Thumb Sucking - Wichita,KS

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it much at this point. Once she transitions to a cup (at around 12 months), that would be a good time to start trying to break that habit. We waited too long and it took forever. The way we finally got it done was we bought some yucky tasting stop-thumb-sucking nail polish (found it at Wal-Mart) and that did the trick almost over night. As for right now, sucking her thumb is just soothing to her and she isn't old enough to understand how to soothe outside her own world. Children this young are self-involved and don't know just how to use their world for self-comfort. It won't impact her speech or her teeth at this time, and, as for the shape of her mouth, it would only impact that if she constantly sucked her thumb. If you would like some info, go to www.superduperinc.com. They have parent fact sheets and they have book dealing with this very subject. Best of luck to you!

I actually wouldn't worry about her doing it. It's an act of comfort to them at that age. If she were 2 and doing it then I'd look into want methods there are. I've heard of some people putting gross tasting stuff on the child's thumb. Some out grow it. Other's do it til an older age and get made fun of by peers and quit. My niece actually quit sucking her's at age 5 because my father bought her a tv if she could go a whole week of not sucking it. But at 7mos. I really would let her continue sucking it.

I agree with the other ladies. Just allow her to soothe herself. She'll eventually grow out of it. It's probably bothering you more than it is actually having any negative effect on her. I wouldn't worry about it. Just relax and know that you have a wonderful little girl who knows how to soothe herself! Enjoy her stages.

everytime you see her with her thumb in her mouth, take it out and put a toy or woobie in her hand. Do not make a big deal out of it and don't make a dissapproving face, if she struggles or cries don't fight her on it. Be as sweet as possible by saying something like , "here's a block for you to feel sweetie"

If she hurls the block at you and puts her thumb back in her mouth, don't get upset wait a few minutes and try again.

I disagree with the other ladies and sucking a thumb can cause problems even with baby teeth coming in. PLEASE talk with your dentist before you do anything!!!

I just saw my dentist and she noticed that my 20 month old son had some problems with his top front teeth starting to grow forward. She asked if he was a thumb sucker. Yes.

My son only sucks his thumb at night so this is an easier solution than if he sucks it all day but it may still be helpful to you. My dentist recommended that we put athletic tape (the paper tape kind works better for us) over the top of his thumb, length-wise, and then wrap another piece around the middle knuckle. It will taste gross and feel bad and it should stop it.

We've been going for almost two weeks now and I'm not quite sure when to stop. I've heard that to break a habit you need at least 21 days.

Good luck. The earlier you do this the better.

R.

I agree. I wouldn't push her to stop before she's ready or you'll have a tired/fussy baby who can't do anything but cry. :-/

Don't worry, it is normal for her to suck her thumb and also a great way for her to self-soothe. My daughter is the same age, and also sucks her thumb. She was never interested in the pacifier.

Just make sure her hands are relatively clean and let her suck away. There is nothing wrong with a baby sucking his or her thumb.

Hi E.,
my daugher is two years old and still sucks her thumb and always has basically. But she only dose it when she is sleepy or needs a hug. I wouldn't really worry about your baby sucking their thumb, because even at 7 months old they still have a bit of a suck reflex.
http://www.drgreene.com/21_856.html
I did some reasearch that may help though.
Good luck
J.

Hi E.,
Theres really not much you can do I don't believe. At 7 months you can't control much and sucking is a natural behavior, its a comfort and soothing mechanisim for them. I watch a little boy that is 6 months old and he sucks his thumb and even when I'm feeding him lunch or snack he will do it. When I lay him down for nap I will offer him the pacifier and he will take it but within a few seconds he will put his head down spit out the pacifier and put his thumb in his mouth and go right to sleep. At 7 months you have a lot of things to go thru still such as bottle breaking or weaning of breast feeding (if you do either or both), weaning off formula on to milk, transitioning from crib to toddler bed and many more.
Bottom line if you have a happy,content and self soothing baby because she sucks her thumb let it be. There are a couple things to live by when you have kids or married 1)don't sweat the small stuff and 2)pick your battles. hope this helps P.S. I know "THUMB SUCKING" isn't ideal but it's what makes your daughter who she is. and thats all that matters. W.

I had a thumb sucking son. He started when he was a few months old and yeah I tried giving him pacifiers but did not work. I did not worry too much about it. the only thing is that my dentist told me that if he kept sucking his thumb later on in life, he would probably need braces. So, anyways I really never stopped him. He did suck his thumb till he was about 7. ofcourse he didnt do it at school after he turned 5 or 6, but at home when he would watch tv. He is now 11 and I remind him sometimes that he used to suck his thumb and he laughts and ofcourse he does not want me to tell his friends tha he did :)

I was a thumbsucker as a child, and my family tried everything...medicine that was in the form of nail polish, that was suppose to make my thumb bitter, punishment...rewards...you name they tried it...I didn't stop sucking my thumb until I was 5 years old...my Goddaughter was a thumbsucker also, and we just waited and eventually she quit on her own...good luck!!!