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Sucking thumbs

56 replies

edgarcat · 11/05/2003 19:30

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Gilli · 17/07/2003 20:02

Hey guys, here's my experience FWIW...My eldest son was a constant thumb sucker until the age of 9, and nothing we tried over the years helped, including painting his nails with 'Stop', which he just got used to the taste of! We were told he would grow out of it at school, and many do, but he didn't. Taking comforters away didn't help, either, as thumb sucking at night is automatic, and reinforces the habit. In the end, the dentist made us a small brace. It wasn't expensive as it had no orthodontic purpose: it was just to alter the space in his mouth at night so that it wasn't comfortable to put the thumb in. He only had to wear the brace for a few days and he was cured completely: the dentist had advised keeping it in for a few weeks to reinforce the break, but we never bothered as it was obvious that it had done the job. When I consider how much I worried about it beforehand, I cannot recommend the solution highly enough if the habit persists.

Batters · 18/07/2003 11:32

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mollipops · 22/07/2003 13:16

Lol Batters, think I might be doing that too, with my dd! She is 6 and a half and still sucks at night (she used to suck all thru the night and quite often thru the day as well up until about a year ago, esp if tired or upset). It happens while she is asleep, so its more of a subconscious thing. She falling asleep with it in less and less.

FWIW, we found that nagging/reminding her only made her more determined to do it. Its like a form of rebellion, or a power struggle. Nobody likes being told they can't do something! All that has worked so far was when she decided herself to stop. Her adult teeth are starting to erupt and she is worried they will come out like "bunny teeth". Together we have made her a mantra of sorts "I've got the power! I can do it! I don't need my thumb anymore!" which she sings with much gusto and it is written next to her bed. This way she feels she is the one in control of her thumb as well as the decision to stop - I think before she always felt the thumb had a life of its own and it was making its way to her mouth by itself! HTH.

SoupDragon · 22/07/2003 13:50

Batters. I'm sure my DS1 will stop when he's good and ready. I'm not going down the route of forcing him into it yet, I just remind him whenever I see him sucking. I'm, sure that eventually the message will sink in.

I suspect he's in for several years of orthodontic treatment, thumb sucking or not!

badjelly · 22/07/2003 14:14

Angelmother

I had socks put on my hands at night and got moaned at all day, every day!

aloha · 22/07/2003 14:46

Angelmother, who said it causes serious damage? I don't believe that is true.

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