Thumb Sucking - Waverly, IA

This WILL work because it worked for me! I sucked my thumb until I was 7 and I remember all the things my parents tried that didn't work. I also rmember the one thing that did work. They took me to the dentist to get this thing with spikes on the roof of my mouth. I don't remember how long I had to wear it but I do remember I did and I never sucked my thumb since then! And another added bonus was that it straightened up my top row of teeth and I didn't have to have braces when I got older. It was MUCH cheaper than braces!! It's something to look into!

Hi L.,
I also had not one but two children who sucked their thumbs and I sucked my thumb as a child until I was probably 7 (at least during sat. morning cartoons). My dad used to give me such a hard time and my kids as well for them sucking their thumbs. I tried everything, vaseline on the thumb (messy) the hot stuff that you can paint on (my kids learned to like it and would actually ask for more!), rewards, progress charts and band-aids. Nothing worked. Finally I just said, they will stop when they stop and you know what...they did! Did I fret over the fact that I had an 8 year old that still sucked his thumb..yes! Did I look at his teeth and think oh my goodness he will need braces..yes! To each their own but please don't beat yourself up over a child that sucks their thumb. There are very good ideas on here that I probably would have tried. I like the one about letting them do it whenever they want but it has to be in the bathroom or designated area of the house. That was a good idea. Seems less harsh like you are not yelling and you are allowing them to do it. Good luck!!

My daughter also sucks her thumb and we have been trying to get her to stop. My mom used a really bad tasting substance put on the thumb, it looks like finger nail polish and it lasts through hand washings and daily activities. I remember it tasting really bad. I have found a similar product on www.folica.com. the reviews are great and I have recently ordered it and will see how it works for my 5 1/2 year old. it is called Mavala. Good luck.

A friend of mine went and bought some of the Nail Bite stuff that you put on your fingernails to stop biting your nails. She put that on her daughter's nails and she stopped sucking her thumb in no time. Sounds gross but it worked for her.

Our pediatrician said to do whatever it takes to get them to stop. He suggested telling the child that it is dirty (germs, get sick, etc) and that it is only for babies.

Dr. John Rosemond (local child psycologist) had an idea that worked for us. Whatever the behavior is that you want to get rid of (thumbsucking for you, it was shreaking for my daughter, or it could be spitting, bad words, whatever) the next time the child does it you use a very happy voice and tell the child, "You can suck your thumb all you want, but you can only do it in a certain place". We picked the bathroom, but it could be the dining room chair, garage, their room, etc. I happily walked my daughter to the small bathroom and even demonstrated how she could shreak to her heart's content. I told her to stay in their shreaking as long as she wanted, but when she chose to come out she had to use a nice voice and then I left the room. If you could have seen her face...it was priceless. She was stunned! She did stay in there shreaking for a few minutes and then came out and played. About five minutes later she screamed again and I smiled and said, "Oops, you better hurry up and get back in the bathroom to do your screaming". I sent her in there a few time a day for about three days and that was the end of it. I think the trick is that you do it excitedly. You trick them into believing that you are encouraging them to do it, just in a certain room.

Good luck!

Unlike the paci, you can't just throw it out!! My son will be 7 next month and sucks it only when tired, never at school. I am interested to see what other moms have to say! We also tried Thumb and it does not work. I recently heard of a retainer like thing that goes in their mouth that prohibits them from sucking. I plan on asking my Dentist about it at next months visit! Good Luck!

L., this won't help you, but for everyone reading this looking for advice on how to stop future thumb sucking I have some advice: curb it earlier than 6 years. Don't become dependant on pacifiers to sooth your child or they will become dependant on them as well. No child needs a pacifier after a year old and many dentists and pediatricians will tell you there's no medical reason to use them after six months. Yes, babies need them to build muscle strength, among other things, however, after a year, you are giving them the paci for YOUR sake, and actually HURTING THEM. Most children who aren't allowed to use a paci after a year or so never thumb suck because they get used to it early, it's the ones who walk around with a paci in their mouth all the time until 2 or 3 that start to substitute with a thumb or other fingers.
As for the "stigma" of thumb sucking, everyone I knew from kindergarten on who still sucked a thumb or finger was made fun of and called a baby - ESPECIALLY the girl in 6th grade who couldn't keep her thumb out of her mouth even to talk. There are many people who don't ever need braces (my husband being a lucky one) but letting thumb sucking go on almost guarantees that dental work will be needed.
Good Luck to all :)

L.,

As a mother, I understand the worry of social stigma and orthodontia prolonged thumb sucking carries...but I hope I can offer a bit of advice:

While I have horrifically been exposed to middle schoolers the suck on thumbs, bottles, & pacifiers, I don't think it caused them any negative social stigma (as it was considered "cool" ....let me take a moment to shudder) and the pediatric orthodontist had already introduced braces in most cases.

I say this as a contrast to the 6 yr old ideal and intent of thumb sucking, as well as to give voice to your worst fear in ragard to this.

Personally, I sucked my thumb at night until I was 12 - every night until about 10, then every coupla of nights. Once I got braces it got a bit painful as the metal would dig into my skin, but I got used to it. Understand, my parents tried everything from duct-taping a sock over my hand, to the bitter-tasting stuff that you paint onto your thumb, to "reward" parties when I could quit for a week or two (that started about 7). Ultimately, tho, it didn't stop until I wanted to. I got through the pain of removinng duct tape from my arm, got used to the nasty bitter thumb stuff so much so that I actually liked it, and would quit just long enough to get a party...but nothing worked until I decided it was enough.

I wouldn't worry to much about it. Yes, it could cause him to need braces later, but really, I don't remember a single kid in school that didn't have braces at SOME point (assuming their parents could afford it). Absolutely encourage him to give it up and attempt to help him by whatever means possible, but understand that unless HE WANTS TO, any measures you take probably won't make much impact.

Hope that helped a little....

Good luck!

My daughter will be 8 in just a couple days. She sucked her thumb up until last December when her dentist inserted a "Thumb Appliance" in the roof of her mouth. We had tried EVERYTHING under the sun....from explaining how dirty her hands could be to restricting the places & times, to the nail polish to soaking her fingers in EVERYTHING that we thought she wouldn't like the taste of. (When doing that she would just lick her thumb until she got used to the taste...now she wants hotsauce on everything that she eats.) Her teeth were really starting to buldge out in the front so we decided to try the dentist. He recommended this appliance. Not only to get her to stop sucking her thumb, but because her palate (roof of mouth) was no longer wide enough because of the years of sucking. IMMEDIATLEY she stopped sucking without 1 complaint. And her palate is back to her normal shape, & her teeth are perfectly straight!!!! Our dentist sat us down & explained to us that if we did not do something soon to stop it that her palate would actually need to be broken to get it back to it's normal shape!! If your child does not have a problem with the shape of their palate, they can just put in the Thumb Sucker Stopper - thing! It just goes right up in the roof of their mouth & blocks their thumb. I hope that you can find something that works, if your dentist is not certified in Pediactric Orthodontry, then I would request that he/she refer you to one. Good Luck!

Hi L.,
I work as a dental assistant so I know a few tricks. try www.practicon.com, go to the key word search on the left side of page and type in thumbsucking. I also know people who have used lemon juice and other bitter flavorings.

My 10 year old still sucks her thumb and we have tried everything from hot sauce, to "thumb" (which is bitter on nails), to rewards! Nothing worked! My ex even ducked taped 2 layers of latex gloves on her hands and she still did it! I know, cruel, that is one of the reason's he is my ex. She only does it when she is tired or sleeping.