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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give my 7yr old a dummy

51 replies

sezamcgregor · 16/08/2014 19:39

To try to get him to stop sucking his thumb?

He sucks his thumb when "he's tired" which can be quite a lot.

I've total been and bought some dummies and have told him to use one of those instead and then when he Jo longer feels a need to suck his thumb, the idea is to get rid of the dummies.

It's only going to be when we're at home as I have some time off work coming up.

His thumb gets sore in winter and I think that 7 is old enough to stop doing it - but it isn't like I can cut it off!

Any wise words MNers?

OP posts:
Capitola · 16/08/2014 19:45

To me, it seems like you're replacing one bad habit with another, slightly worse one.

There is something called a thumb guard, which may help.

My friend used it on her ds who was 5, after the dentist gave her a lecture.

Ericaequites · 16/08/2014 19:47

My sister sucked her thumb until she took up smoking. Have you tried chew tubes, fiddle toys, or rewards for not sucking?

Original poster
sezamcgregor · 16/08/2014 19:48

But if he gets out of the habit of thumb sucking, I can then bin the dummies - voila!

... Or not.... I'll have a look at the thumb guards....

OP posts:
dottytablecloth · 16/08/2014 19:50

I'd much rather see a 7 year old sucking their thumb than sucking a dummy!

catkind · 16/08/2014 19:52

I've been wondering the same about my 5 yr old. Googling thumb guard but I find it hard to imagine any device we can get on him that he can't get off himself.

LizzieMint · 16/08/2014 19:52

I got a thumb guard called thumbsie for my 7 year old. We got a sticker chart with it, you write in what the reward is going to be - we went with packs of frozen stickers if she did 7 nights without taking it off (she would only really do it at night). Had a couple of nights of struggling to get to sleep but she was determined to get her stickers! After 3 weeks we stopped using it and she hasn't sucked her thumb since.

BringMeSunshine2014 · 16/08/2014 19:53

Surely if you bin the dummy, he'll just go back to his thumb?

The old fashioned method of making it taste revolting is one option.

The other is to leave him be. It's his thumb that gets sore in winter - he'll learn. Tell him you are happy to help him stop when he's ready, he just needs to tell you he wants some help.

DefiniteMaybe · 16/08/2014 19:53

I saw something once where a child was persuaded to not suck their thumb by using soft make uo brushes to stroke their face.
I can't remember the ins and outs of it, I wasn't really paying attention because I've not had a thumb sucker, but maybe googling it would help.

cungryhatterpillar · 16/08/2014 19:56

Tcp on both thumbs. Safe and disgusting.

TheBuskersDog · 16/08/2014 19:57

I used to get told off by the dentist for sucking my thumb, told it would make my teeth stick out- it didn't and I've actually had comments about how straight my teeth are (no braces or anything).

I don't see the problem as long as it is only at appropriate times, I don't like to see older children sucking their thumb in class for example, but sitting at home watching telly or going to sleep is fine to me.

4littleones · 16/08/2014 19:58

YABU. Giving a 7 year old a dummy is ridiculous

thegreylady · 16/08/2014 20:00

My dgs is 51/2 and sucks his thumb. Mainly when tired but at other times too. He asked to have that bitter stuff on his thumb, he wants to stop, but he liked the taste! My dd doesn't know what to try next.

Littlefish · 16/08/2014 20:02

Paint his thumbnail with that stop and grow stuff. It tastes disgusting and will help him break the habit.

dottytablecloth · 16/08/2014 20:08

I sucked my thumb at night until I was 26 and have perfectly straight teeth! Grin

Tommy · 16/08/2014 20:14

DS2 sucks his thumb (he's 11 next week) when he's really tired. He broke his arm a couple of years ago and couldn't suck his thumb for 6 weeks - I thought the habit would have been broken but it wasn't..... Not sure what you can do really!!

Seriouslyffs · 16/08/2014 20:16

Let him suck it. It really doesn't matter.

LadyLuck10 · 16/08/2014 20:20

Dsil asked me to speak to dn when he was about 6 and doing this in school. I told him if he wants to do it is fine in private but kids might laugh at him in school. Seems to have worked.

Original poster
sezamcgregor · 16/08/2014 20:24

He has a friend at school that does it so peer pressure isn't an issue.

I will look at the thumb guard.

Thanks for replies

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/08/2014 20:25

Well every time we took the dummies away from my youngest then she started sucking her thumb - grrrrr. She gave the dummies up voluntarily around 7/8 when they don't actually have the ability to suck a nipple anymore to give the comfort whereas they do thumbs as they are so much larger!

Mine dds were a dummy addict, followed by 2 thumb addicts, followed by a finger sucker that we converted onto the dummy. Dummies far easier to get rid of IME.

firefly78 · 16/08/2014 20:26

can someone put a link up for the thumb guard please?

LindyHemming · 16/08/2014 20:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Capitola · 16/08/2014 20:31

Thumbguard

ILovePud · 16/08/2014 20:35

We bought my DS a thumbuster (glove thing) which he wore for a few weeks at night and that broke the habit for him. There's loads of similar products to this and the thumb guard on e-bay. Hope it helps.

Jaffacakesareyummy · 16/08/2014 20:35

Leave him alone! As long as he is happy, well and thriving it just doesn't matter. He will soon stop anyway.

ODearMe · 16/08/2014 20:38

Yabu