Thumb Sucking 4 Yr Old - Phoenix,AZ

My daughter is 5 and in Kindergarten and she still sucks her thumb. I have asked her teacher about it and she says my daughter does not suck her thumb at school. My daughter says that she doesnt want to suck it at school because the other kids will think she is a baby. Your son may give it up on his own when he starts school, or like my daughter only sucks on it at home. I havent tried to force her to stop yet, I figure she will give it up when she is ready. Good luck

I know you're looking for suggestions, F., so I probably won't be of much help, but I wanted to offer my input anyway, if only to reassure. I was seven when I finally stopped sucking my thumb, and my parents took me to a medical professional. He checked me out, making sure there weren't any underlying psychiatric problems, and of course checked out my teeth to make sure I wasn't doing damage. He recommended to my parents turning off their attention to it and allowing me to stop in my own timing. He told them I probably wouldn't be sucking my thumb in college. lol Anyway, he was right, as it turns out, and I didn't end up with any dental problems I wouldn't have otherwise had. I wish you the best with this, F.. I bet your little guy is a doll!

~ R. J

I think the more attention that is brought to it, the more of a fight it will be. I sucked my thumb until I was 10. then all of a sudden stopped. i now bite my nails all the time. creams and nail polish and all those other things do nothing for me, don't know about him, I was always determined. my mom always tried everything. but the time just comes when he'll be ready to stop.

Hi F.!

My daughter is also 4 and can't stop sucking her thumb! She says she wants to, but most of the time she doesn't even realize she's doing it. Our Pediatric Dentist recommended this thumb guard from One Step Ahead.

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/117/984/117.html

I have been putting off buying it because of the cost, but I've heard it works! I think I will be ordering it this week. I think for us, it's the only thing that will work.

Aslo, there is this other cream that claims to help with nail biting and thumb sucking as well, but it is also pretty pricey.

http://www.stopbitingnails.com/?clid=CMLF0NuMrYYCFSA7SAod...

I hope this information is helpful.

~L.