Thumb Sucking - Wilkes Barre, PA

i have three children -- two completely non suckers, no thumb or suppliments.
I have one who spit out that binky at 3 days and refused anything but that thumb.
It tapered off at about 9 and eventually it fell by the way side.

But boy was she attached to that thumb for a very long time. I never really pushed for her to quit with additives or bribes. Just let her work her way to quitting on her own.

She is now 18 -- there are far worse habits ahead! :)

Dear P.

Both my children sucked their thumbs. With my youngest i was lucky as when he was around 5 years old he came into my room one day and told me he has decided to stop sucking it and that was it. So you may just need to give your little one more time. Some children have a pacifier till they are much older and to him his thumb serves the same purpose. Otherwise you could try putting something called 'bitter aloe' on his thumb. It really tastes terrible and it may discourage the thumb sucking. The only thing you need to consider is wether the sucking is a habbit or an emotional thing. If it is a habbit then it is easier to try and break with things like the 'bitter aloe' or distraction. If it is emotional as in the case of my daughter then be prepared for the long haul. The thing with it being emotional means that often if you get them to get ride of the thumb before they are ready, they may substitute it with other things like bet wetting. With my daugther she eventually only stopped it at the age of 7 1/2 on her own. She needed it as a comfort like some children have their blanky. She had sucked it so badly that she was causing all sorts of orthodontic problems. I took her to a fantastic doctor who explained to her in detail what she was doing to her teeth and what he would have to do if she did not stop. He then explained that no one could force her to stop and that she was the only one who could make the choice to stop sucking it. He explained that she is a very cleaver girl and that he believed that she was able to do it. We then baught her a whole lot of band aids which she was responsible for putting on her thumb as a reminder not to suck. With in a week she was able to stop wearing the band aid during the day and within a month we stopped it at night. That said if she has a stressful day at school or if something is bothering her i still find her sucking it at night without her realising it while she sleeps. This is a clear indication that for her it was emotional where as my son has never sucked it again since the day he made the choice to stop becasue for him it was just a habbit. You may need to just wait until your son is a little older before you stop him sucking it. I hope you have some luck.

P. C,

I feel your pain on this one. My daughter is 7 and unfortuantely still sucks her thumb, but there is hope. Have you ever heard of the catalog ONE LEAP AHEAD? This catalog actually has a thumb guard in the catalog for a minimal price. I hear they work wonders and am awaiting my to come. My daughter only sucks her thumb @ night now before she completely falls asleep, or when she is really tired, but doctor's highl recommend this.

Good Luck!

A. C.

I also have a thumb sucker. We used a device called Thumb guard. It worked great. I did it when he turned 3. Aftera months use he was completely free of sucking his thumb. We have had some set backs with 2 moves, starting school and having an operation so he is back sucking his thumb but not like he use to. I am planning on using it again when school ends. Check out the web site at Thumbguard.com. There is a lot of info on it. I hope this helps.
L. R

P.,
I don't think it is that bad your son sucks his thumb. It maybe his security. He will eventually stop. But if you want him to they have this stuff that you paint on the thumb and it is bad tasting. it keeps them from wanting to suck thier thumb.I can't recall what it is called and if they even sale it anymore. My aunt used it on my cousin years ago. I think if you ask your pharmasist they may know what i am talking about. you can try that. other ways of getting them to stop is tie the thumb up so he can't get to it. although truthfully I feel when he is ready he will stop on his own. my niece is 25 years old and she still sucks her thumb every so often mostly when she is tired and going to sleep. and to let you know she is a teacher lol . so it wont hurt him sucking his thumb at all . he may just feel secure with it.

There are a few things you can do. Some are low tech. For instance, put some lemon juice on his thumb or tabasko sauce. However, if his thumb is irritated, these might not work. They also make an ointment type product that you can find in local drug stores like Rite Aid in the baby section for thumb sucking. You put a little of this on their thumb again, it is harmless but tastes horrible so that it discourages them from sucking on it.

If he keeps sucking on it, then later you might (under the direction of a dentist or doctor) to get a device put in his mouth. My cousin had this. It was something they connect to his teeth on the roof of his mouth that prevents them from being able to suck on the thumb.

Right now, I would try the horrible tasting thumb along with a reward system. At 2 he is old enough to understand a reward system (doesn't mean it won't be a bit of work). I would try a homemade book with stickers or stamps. Throughout the day (pick a time period -- like every 3 hours), if he manages to not suck his thumb for a specified time period, I would give him a sticker or stamp for his book. When he gets a set number of stamps/stickers, then give him a reward (like a Hershey's kiss or something he really likes).

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Have you tried vinegar on your son's thumb? The thing is to find something that will not harm your son, while at the same time taste so terrible that he will not want to put his thumb in his mouth. It helps with nail biters as well. Some other suggestions besides the vinegar: onion, lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange peel, citric peels, garlic. If you use some type of powder, make sure some gets under the finger nail. That way if the child goes to suck, it will get wet and he will then be sure to get the taste of it. Hope this helps!

P., Tuumb sucking is a really really hard habit to break. Not only is it a comfort thing, but it is also a physical thing. If you are a "thumb" person you have a physical sinsation in your mouth that makes you want to suck your thumb. People will tell you to try hot sause, finger nail polish, pickle juice, ucky hand cream, hot pepper juice...trust me when I say it won't work. Harrassing him about it won't work either. I was a thumb person until I was well into my teens and I know a lot of others that were as well and there are only two ways that I know of that actually work.

The first is to make him want to stop. No bribing (won't work) You have to tell him that he is a big boy now and that big boys don't have their thumbs in their mouths...and if he feels the need to suck his thumb he has to go to his room. (Since he is so little you might try a special chair that is in a corner where he can't see the TV and will be bored then as he gets older you move the chair). Give him a special stuffed animal to hold there. This method takes time and patience and consistancy. You also have to work hard at keeping that hand busy the rest of the day.

The second method is to go to your dentist/orthodontist and talk to them about a "cage". He is probably too little right now for this option. Most insurance companies do pay for at least part of this up to a certian age. Our orthodontist used this method for a couple of different reason on my daughter and it worked very quickly and completely. She had the cage for about 6 months and has never sucked her thumb again.

Watch your son when he sleeps...he may not be sucking his thumb all the time. If he doesn't TELL HIM. Hey honey, did you know that when you are asleep you don't always suck your thumb? That is really good!! Every time he takes a step you have to make him feel good about it. Even if it is only going to his chair without you telling him to. What ever you choose to do DO NOT MAKE THIS A BATTLE YOU WILL NOT EVER WIN THIS ONE!! If you want to talk about this more just leave me a message with mamasourse! I'll be more than happy to help as much as I can.

When my daughter was little, she used to suck her thumb flat. It would "pop" when you pulled it out of her mouth. We tried "Thumbzit" an over the counter remedy, but she would just suck till the flavor left. We then coated her thumb with Tabasco Sauce and wiped it off. The flavor stays however, and she did stop sucking using this method. Why not give it a try ?

I put pickle juice on my son's pacifier when he was 2 and that worked. Once the cuts on his thumb heal, you can give it a try. Of course if he loves pickles it won't work.

Try putting clove oil on his thumb. It really doesn't taste good at all but it will not hurt him. Just make sure your son is not allergic to it. After putting that into his mouth he won't want to do it again.

P.,
Start with your toddler's doc. They may be able to give the best advice. My son, who is now 21, sucked his thumb so vigorously that his thumbnail actually started to come off. I took him to his doc and they started him on antibiotics. He never sucked it again after that.
Try not to worry about it. I used to read lots of articles on the topic and kids that actually are thumb suckers are soothing themselves on their own. He will probably outgrow this habit soon.
Good luck. Try not to worry.

My one son has sucked so much that he has sucked a hole right threw his nail. My parents use to use this nail polish that had a really nasty taste to it and would not wash off. Maybe try a finger condom on his thumb. Try to sit down and talk to him. By a treat if he will go so long not sucking his thumb and every time make the time longer.

My brother who is know in his 30's still sucks his thumb. But only when he is tired.

Best of luck