Sucking of Thumb

My 2 year old sucks her thumd and my 4 yr. old her 2 fingers. Dentist said that as long as she stops before her permanent teeth come in we are find. She has greatly reduced since starting school. So I think we will have minimal problems gettign her to stop in the next year or so.

Dear Y.,
I disagree with moms telling you, that you shouldn't be worried!
I have a daughter 4y.o., and she was sucking her thumb from the birth. First it was only at night, then when she was about 1 y.o. it was day and night. And everybody was telling me: it's ok, so cute, don't worry, she'll grow up from it... NO! A lot of kids after thumb sucking needed brases.
I did a lot of research, when kids suckig their tumb after 5 y.o., first of all it's making demage to there teeth, to the finger, then on the brain.
I tried everything on the market you can find in the stores, even our doctor said, that she'll grow up from it...

So, first of all, don't make big deal of it, when he is sucking his thumb, DON'T try to pull out his thumb - IT MAKE IT WORSE! They want to suck the thumb more if you pull it out!
When he is NOT sucking his thumb, THERE IS A TIME you need to PRAISE HIM a lot!
And there is one thing helped us - "Thumb-sucking treatment kit". You can buy it online: Amazon, Ebay... Here is the link for it for the best price:

http://www.amazon.com/One-Handed-Thumb-Sucking-Treatment-...

If your son sucks his tumb only at night, you can put it on only at nights, but if he does it also some times during the day, he needs to wear it 24-7. At List for the 3 weeks.
This is a life saver!!!

There is also Fingers-sucking treatment kit available.

If you want to talk more about it, feel free to email me,
____@____.com

GOOD LUCK!!!
GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Sincerely yours,
V..

I sucked my thumb and my teeth are fine.I had 2 thumb suckers out of 3 kids and their teeth are very nice.I think it's kind of cute.

OK, I can't believe I'm admitting this but I sucked my thumb until I was in double digits. My teeth are fine. No crooked teeth, no bucked-front teeth, nothing.
My 2 older son's had pacifiers. I took them from the boys when they were 2 and 4 years old. Now my 2 younger children, my daughter sucks her 3rd and 4th fingers and my son sucks his thumb.
A kids gotta do what a kids gotta do. I had vowed before children that they would not use a pacifier or suck their thumb. Look where I ended up??!!

Y.,

Don't worry about it until he is ready to go to school (if even then). My sister sucked her thumb too. She had speech therapy (not because of thumb sucking) and her speech therapist gave my mom a very hard time about it so my mom took my sister to the dentist. He told her that she would stop when she was ready and not to worry about it until she was 7 or 8.

Babies suck as a way to comfort themselves. It is natural and totally not a problem, so relax and enjoy your beautiful healthy baby!

wrap his thumb in medical tape, it took my nephew 2 days of that to stop sucking his thumb, it was the advice from his doctor

Hi Y.,
I was able to switch out my son from thumb sucking to the pacifer. My daughter, however was not so easy. Children have the need to suck until about age 2. If it helps him to sleep, let him have at it. His teeth will be fine if he stops sucking his thumb in the next 2 years.
I'll take some suggestions on how to stop thumb sucking for children over 2!
Good luck,
S.

I do not think sucking thumbs causes crooked teeth- I sucked my thumb for a LONG TIME (into grade school! shhh!)
and never needed braces- my teeth are great! :D

At 17 months, his teeth won't be crooked. Honestly, there isn't too much you can do with him sucking his thumb at night but if he's sucking it during the day, you can begin there. Begin by removing his thumb each and every time he sucks his thumb during the day. My first daughter sucked her thumb well past her 4th birthday...I had tried everything and eventually she stopped. You just have to be consistent, persistent and creative to help him stop sucking his thumb.

Is thumb-sucking normal?
Thumb-sucking is normal in babies and young children. A natural sucking instinct leads some babies to suck their thumbs during their first few months of life, or even before birth. Babies may also suck on their fingers, hands, or items such as pacifiers.

Why do babies suck their thumbs?
Babies have a natural urge to suck, which usually decreases after the age of 6 months. However, many babies continue to suck their thumbs to soothe themselves. Eventually, thumb-sucking can become a habit in babies and young children who use it to comfort themselves when they feel hungry, afraid, restless, quiet, sleepy, or bored.

About 70% to 90% of infants suck their thumbs.1 Most of these children gradually stop on their own between ages 3 and 6.

Does thumb-sucking cause any problems?
Prolonged thumb-sucking may cause a child to develop dental problems. Thumb-sucking can cause a child's teeth to become improperly aligned (malocclusion) or push the teeth outward, sometimes malforming the roof (upper palate) of the mouth. Malocclusion usually corrects itself when the child stops thumb-sucking. However, the longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that orthodontic treatment will be needed to correct any resulting dental problems.

A child may also develop speech problems, including mispronouncing Ts and Ds, lisping, and thrusting out the tongue when talking.

At what point does thumb-sucking become a problem?
Thumb-sucking in children younger than 4 is usually not a problem. Children who suck their thumbs frequently or with great intensity after the age of 4 or 5 or those who continue to suck their thumbs after age 5 are at risk for dental or speech problems.

In rare cases, thumb-sucking after age 5 is in response to an emotional problem or other disorder, such as anxiety. A child with this type of problem needs to be evaluated by a health professional. Most other children stop sucking their thumbs after simple treatment measures are introduced.

How is problem thumb-sucking treated?
Many experts recommend ignoring thumb-sucking in a child who is preschool age or younger. Most young children stop sucking their thumbs on their own.

Children who suck their thumbs may need treatment when they:

Also pull their hair, especially when they are between 12 and 24 months of age.
Continue to suck a thumb often or with great intensity after the age of 4 or 5.
Ask for help to stop the behavior.
Develop dental or speech problems as a result of the behavior.
Feel embarrassed or are teased or shamed by other people because of the behavior.
Usually, treatment can be done at home and includes parents setting rules and providing distractions. It may be helpful to limit the times and places that your child is allowed to suck his or her thumb and to put away blankets or other items your child associates with thumb-sucking. Offering praise and rewards for not thumb-sucking may also help your child break the habit. As your child matures, usually around age 5, he or she may be able to take a more active role in treatment.

Talk to your child openly about the effects of thumb-sucking.
Put gloves on your child's hands or wrap the thumb with an adhesive bandage or a cloth. Explain that the glove, bandage, or cloth is not a punishment but is only there to remind him or her not to thumb-suck.
Develop a reward system, such as putting stickers on a calendar or otherwise recording each day that your child does not suck his or her thumb. After an agreed-upon number of days, have a celebration for your child.
Use a special nontoxic, bitter-tasting nail coating, such as Thum. Apply it like fingernail polish to the thumbnail each morning, before bed, and whenever you see your child sucking his or her thumb. This treatment is most successful when it is combined with a reward system.

Now from me, it is fine to suck the thumb, I feel if you force an issue you create issues, Children who suck there thumb are easily calmed where other children aren't.
let him suck and let him be happy..

hugs
V.

Hi Y., I don't know how to solve your problem but just wanted to ease your mind a bit. My son (grown now) sucked his thumb until the age of about 8 and trust me, he has beautiful straight teeth so I really wouldn't worry myself sick over this issue. He will quit when he's ready! God Bless You! W.