Thumb Sucking, HELP! - Boise,ID

First off, I wanted to mention that I completely understand how you feel. I was panicking when DS was that age,and everyone said "oh, don't worry,he'll stop by the time he's x". Well, fast forward age 5, and he was still sucking his thumb' and yes, had an overbite, but everyone says not to worry until the permanent teeth come in, which they hadn't yet. My ped dentist recommended Mavala Stop. I bought it online and he stopped sucking within 3 days. We used it intermittently for 3 months, before he completely kicked the habit. You can buy it on Amazon. Read the product reviews. It works. That being said, you may want to try it when he's older and has an interest/desire to stop or you'll have to deal with screaming and/or a lot of crying. Good luck!

Take a deep breath and realize that you'll have to deal with it a little longer. My daughter (now 5) has sucked two fingers pretty much since birth. I stressed over it for awhile around the time she was 2-3 years old and then I realized that I was just adding to the problem. Once I stopped making such a big deal of it, she started weaning herself. She only ever sucked them at nap and bed time, or when she was on a long car trip. I would give her a toy or something else to do with her hands if she was awake and doing it. If she was on the verge of sleep I would put her hands on a stuffed animal or blanket. Now she has stopped. Will she need braces? I don't know yet, but if she does, oh well, her teeth certainly won't be what I consider "ruined." It helped her sleep and kept her comforted and we never had any sleeping issues with her.
Good luck!

Good Luck! I have a ten year old who is still a thumb sucker. Trust me, I have tried it all. Today, he had to have 2 teeth pulled to prep him for braces. It was one of those things that after the age of 7, i just sucked it up and realized it was what soothed him. He is definitly aware that he does it, but it doesnt make a difference. Start your account now.
PS. When i took him to the orthodontist he said his mouth damage wasnt actually caused from his thumb sucking. It is just the way his mouth is shaped and the way it formed.

This is what two different dentists told me...."Those front teeth are going to fall out anyway and it's the sippy cups that do more harm than pacifiers or thumbs". All kids will find a comfort in something, your child loves his two fingers so is it really that big of a deal if it's satisfying him? It's clearly an issue for you, so if you really want him to find something else, try dipping his fingers in grapefruit juice throughout the day or I've read some parents have even used hot sauce. He's barely a toddler, my guess is he'll give it up by himself before the age of 3. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear, I just think there is more to stress about than a child's comfort object.

I wouldn't worry about the thumb-sucking in a toddler as young as your child. It's a natural comfort mechanism. And it makes complete sense that little ones are trying to repeat the comfort that they get from nursing.

If you make a big deal out of it, the whole thing will turn into a power struggle that you will likely lose. My son just turned 4, and he still sucks his thumb if he's very tired or distressed. He won't suck his thumb at daycare, as he knows it will pass on germs to the other kids. He's gradually doing it less and less on his own steam, and I only intend to make a big deal out of it if he hasn't stopped before his permanent teeth come in. My son's pediatrician and dentist are both fine with this approach. There's always a kid that is an exception, and will keep going on forever, but most kids will stop when they are ready.

And it's a myth that thumb-sucking invariably causes buck teeth. I was also a thumb sucker and have nice, straight teeth that never needed braces or a retainer. My sister, not a thumb sucker, had buck teeth and needed 4 years of braces....

Good luck! My daughter sucks her thumb at 3.5 and though her teeth are fine, we are trying to get her to quit. She is also attached to her 2 little piggy rattles from when she is a baby so obviously it isn't something that we can just swap out. My sister in law suggested waiting until our kid was around 4 to break her from it -- they did the same for their son and it worked out better when they could make him aware of what he was doing and would remove it/started a reward chart, etc. Of course, my mom broke me at 18 mos with no-thumb burning liquid (I think it was MORE caustic back in the 70s)....I would get it in my eyes and cry hysterically apparently.

Don't stress! He'll stop on his own. I sucked my thumb until I was 7 & my husband sucked his until he was 8! Both my kids are thumb suckers. I think there must be a yet undiscovered "thumb sucking gene" out there! My daughter is almost 6 and still does it at night or if she's tired or bored. We have been trying to get her to stop for 3 years now, but I figured that if I stress about it, it will only make the situation worse. She sucks both thumbs (not at the same time) so I think that it is a bit different for her. We have a code word "snickerdoodle" if I catch her sucking her thumb. After I say it she immediately pulls it out. We're working on it. My son (2 1/2) sucks his thumb too (only his left). But, I think he's going to stop earlier than my daughter. He only sucks his when he has his flower (his comfort item) and when he is super tired. Oh well, it is not the end of the world! My kids are fabulous sleepers, mellow, kind, happy, generous, loving, friendly kids. They are well adjusted, and smart. There are SO MANY WORSE things out there that they could be doing. He will stop on his own or you might have to do a little bribing when he gets older. No big deal. We're starting a reward sticker chart for my daughter. A BIG prize at the end if she stops sucking it. But, right now, everytime I tell her she has to stop completely, she breaks down into almost hysterical tears. She'll stop when she's ready. It is an addiction. It is just like someone who wants to quit smoking or something else. THEY have to be the ones to stop. We can't make them. Oh well if he has to have braces! My 4 nephews and a niece all have braces and they NEVER sucked their thumbs! LOTS of people go through life with crooked teeth. I had braces for almost 5 years and it was because my mouth wasn't big enough and wasn't formed right for all my teeth. It had NOTHING to do with sucking my thumb.

Good luck!
Shellie

My brother sucked his 2 middle fingers and he had the ugliest buck teeth you ever saw in your life. Get him to stop. Show him some pics on utube or something. Good luck!

I think you are panicking a bit too soon! I sucked my thumb until I was 3 1/2 and my teeth are perfect and I never needed braces or any sort of correction surgeries. He is only 16 months and will not even really get the concept of quitting for a while yet. Maybe continue to gently remind him or pull his fingers out of his mouth but for the most part just let it be for now.

Good luck!

I sucked my thumb into my first grade year when my mom finally bribed me with a gift to stop. When it came time to visit the orthodontist he told my mom she should have allowed me to keep sucking my thumb - it would have actually been more beneficial!

My 3 year old is a thumbsucker. My sitter & I remind him, "No thumb" & he'll take it out of his mouth. We do a lot of talking about big boys & what they do/don't do. He uses it for soothing, especially when he is tired.

I am trying not to make a federal case out of it. If he is 8 & sucking his thumb, different story.

My daughter used a paci until 2 & 1/2. She gave it up on her own. Until she id that & now with my mom, I simply repeat this to myself, "They aren't going to walk down the aisle with a paci, or sucking their thumb, or wearing diapers." :)

Be patient...

He's still really young. Be glad he has found a way of self-soothing! Many babies his age still rely a lot more on mom to provide soothing. Chances are he'll grow out of it, and if I recall correctly fingers will cause less damage to teeth than a pacifier (or a bottle!!!)