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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

stopping thumb sucking

13 replies

smileymam · 05/04/2011 13:44

my daughter is 6 1\2 and still sucks her thumb, more so when shes tired, any ideas on how to help her stop?

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Chundle · 05/04/2011 16:04

I had nightmare getting my 6 yr old to stop - dentist said had ruined her teeth. I had to put plasters on her thumbs day and night for months to break the habit and she now wears socks on her hands at night to stop her from doing it as she still does it at night

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 05/04/2011 16:38

I have tried absolutely everything and my DD is the same age. Someone has said the best method is rubbing chilli on the thumb but I can't bring myself to do this! Of course it would be a mild one not a ghost chilli!

southernbelle77 · 06/04/2011 21:17

No solutions but DD is the same age and I want a solution too!
She would just take the plasters or socks off I think - in her sleep even if not when awake!
Has anyone tried the nailing biting cream as a solution? Was mentioned to me so might give it a go!

Original poster

smileymam · 06/04/2011 21:32

thanks everyone, have tried putting a glove on her hand for bed, but she was distrught and took it off, she sucks it so much sometimes she leaves blisters on her thumb! think i,m going to have to try the nail biting stuff, i always end up feeling sorry for her for making her stop beacause it gives her so much comfort, but shes gonna end up buck toothed if i dont make her stop!

OP posts:

arabrab · 06/04/2011 21:45

It's interesting noting the comments here about thumb sucking,as one of my grandchildren sucks her thumb. I think that it's better to allow a dummy as a soother,as at least then you can take it away when you judge the time is right, nobody agreed with me and as one parent had a very strong dislike of dummies,one was not given. Now what happens? as she is sucking her thumb all the time,and as people say,it's very difficult to break the habit,plus the teeth may be affected. Anything to suggest that's worked in this situation for anybody?

marriednotdead · 06/04/2011 21:52

Would she listen to your dentist?

Mine persuaded DS to stop when he was about 8, by explaining in a very matter of fact way what damage he was doing to his teeth. It took a few nights of pulling his thumb out after he'd fallen asleep but he got there eventually. It was already too late though

He's 14 now and a few months into orthodontic treatment that will take more than 2 years to complete. It will take at least 6 months to correct the overbite caused by him stunting the growth of his lower jaw with his thumb.

It's correctable, but I wish he'd had a dummy instead. Much easier to get shot of!

Good luck

faverolles · 06/04/2011 21:55

I always get confused at these threads, as my dentist (and the dentist I had before him) says they see more problems with children who use/used dummies rather than suck their thumbs, as they hold them in their mouths differently.
The only people I know who have teeth problems sucked dummies or fingers/thumbs at an odd angle, which gradually pushed the teeth out.
I was told that thumbs are the correct shape to fit into the mouth.
My ds sucks his thumb, and the dentist has said this is fine.
I might start a thread sometime to see if there are any mning dentists about!

watfordmummy · 06/04/2011 21:59

Ok as a 44 yr old who still sucks her thumb, albiet not as often as I used to, I have to say that my teeth are not bucked, I have no disfigurment of my thumb, and I can talk correctly.

Sucking your thumb is comforting, and can bring calm to my life. I have never smoked (no need if I have my thumb), and although I can understand people's views on the matter, I think it is important that my truth of the matter is heard.

HTH x

UptoapointLordCopper · 06/04/2011 22:05

My DS1 who is 7 still sucks his thumb when he's upset. He has requested help to stop. I went to the chemist who recommended Stop'n'grow. It sort of works... He certainly does it a lot less now, and would ask for it if he feels he needs help. I think what I should really do is to be persistent for a whole week rather than let him decide ...

arabrab · 06/04/2011 22:11

Thanks for the good wishes! She is only five at the moment but several people have told me about their own experiences, that I'm prob a bit anxious maybe too soon? The other view about the angle thumb is sucked at, is interesting any dentists out there with a view?

annapolly · 06/04/2011 23:11

My DB is 53 and still sucks his thumb and twiddles his hair when tired.

mamacorner · 07/04/2011 08:19

Both my older 2 dc's were thumb suckers, we tried everything to get them to stop. we didn't manage it until they were both around 9 when the reward of a considerable amount was offered if they permanentky stopped...so for my DS a nintendo ds if he stopped for 3 months. (he had to stay stopped otherwise it would have been taken away).

It wa the only thing that worked, incidentally my DD is having thumbsucking related orthodontic work over the next two years, but my DS has perfect teeth . So I guess it works both ways. For my baby DD however, I have offered a dummy, if I can avoid the issue of prolonged thumb sucking, then I will.

natellie · 07/04/2011 10:48

both my dc suck their thumbs they are 9 and 10 they only really do that when they are tired i sucked my thumb til i was 12 and had a brace my teeth were fine both my dcs teeth are fine. my sister who sucked fingers when small and no where near as much as i did does have sticky out teeth but the orthodontist said to my mum that a childs fingers or thumb are not strong enough to move a childs teeth. (that was however a very very long time ago) doesn't worry me if they suck their thumbs if it gives them comfort.

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