habit, and she will in her own sweet time.

how many adults do you know or have you seen who suck their thumb? :)

Use medical tape, white and very sticky. Hard to remove - unlike a bandaid. it is bitter, it will deter her from sucking her thumb. [it worked on me when I was 10 :)]

Don't give her something to replace it with, it will only encourage an oral fixation. Try to raise her awareness of what she is doing. Medical tape around the thumbs should do the trick. Also, mention something like, "Ashley, you're sucking your thumb" everytime you or a family member sees her doing it. Nothing judgemental, just a reminder to be aware.

Hello:
I am 31 yrs of age and I sucked my thumb off and on throughout my childhood and even early 20's, its a security blanket, it was something I did when I was alone or flet nervous. My advice to you is to break the habit now. I had braces twice and had to see a speech therapist. What worked for me was nail polish remover I put it on my thumb and the taste reminded me that I wasn't suppose to be doing what I was doing. You could also go to your local drug store and there is a topical solution especially for thumb suckers. Thumb sucking will ruin her teeth and its expensive to repair that security blanket. Good luck!

Hi A.,
I'm a dental professional and my boss(the dentist) has made a mouthpiece/thumb sucking guard for a patient. The child wears it and it has some tiny projections that interfere when the thumb is placed in the mouth. I suggest you talk to your dentist/pedodontist or orthodontist and see if they can make it. If you want a referral, my boss is: Jack Kurtz,DDS We are located in Glendale. The phone number is ###-###-####. The office is closed on Wednesdays. I hope this helps and I'm sorry your daughter needs ortho now. I wish you were told the truth-- thumb sucking does affect the teeth especially as the permanent teeth erupt. Good Luck!!

My sister sucked her thumb until she was 14 and nothing my mom did would make her stop. Your daughter sounds like my sister. The day my sister decided to stop is the day it stopped and any attempt by my mom made my sister really resentful. My sister did have braces after and now she has beautiful teeth.

I was a thumb sucker myself. Until I was 7. What stopped me was getting braces. It wasn't comfortable anymore after that. So I think getting the braces will help resolve it.

By the way, do research on the orthodontics and how long she should have them, etc. I had braces for 7 years because my teeth were so messed up. As an adult I've now learned that braces atrophy the teeth roots if they are left on too long. Now all my front teeth are loose because x-rays show that half of my roots atrophied. I'll probably end up with implants one day. So definitely do some research as to best options.

Good luck!
B.

My daughter was a thumb sucker for a number of years, until I discovered the "Thumb Guard". I purchased it on-line. Although it was a bit expensive, it was well worth it. I wish I had obtained it earlier. Now we have to deal with "braces".
:)

Good luck and be patient!