Thumb Suckers

Eliminating Thumb Sucking Habit

1. Child must understand that thumb sucking is a damaging habit if it continues and child must want to quit. “Thumb sucking is something babies do...and eventually out grow…like wearing diapers.” Nothing negative should be said about thumb sucking, no belittling, etc. Child understands and reasons well…and responds to positive motivation. This is the key to success.
2. It will take approximately 10 days to make a change and 21 days to make a habit. However, it is recommended using 30 days to achieve the goal. Parent must be prepared to make a month long commitment.
3. It is important that the child understands that this is a very difficult habit to break by himself. Since it happens while he is sleeping, he needs help and reminders not to suck his thumb. Ask if child wants help and reminders…child has to buy into the program!
4. Success depends upon the child wanting to change and accepting help to make the change occur. This technique is for a very smart and special child who wants to stop the “baby” habit of thumb sucking. For nightly sucking habit, the following technique has had great success.

• Prepare necessary supplies – a “special” box and a “special” calendar for this occasion. The calendar will be used to chart progress. Keep the calendar on display in the child’s bedroom. Supplies in the box include: waterproof first aid tape, a narrow ace bandage, diaper pins, stickers for the calendar. The child can decorate the box so it's special to him.
• Use the special box to keep supplies in and have a special place for this box. (i.e. a note card box he decorates kept in a drawer). Talk it up; make the process a fun POSITIVE process…a transition to BIG BOY status!
• Nightly, place 2 strips of waterproof first aid tape on the sucking thumb. One strip above the joint and one strip below the joint. Next, wrap the thumb and hand to the wrist with an ace bandage. Use a diaper pin to secure the bandage. Do NOT place tape or wrap tightly. (We used a glove instead of the ace bandage and used first aid tape to tape the glove to his wrist because he pulled it off during the night)
• Tuck the child into bed. Have the child repeat 10 times “I will not suck my thumb…I’m a big boy” or something to that effect. This is the message that you are sending to the subconscious.
• In the morning, make a big deal out of the successful night! Remove the bandages, return the ace bandage and diaper pin to the special box. Let the child select and place the sticker on the calendar. BE POSITIVE!
• Set goals and give rewards. The rewards can be decided upon in advance, so that the child is aware of the benefits. Or, the rewards can be a surprise. Depends upon the child.
Daily…the sticker on the calendar.
Weekly…a little reward…gift, toy, book, etc.
At the end of the month…BIG REWARD!

We used this with our 4 year old boy and it worked wonderfully.

My little guy is a thumb sucker also and we tried everything also.. Nothing helps.. They will grow out of it I am sure because my oldest sister sucked her thumb when she was little also and she grew out of it.. So now my son only suckes his thumb when he is going to bed cause he doesnt want the girls in school to know he does it cause he says he is mister cool dude.. Well I wish you the best of luck.. M.

Hi, F., my daughter is 3 and sucked her thumb from about 2 months of age until around 6 months ago. There are products you can buy, check at your local pharmacy, they are not prescriptive. You put it on their thumb-nails, it has a nail polish quality to it. I can't remember the name, i gave it to my girl-friend for her 4 year old. There are two different kinds, i know one was called Thum, or Thumb. That one didn't work, but the other one was great. I put it on both her thumb-nails, while she was sleeping, two nights in a row and that was the end of her thumb-sucking. In her words, "mommy, my thumb tastes YUCKY!!!". I will find out the name of the other stuff.

F., I maybe the oddball out but if your daughter finds comfort in sucking her thumb I really don't see a problem. My sister was a thumb sucker and even at 28 if she is really upset she will hold the tip of her thumb in her mouth. Every one has their own way of coping with life. If you're worried about what the school will think don't be. I can't tell you how many kindergarteners suck their thumbs at rest time. As for causing dental problems take her to a pediatric dentist that can evaluate her mouth structure. In other words I wouldn't worry about this. She'll quit when she's ready.

try putting a sock on her hand. Make sure it is one of yours - or a large one - so it covers her whole hand/wrist/lower arm so it isn't as easy to take off in her sleep. Let her know why are you are doing it because really she needs to agree to try to make it successful. Good luck! My oldest sucked his thumb from 3 months to 8 years old!!

My husband was a thumb sucker, and my cousin too. Both thier parents tried the hot pepper, sour stuff, etc.. Nothing worked. My husband finally quit around 8 yrs old on his own. It was due to peer pressure. He wrapped his hand up in gauze for a month so that he could not suck his thumb. That's how he stopped. My cousin's parents finally went to the dentist and had some metal thing put in the roof of her mouth. It cut he thumb when she tried to suck it. That's the only way she quit. Didn't take her long to catch on. A friend of mine got her 4 yr old to quit by offering her something she really wanted. The 4 yr old wanted a new bike with out training wheels. Her mother offered her the bike only if she stopped sucking her thumb. She stopped! My 3 yr old is a thumb sucker too. So if figure we are in it for the long hall. Hopefully he will want a bike when he turns 4 and be willing to quit for it :). From what I have read over the past few yrs there isn't much that can stop a child from thumb sucking ( other than that contraption they put in their mouth). I would say don't stress her out. It will probably make her suck her thumb more. Just try to figure out a soft spot, try and work something out that way. Or just let peer pressure takes it course and let her decide it's what she needs to do. GOOD LUCK!!!