How do I stop nose scratching with thumb sucking?!

[mersmam]

My DS (23 months) sucks his thumb (not a lot really, just when he's tired). Over the past couple of weeks he has started to scratch the top of his nose with his fingernail while he's doing it and now has lots of nasty red patches there. We've tried filing his nails right down (!) but he is still managing to scratch and make it more red and scratched, particularly at night.
We've told him not to do it but being the age he is he just says 'OK' and ignores us!

Any ideas on how we can stop it?

blob of vaseline on his nose might make it a bit less scratchy?

Have tried a bit of vaseline now and then - but it might be a good idea to make it a permanent thing on his nose for a while - thanks Disenchanted!

what about a mitt with the thumb cut off?

That's a good idea too - although he might just pull it off Definitely worth a try though...

Have just put some thumbless gloves on him and at the moment he loves them Thanks Dis!

Fab