Thrush and Thumb Sucking

Go to the local drug store and get Gentian Violet (over the counter). It is a purple dye, that kills the yeast/thrush. You can apply it once a day to his mouth (with a Q-tip), and to his thumb (no need to try to stop his thumbsucking). It works WAAAAYYYY better than Nystatin. It is an old remedy, that docs have forgotten about. Typically the thrush is gone in 3 days.
I also put Vaseline around the lips prior to using the Gentian Violet, to keep the staining around the mouth to a minimum, wiping the drool off as needed. Your little one will likely pucker up as if responding to alum (a pickling spice).

I heard thrush is from putting unsanitized nipples in their mouth. There is a medicine to treat that. As for thumb sucking, I would pull my son's thumb out of his mouth alot, and after 3 years, he stopped cold turkey. Some say put something on their finger that would make them stop sucking their thumb. Teething could be a reason for the sucking too.

When my younger guy had thrush we, too, used nystatin but there was no thumb sucking involved so it wasn't as complicated as your situation. I know that my cousin has used gentian violet for her son's thrush and has been extremely pleased with the outcome. It is a bit messy (can stain) and I don't know if it requires the infected area to be dry for an extended period of time, but it may be worth a shot to look into it. Best of luck! And what a special family it sounds like you have!

Try mittens or even a sock will work. You can pin it to a long sleeve shirt so it will stay on. Then keep him busy with books and toys if he is able and this might give it a chance to dry out. Because of his Down Syndrome which I know little about you might offer a pacifier instead. My daughter was much older at age 5 but the socks worked well for her at night and after a week she no longer sucked her thumb. Good luck and best wishes. :)

Have you tried putting a bandaid on his thumb? You may also talk to the doctor about puttig Nystatin on his thumb... that's what they have a breast feeding mom do when the baby comes down with thrush. It would be a lot of work as you'd have to dip his thumb a lot since he sucks his thumb often, just a thought. Can you buy baby mittens and put them on his hands?? That might stop him.

My daughter and I battled thrush for 2 months until I was told to use gentian violet (buy it over the counter). Nystatin did not work. I would apply the gentian violet in his mouth and thumb twice a day. The only problem is that it stains. Good luck.

Is the Thrush in his mouth completely gone? If so then try to get him to suck on his other thumb while his bad one heals. It is really just a fungal/yeast infection and very treatable. I know you said he does not like to suck on his other thumb but try making it exciting for him by giving him cheers and hugs and kisses when he does it; in an encouraging way or try a binky which is much easier to sterilize. Apple cider vinegar is really good for killing topical fungal/yeast infections, try soaking his hand in it, I guarantee he will not like the tast. Then try puting something he likes on his other thumb like peanut butter. This will train him to use the other thumb because he will associate the infected thumb with a bad taste and the good thumb with a good taste. Good luck with the little tike.