How can I stop my two year old sucking his thumb??

[skatergirl]

He has just turned two and loves his right thumb but it is so sore and I think his nail will fall off soon if we don't stop him. Any advice anyone please??

[skatergirl]

Anyone??

[Baffy]

bumping for you

my sister still sucks her thumb at 15 so I have no useful advice!

sounds bit nasty with his nail though

I take it using that awful tasting anti-nail biting stuff that you paint on is a bit evil for a 2 year old...

[Baffy]

how about putting a plaster or small bandage on his thumb for a little while? tell him his thumb is a bit poorly and needs to get better. he won't then be able to suck it.
and then maybe might slowly get used to drifting off without it?

perhaps give him dummy/bottle as replacement comfort for now? or comfort blanket?

[Baffy]

or new favourite teddy/distraction...
let him pick something??

[NAB3]

IME you can't. I stopped sucking my thumb when I was 23 and my son is 6 and still sucks his. It will come in time.

[EricL]

I would use that nail paint you can get from the chemists.

It is 100% safe. It is made to taste so bitter that as soon as the digit goes in the mouth absentmindedly - it comes straight out!

You will prob find he will switch to fingers or the other hand - but it is worth a try.

[MatNanPlus]

You can put a plaster on it but i jst learnt to get used to it and continued sucking it.

How long has he been sucking it? could the nail problem be a bacterial or fungal infection?