I believe my 10 month old son sucked his thumb in the womb. He has never accepted a pacifier. It seems clear to me that he does it for comfort only because he doesn't do it a lot during the day. However he does do it while he's sleeping, annoyed, or tired.
I used to believe he will eventually stop on his own but, he's getting teeth now and I'm concerned about the effect the thumb sucking will have as his teeth develop.
Any ideas on how to discourage him from sucking his thumb?
Right now my son is still sucking his thumb. He has 6 teeth and is approaching his first birthday in one month. His dad and I have decided to let him continue until after he turns one then begin intervention. We're going to try finding substitutes while discouraging him from sucking his thumb and trying not to make a real big deal out of it. We’ll see how it goes.
Thanks Moms
There is polish you can buy that you put on the thumb...its for nail biting...but it tastes yucky...very bitter. My daughter is noe ten still sucks her thumb I tried to wean her to late and it ruined her. She only sucks it while she is sleeping but it is still a pain. Good Luck!!!!
A young child has very few things that make them feel safe and secure and in control. Parents are definatley #1 but I believe sucking is a very close second. Babies suck to make themselves feel calm and happy, why would you want to take that away from your baby?
There are a lot of different books and dentist that will say thumb sucking is bad for a babies teeth, But who cares! if it makes your little baby feel happy and safe let him do it. Instead of trying to figure out how to stop him from what is a natural comforting tool in childhood, put your time to figuring out how to pay for the braces in 10 years.
My first one sucked her thumb while in the womb. I have a very clear untrasound picture of her doing it...it is so cute! She grew out of it eventually and yes her teeth coming in did take a toll on the skin. I had to take her to the doctor once because she broke open the skin and it got infected. Some topical ointment for a couple of days and she was fine and sucking the thumb again.
My second daughter is not a thumd sucker but instead she sucks on her arm. I know it sounds weird but it is the cutiest thing ever. She pushes up her sleeve at night and puts her arm up to her mouth and sucks on her wrist where a watch would go and she falls asleep.
The reason your baby is doing it when he is tired or annoyed is because he is comforted by it.
As a new mom the advice I would give to you is....don't worry about the little things.
Good luck
Hi L.. My daughter is four and is a BIG-TIME thumbsucker. She does not have a favorite blanket or doll, her thumb is her security, and if that's what she needs to feel safe, then so be it. I'll deal with braces later. I feel that if I force her to give up her security, she will be lost. Don't worry about it. It also makes me crazy when stangers make comments to her about it!
Hi
I've read on some of the websites that doctors say that it is good if they suck their thumb (self soothing). They stated that children naturally stop sucking their thumbs on their own at about 1 yr old...if you don't make a big deal of it.
My mother's response to that was... you (me) sucked your thumb until you were 5 and we never made a fuss about it.
Good luck.
His teeth will be fine. If he finds comfort in sucking his thumb then why take something away that comforts him. He will eventually give it up himself. All kids at some point or another start sucking their thumbs and eventually they just give it up. You shouldn't be concerned about it unless he is like 2 years old and still doing it. He will give it up so don't worry.
I don't think i would worry about the teasing and whatnot; but what i would worry about is the fact that there is a connection between the two germiest things; hands and mouths are terrible for that! yuck; not only that my nephew is 12 and he still sucks his thumb; and i'm saying this to scare you and have you try everything to get your child to stop!! MY nephew now has to have major mouth surgery on his palate, gums, and his teeth and his thumb! ughh i would hate for someone elses child have to endure the pain and suffering that my nephew faces next summer; it's sensless to allow this just to have your child feel safe when they are actually creating a danger. its sad; i would try tabasco sauce (worrisome cuz if he touches his eyes so if he's an eye rubber... i wouldn't do this one) the nail polish is from sally hanson; called no more biting; that's actually for a nail biter; but thats a chemical... do you want your child sucking on a chemical?? gross. what about putting socks on his hands when he falls a sleep or just keep discouraging the behavior if you see it from the get go... redirecting attention?? i just find it horrifying that people actually go against doctors and dentists when they say that there can be definate damage later in life as a result of this behavior and it should be discouraged just so their babies can feel "safe" i just choose to research things and hopefully by telling my child no that later on in life she wont have to endure any major medical issues as a result of me not telling her no. even if she does get ticked a hug and a kiss from me and just comforting her has always worked. i dunno; good luck and i pray that everything works out.
Everything that I have read has said that it's ok for a child to suck their thumb up until theya re around 5yrs old (paci's should be given up before age 3 however)
My 4yr old sucks on his first and middle finger. It used to be all the time but now it's only when he's sleepy.
Everything I have read and everything my doctor has told me says that it wont impact their teeth or speach development until they hit 3 years.
Good luck!
My son sucked his thumb until he was about 3 years old. I decided to have him give it up because I did not want other children in school to tease him. He was a HUGE thumb sucker. When I discussed it with his doctor she told me about this nail polish type stuff you can buy at any store. You apply it to their thumb, which will make it taste horrible therefore discouraging them to stop sucking their thumbs. It will not hurt the child and it does work. He was broke from thumb sucking in less then 1 week. You may have to apply it too all their fingers. ( I had to because my son just used other fingers!!!)
I asked around not too long ago, and was told, you don't have to be truely worried until they get adult teeth.I used to be a thumb sucker (until 4 or 5 yrs)and worried about my kids too. My mom had aweful buck teeth, I fortunatly, did not. I do remember her putting all kinds of nasty stuff on my thumb to get me to stop. I do have a neice who is 8yrs and is starting to show damage but she still does it all day.
Good luck, I wouldn't worry until he's a few years old. If he's only doing it part of the time I think its a healthy normal way for him to attain self-comfort.
Unless it is really bothering you, I would just let him have his thumb until he is ready to give it up. Especially if he is only doing it to comfort himself or to help himself fall asleep.
It has been proven that while it used to be thought that thumb sucking would mess up teeth and their alignment, Now it has been found that they have to do it until they are quite older (like 4) before it causes any significant harm.
My son is 18 months and still sucks his thumb, but only if he is trying to go to sleep or is really tired. I wholehearted feel that he will quit when he is ready. I am by no means a mother that would allow him to be 3 and running around with a thumb in his mouth (or a pacifier for that matter). I just think it sounds like at this point it is more of a problem for you than it is for him. ;)
I have included some articles on thumbsucking for you at the links below. You might have to highlight the links and copy/paste them in your browser. Hope this helps!
C.
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/thumbsucking.asp
http://www.drgreene.com/21_856.html
My twins just turned two. my daughter sucks on 3 fingers at night time and my son sucks his thumb whenever he is tired. He has sucked his thumb to the point of having a callus on it! Nothing has worked. We have tried all of the nasty tasting food..he just sucks it off, makes a bad face about it and then continues sucking his thumb. We have tried the nail biting polish and the same thing with that. The would both make a nasty face about it and then would just keep sucking!..I did some research online and read that kids just acquire a taste for the polish and the yucky foods and that it usually doesnt help. Also read that telling them not to suck their thumbs will just make them want to do it even more! They have a doctors appt today so Im going to ask the doctor for any advice!
