Thumb Sucking and Binky

In my opinion thumb sucking is better then a binky because I wouldn't want my 2-3-4 year old walking around with a binky in her mouth, plus they are filled with germs. My daughter is almost 2 and still sucks her thumb. I haven't yet tried too hard to stop her. I tell her <when she is playing or trying to talk> 'thumb out' and she does. She sucks it mostly when she is trying to sleep or isn't feeling well. You can try and put that bitter stuff on it and she might stop because it doesn't taste good. You can do a web search for how to stop thumb sucking. People have tried mittens, bandaids <which are chokeable>.
Typically kids stop on their own around 2-3, so you could just wait and see.

Hey A.,
Have you ever heard of something called Thumbs It (I believe that is the name). It's a liquid that you put on their thumb and it has a bitter taste. I've heard of a lot of people using this and they all said it works. I'm not sure where you can get it maybe your local pharmacy. You can call them or your pediatrician. Hope this helps!

I always have preferred thumb suckers to pacifiers because it is easier for the child to soothe themselves in the middle of the night without having to cry looking for that paci, but I understand you are wanting them not to be attached to anything. I have found a website www.folica.com they sell a product call Mavala it is a liquid you coat on the thumb and it tastes just terrible, most parents who have had to use it say their child won't stick their thumb back in their mouth. It also stays on during hand washing and some say that it has lasted a few days between applications. This might be something you can use to help break the sucking habit.

I took my oldest daughter to the dentist for her three year old cleaning. While I was there I talked to the dentist about my youngest daughter (then 2) about her pacifier. He said let her have it until she is done, that the thumb pulls on the front teeth worse than the pacifier. I personally would wait until 2 to do anything about it. Then she will understand more. Also, I would try to limit it to nap and bed time only at 2. At this age, no one will look down at a 1 year old for having it, but by 2 it starts to look bad. I hate the pacifier with a passion, but it got us through alot of tough times. Don't worry about it, let her have. She will truley get ride of it when she is ready. I promise!

Well I must say that my daughter is 18 months old and still uses her pacifier (only at naptime/bedtime though). I would much rather her have the pacifier than her thumb. You can take a pacifier away....you can't take a thumb away.
I sucked my thumb until I was 6. Yes I know....too old. My parents tried everything. I can't remember now what finally stopped it, but something did. Because of my thumb-sucking though, I have a bad over-bite; which, I have heard has been linked to my bad headaches. (whether or not it is true...I don't know).
Ultimately, it is your decision. Ask your doctor for his/her advice. My advice...let her keep the binky. She will stop taking it on her own when she's ready.

My oldest daughter was a thumb sucker. (now getting ready to turn 14yrs) I honestly wouldn't worry about it until she is a little older. My daughter sucked her thumb until she was 3 and has perfectly straight teeth and no cavities. I don't think you have to worry so much about the baby teeth as they will fall out anyway.

Some things to try are the nasty tasing nail stuff that goes on like polish; you can get it at a beauty supply store usually. I wouldn't use hot sauce personally. That just seems mean to me to burn your child's mouth. And, it could upset her stomach.
Another, less nasty idea is to make her see what a big girl she is and try paining her nails, or taking her to get her nails done, but this of course would work better when she is a little older (maybe at age 2).
Another idea is to put mits on her hands at night and nap times when you have less control over her sucking. She'll probably get mad, and they will have to be tied on pretty good so she can't take them off. Just make sure they aren't too tight that you cut off circulation.
A big thing, since this is her comfort, is to replace it with something else that she can use to comfort herself like a blanket. Children need a way to sooth and comfort themselves such as a blanket, stuffed animal, etc. I noticed that my daughter had a tag fettish. I got tired of seeing the butts of Puffalumps up to her face (remember those?) They had silky tags on the butt and she liked to tickle her nose with them. So, I got really soft material, cut silky tags out of my clothes, (let her inspect them to make sure they were the "right" kind, and sewed them on the corners.....now, someone is actually making milions selling "Taggies"! I thought of it 13 years ago!!!! Who knew! ha ha ha I just thought it was my daughter little quirky fettish. Anyway, you get the idea. Just find something your daughter loves, gravitates towards, etc and find someway of of getting that to be her comfort instead of her thumb or binky.
Good luck!!

i dont no if u want to try this, but they make this stuff called thumb, its used to quit bitting ur nails and thumb sucking, it tastes really bitter, i used it to quit bitting my nails...its, worth a try. good luck!!! :)

I have not been down this road yet, but I read in a magazine where they told their 4 yr old that since he is a "big boy" now and there are lots of new babies being born who need binkies, does he think he could mail the binky to a new baby? they let the little boy put it in the mailing envelope himself, then the mom addressed it to her own mother (the child's grandmother). also, on an episode of supernanny, they asked a little girl to tie a ribbon on her binky, then let her hang it from a tree for the "binky fairy" who would come take it and leave her a big girl gift. the next morning, there was a package with a big doll in it for the little girl (i believe she was about 3 or 4).

my son was sucking his fist in utero, then in the NICU they gave him a paci...now if he doesn't have the paci, he just sticks his fist back in his mouth. he sucks HARD on it, too (sometimes you can hear the sucking sounds in a different room!) so, anyway, we've wondered what we are going to do when he has such an obvious drive to suck on things, but he's still little bitty, so we haven't tried anything to tackle the problem yet...

good luck!

I have a son who is almost 4 and he stills sucks his thumb, only when he is sleepy now, but he never would take a binky, he did carry a "raggie" (burp cloth). We finally got rid of the raggie when he started K4 this year. We told him that he was going to "Big Boy" school and that he didnt want to be the only baby in the big boy class, it seemed to work for the most part. We tried EVERYTHING, hot sauce on his thumb, he loved it, and then i heard about the girl how put hot sauce on her 1 yr. olds thumb and it took the babys breath away and the baby passed away. I will pop him on the hand when i catch his thumb in his mouth, but i wouldnt suggest putting anything on it. She will grow out of it.