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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

So, how does one go about dissuading a 3 year old from...

17 replies

Easywriter · 29/09/2007 20:11

Finger sucking.

After her 6 month check up our dentist said he could tell DD was a finger sucker. (He was right, I didn't offer the information). He also said that I had until she was about 6 to try to stop her doing so as that's when her adult teeth will start coming through. Any ideas on how exactly I could try to get her to do this?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Original poster

Easywriter · 29/09/2007 20:24

Bump!

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 29/09/2007 20:25

Wait till she is 5 then explain it to her and get her to agree to stop

a 3 year old will struggle to break a comfort habit like this but a motivated 5 year old will find it fairly easy, if she hasn't outgrown it already

Original poster

Easywriter · 29/09/2007 20:27

Thanks that's a good suggestion. I don't really want her to have to wear braces but would rather her wear braces than distress her over stopping the finger sucking.

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cluelessnchaos · 29/09/2007 20:28

Did the dentist say you should try to get her to stop, my SIL is a dentist and I asked her once re dummy sucking and she said as long as it wasnt way beyond normal timescale the teeth would recover.

FrannyandZooey · 29/09/2007 20:29

I think it would be a big issue if you tackle it now. My son was a big thumbsucker up until last year and now (4.5) I hardly ever see him suck his thumb, in fact I am not sure if he still does it. She may well outgrow it with no input on your part - I hope so!

Original poster

Easywriter · 29/09/2007 20:34

The dentist didn't say I should try, he did say "you've got till she's about 6 to try to get her to desist...". Make of that what you will.

I was a finger sucker too and my dad was REALLY against it, his attempts to stop me not only upset me but I think made me more determined than ever to continue.

I don't see this as an avenue I have to go down but obviously I would prefer her not to have to wear braces later.

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 29/09/2007 20:37

A friend has been told the same, except her dentist said her dd must stop as soon as she is 5

the jaw shape will be altered by the pressure of the fingers pushing on it, and the change will be permanent if the child continues sucking after 5 (so my friend explained it to me)

I did read a study of long term thumb sucking which stated that the only thing the hardcore thumbsuckers had in common was parents who tried to force them to stop at a young age! that ties in with what you have said easywriter.

I think a 5 year old can understand about wonky teeth and make a plan to give up with your help.

collision · 29/09/2007 20:39

or cover her fingers in NailBite!! (do they still make it?) It tastes disgusting and my Mum used to put it on my nails to stop me biting them!!

ItsPotatoesForYouMyLad · 29/09/2007 20:49

My ds (4.5) has almost given up thumb sucking during the day as he decided he wanted to before starting school - his decision!! BUT, he ended up in our bed last night, and I noticed (ok, he kept me awake with the noise) that he sucks like mad most of the night. How on earth do I stop him doing that then???

Original poster

Easywriter · 30/09/2007 09:15

Bump

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3sEnough · 30/09/2007 09:26

Hi - all 3 of mine used to suck their thumbs - whenever tired and whenever in bed - my ds and dd1 were 6 and 4 and went to the dentist - he told them (quite forcibly) about how horrid their teeth would look if they stuck out, about how NOT pretty my daughter would be, about how many more times they would have to come and see him again if they didn't stop sucking their thumbs NOW. After picking myself up from the floor in the corner over the dentist's speech we went home and that evening both children refused to suck them!!! That was last December - my ds's teeth were admittedly not bad but my dd1's were really starting to stick out (as are my dd2's) Within 3 weeks - I kid you not - they were straight again. I will get him to scare the living daylights out of dd2 when she's 4! Perhaps you could have a word with your dentist too and tell them not to be so nice for the 'thumb sucking speech'!!

NotADragonOfSoup · 30/09/2007 09:31

"I think a 5 year old can understand about wonky teeth and make a plan to give up with your help."

Not in my experience [sigh] DS1 is 8.5 and still sucks his thumb despite bribery, threats, nail biter stuff, explanations and, now, the start of £4000 of dental braces.

Yo can only try. I would calmly and repeatedly tell your DD to stop during the day so the message kind of worms its way in. Nothing forceful and leave her with the comfort of it at night. DS1 tends to do it when not occupied (eg watching TV etc.

NotADragonOfSoup · 30/09/2007 09:34

The dentist doing DS1s braces recommends training them to keep their mouths shut BTW. This helps the jaws grow correctly and the teeth will come in straight and with enough room. It seems that if you can sort this out before they're 6 or so they should continue to grow fine and any thumb damage will correct itself.

This same dentist said to me at the end of the first consultation "you used to suck your thumb didn't you?". He was absolutely right, I guess I stoopped at about 8 ro 9 or so, I can't remember, but he could tell this my looking at the shape of my jaw/chin without looking in my mouth (my teeth are fine as it happens, a little overcrowded but fine with no braces required)

ChasingSquirrels · 30/09/2007 09:37

at 14 I was told I would need a brace if I didn't stop thumb sucking. Did I stop? No, but I didn't go back to the dentist for 16 years.

law3 · 30/09/2007 10:32

my ds sucked his thumb and had a blanket until he was about 5, once he started 'big boy' school, we threw the blanket away (with his permission) and the thumb sucking stopped without the blanket.

sarahsails · 01/10/2007 09:11

What did he mean 'training them to keep their mouths shut'?

NotADragonOfSoup · 01/10/2007 10:16

Teeth together, none of that slack-jawed gormless look they all have when watching TV etc

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