R.G. asks from Indianapolis, IN on August 26, 2008
How to Get My 2 1/2 Year Old to Stop Sucking Her Fingers?
I have a little girl who has sucked two fingers, palm up, since she was an infant. She now only resorts to it at bed time, or when she is tired. We have noticed her teeth have moved because of this, so we would like to stop it soon. We have looked for the old "bitter fingers" liquid you could buy to put on them but it's no where to be found. Any suggestions to ease the transition?
So What Happened?™
Well, I have decided to go the "ease out of it" route. After thinking about how it's only at bed time and sleepy time, I figured it would be a little too harsh to try and drop it all together. I think I will try using a positive reinforcement when she is a little older and able to understand. I just want to be sure to stop it before we lose any teeth. Thank you for your ideas and responses.
Featured Answers
H.S. answers from Evansville on August 27, 2008
My step-daughter did this and her daddy would yell at her for it...I told him she needed to do thid for what ever reason and she would one day stop..and she did...she was around 5, but she stopped..she NEEDS this for whatever reason..let her continue.. H. S.
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S.H. answers from Fort Wayne on August 27, 2008
Meijers has the liquid. It is with all the manicure stuff.
M.P. answers from Bloomington on August 27, 2008
My boyfriend's daughter had a similiar problem, she is 8 and sucks on two fingers, palm down. She is now wearing braces due to the damage that it caused. The orthodonist had her parents put popsicle sticks on the two fingers and tape them together so that she could not bend them and it would be uncomfortable to have in her mouth. They would put this on her in the evenings and leave it on during the night. It wasn't long until she stopped sucking on her fingers.
C.S. answers from Cleveland on August 27, 2008
If the bitters doesn't work, I had a friend who chewed on her fingers. She mixed clear polish with hot sauce.
Good Luck!
H.S. answers from Evansville on August 27, 2008
My step-daughter did this and her daddy would yell at her for it...I told him she needed to do thid for what ever reason and she would one day stop..and she did...she was around 5, but she stopped..she NEEDS this for whatever reason..let her continue.. H. S.
D.C. answers from Dayton on August 27, 2008
My oldest son was a thumbsucker and his baby teeth were protrude-ish and pallet arched but as his adult teeth have come in they seem to be ok and his pallet has straightened out some with growing. Like your daughter around 2-3 years old he too would only use his thumb at night as a comfort. I let him ease his way out of it allowing him to suck at night or when in need of comfort/calming down - not allowing him to suck at any given moment. He's now 13, 5'6" 135# and I still catch him sucking on occasion in his sleep(shhhh!:)) but his teeth have turned out ok. So it's up to you - start a battle by making her stop or ease her out of it by making it seem like it's on her terms?
D.K. answers from Indianapolis on August 28, 2008
Try vinegar or lemon juice
S.K. answers from Columbus on August 27, 2008
I don't have a suggestion but wanted to say I was "excited" to see someone else with a child that sucks the 2 first fingers palm up. :) GL!
J.C. answers from Fort Wayne on August 26, 2008
Does she have a piggy bank? If you don't want to swat her hand, then you could make her give you one coin everytime you catch her sucking on her fingers
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