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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Thumb-sucking. How can I discourage it?

25 replies

OKComputer · 30/12/2010 11:52

DD is 2.5 years. She still sucks her thumb when she's tired and when she picks up her little comfort rabbit (which I'm also wondering she's too old for - she's VERY attached to "Rabbit"?)

I'm keen to discourage the thumb-sucking now, as she's prone to a slight patch of eczema on her lip, which I believe are linked.

Does anyone have any hints or tips, please?

Thank you. :)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SlightlyTubbyHali · 30/12/2010 11:57

I have a thumb sucker too. She's 4.

The stuff I have read about it says not to try to discourage it until the child is older. Apparently if you try to discourage it earlier the child is more likely to go the other way. Wld be happy to hear if anyone has had different advice which has worked though!

I am hoping that now she is at school she will learn to confine the sucking to when she is falling asleep (fat chance).

mumof2terrors · 30/12/2010 12:25

Hi
I used this product on my DS when he was 18months, he was always lethargic and would constantly suck his thumb.

I got this product from superdrug its nail biting solution and tastes vile its a liquid on a sponge, in 3 days he stopped sucking his thumb. even if you wash their hands you can still taste it I would recommend it to everyone with a thumb sucker!!! hth

APixieInMyMulledWine · 30/12/2010 14:25

My brother sucks his thumb. He's 19yrs old.

Mum was told not to discourage it until he was older so she left it until he was 6. By which time it was well and truly a habit that couldn't be broken.

So if you get any advice on how to stop it, I would do it now.

Sorry, no other advice.

DreamTeamGirl · 30/12/2010 15:07

Oh why would you take away her rabbit?

Why would ANYONE take away something from a 2.5 year old that gives them comfort and does them no harm

Frog253 · 30/12/2010 15:19

Well I had a thumb sucker and I tried all sorts of things including the nail biting stuff in the end I did this....I said she could have her ears pierced at the beginning of the next summer holidays if I didn't see her suck her thumb again. It seems to have worked! The bribe started during the last summer holiday (age 6.5) and I've not seen her suck since. Wasn't terribly keen on her having earrings so young but it's the lesser of two evils imho.

Original poster

OKComputer · 30/12/2010 18:35

Thanks all. It looks like there's no exact science behind this then!

DreamTeamGirl, I won't take Rabbit away from her. I just wasn't sure if she's getting a bit old for a 'blanky' type thing. Maybe not though.

OP posts:

SlightlyTubbyHali · 30/12/2010 18:36

You're never too old for a blankie.
Well, maybe 30 would be a bit old.

MadamDeathstare · 30/12/2010 18:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DrSeuss · 30/12/2010 18:48

No idea but if you find out,PLEASE let me know!

SlightlyTubbyHali · 30/12/2010 19:00

Handaid looks expensive, but there's a thing called "Thumbguard" that we might give a try.

DD1 has just told me that she would like to stop sucking her thumb, and I don't think she really loves it, it is just that it has become such a strong habit I'm not sure she even knows what she is doing when she puts her thumb in her mouth. Anyway, we'll see if physically stopping her is enough and not too distressing.

MadamDeathstare · 30/12/2010 19:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

3beagles · 30/12/2010 19:11

It's ramdom isn't it? I sucked my thumb until I was 8 (with a special teddy). My teeth are fine. Good infact. However, I have 2 brothers. One didn't suck his thumb and had braces. The other did suck his thumb and had braces.

2.5 is Definitely not too old for special toy IMHO though.

Chumpalina · 30/12/2010 23:27

My (20ish month at the time)son's thumb was sore from being wet all the time. It started to cut and bleed so my MIL wrapped it up with plasters and bandages (it looked all cartoon-like, huge and funny). He got frustrated, tried to take bandages off but couldn't, then when we did remove the dressing around 5 days later, he never put his thumb back in his mouth. DS2 is 6 months and a sucker too, will be trying this method again when he's older!

Astrophe · 30/12/2010 23:38

My DD started sucking at age 2 (weird) and finally stopped at 6. We tried the nail varnish when she was about 4, and she sucked it while asleep and woke up extremely distressed and became near hysterical. I tasted some and understood - it really is terrible, and the taste stays for a long time. I wouldn't use it on such a small child again- maybe a older child with their consent.

In the end she really decided to stop - with our prompting (and bribing!), and agreed to have plasters on her thumbs - not to make the thumb big, but just to make it feel unpleasant to suck (we used the fabric plasters, with the rough texture). Stopping also coincided with a lessening of her dependency on her "coola" (blankie) - and that helped, because she used to fiddle with blankie and suck thumb at the same time. It wa sa coincidence though - we didn't take it away from her.

DontLetTinselDragOnTheFloor · 30/12/2010 23:46

DS1 wrecked his teeth and jaw line through thumb sucking. He is now nearly 12 and 4 years into £4k worth of orthodontic treatment. It was only when he had a brace fitted that meant he physically couldn't get his thumb in his mouth that he stopped. he will have to wear a brace at night until he stops growing to ensure his teeth remain straight. he does now have fabulous teeth, cheekbones and a wonderfully square jawline though so its been worth it.

We tried bribery, reminding him, plasters on his thumb and the nail biter stuff but, as I said, the only thing that worked was when he physically couldn't get his thumb inane more due to the brace.

Apart from that, the most important factor in stopping a thumbsucker is that they want to stop.

santadefiesgravity · 30/12/2010 23:53

DD finally stopped sucking her thumb this summer. She was almost 9. EVery teacher at school/nursery etc said gthey would break the habit. W tried distraction, uswing that nail polish stuff, nothing worked.

We finally gave in and bought a thumb guard. I had looked at them a couple of years before but balked as they are pretty expensive around £60. Big mistake. The thumb guard cured her in 2 weeks, unfortunatley her 2nd teeth had already come through and she will now need a brace. I wish I had bought it before she lost her 1set of teeth.

DreamTeamGirl · 31/12/2010 10:37

Oh I am glad OkComputer
I dont know why, I just came over all sad & judgy there- no offence intended

Megletitsnow · 31/12/2010 10:40

4yo DS still sucks his thumb. I think he will grown out of it when he starts school.

SlightlyTubbyHali · 31/12/2010 19:08

Santa - how was your DD with the thumb guard? I'm a bit concerned DD1 won't be able to get to sleep without sucking and we might have nightly hysterics... I know at 9 yours is probably a bit old for that sort of business, but did she just accept it and get on or was she stressed at all?

Meglet - we hoped that too, but no dice unfortunately.

loo1965 · 31/12/2010 19:15

well i have something that worked!!!!!

I have been trying to discourage my son since he was 2 and a half - he would put thumb in mouth as soon as we got in the car, when he was bored etc... it seemed to be always in his mouth.

We took him to the dentist age 3 for a routine check up - he didnt know the dentist but the dentist said to him he must not suck his thumb - he was really nice and told him not to do it .............. from that day on he has never sucked his thumb ( he does a little bit in bed but NONE in the day) i couldn't believe it...

its really worked for us - hes 3.5now

santadefiesgravity · 01/01/2011 00:23

She was fine. The teachers at school were a little worried at first when she turned up with it on but she managed fine and she quite enjoyed the attention she got. She did everything in it from ballet class to PE. The only thing she took it off for was recorder lessons at school.

She has a cushion with a tag that she uses to help get to sleep at well.

I would send it to you (it came with twice as many straps as we actually needed) but we got the larger size and it was a little big on her, it would be too big for a 4 year old and would probably come off.

SlightlyTubbyHali · 01/01/2011 11:28

Thanks Santa - good to know it went smoothly.
And kind of you to say you'd send it, but you're right, my 4 year old is quite weeny and will need one of the ones for 2-4 year olds I think.

DD1 will still have her blanket so that will help I guess. I'm going to have a word with her teacher re timing; this may be best left until the easter hols although in many ways I'd like to knock it on the head asap!

mathanxiety · 02/01/2011 01:32

Read this to her? Twas the last word in child psychology once upon a time.

ChippingIn · 02/01/2011 01:40

OKC - she will grow less dependant on both of them, I wouldn't worry for a good while.

For those of you with older children who want to stop, try to the SuperDrug nail polish remover pads in the screw top pot - they are VILE, it's certainly stops me putting my fingers near my face and lasts through a good few handwashed - even trying to get it off!! Just rub them over the nail as though you are removing polish.

mathanxiety · 02/01/2011 05:53

My neighbour used almond essence (alcohol free variety) on her DD who was 8 and it worked.

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