How do I stop DS (6 months) from sucking his thumb?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

I thought that it was a bonus that DS2 sucks his thumb as it soothes him and often gets him to sleep, but when I mentioned it to the HV today she said that ideally he shouldn't do it because it could affect the shape of his teeth when they come in. Also, he wee thumb is all red and dry skin and she is concerned that he could suck it red raw and it could possibly get infected.

He never took to a dummy at all when I tried that a few months ago. I'm trying to get him into his blankie as that really worked for his older brother (but he never sucked his thumb). Any other suggestions to get him to stop thumb sucking?

Thanks

I don't think you can at that age tbh
did your hv have any suggestions or does sge think you are a miracle worker

I don't think you will be able to. .

You really cant I'm afraid.If it is while he is up and about you can distract him but at bed time there is nothing you can do.In the oldsn days they used to put babies arms in splints to stop thumbsucking but I wouldnt recommend that!!

My dd is 7 and only the threat of her incoming big teeth growing wonky - and a plaster on her thumb every night is stopping it!!

You won't be able to stop your dc at 6 months old. If it's any consolation, I sucked my thumb regularly until I was at least 7 (and probably older ) and my teeth didn't stick out.

You can buy horrid tasting stuff for painting on nails to stop children biting their nails - that would work.

But why would you want to? As you said, it is lovely that they can self-soothe by sucking a thumb and I personally think the tooth issue is less important than it is made out to be. They are milk teeth, not permanent teeth. I am sure a dentist will come along and disagree with me shortly.

I sucked my thumb until I was a teenager and my teeth did not suffer. Ds2 sucked his thumb as a baby and stopped at a much younger age than me. He has lovely teeth.

both my brother and I were thumb-suckers and had terrible teeth, both of us had years at the orthodontist (free on the NHS thank goodness!)
But at 6 months I don't think there's much you can do to stop thumb-sucking. You could keep trying the dummy. My DD didn't like it at first but then took to it after several attempts and now I am glad to say, has never been a thumb-sucker like me.

Bloody hell this old chestnut.... my (far more qualified to talk about it than a health visitor) Dentist told me that thumb sucking (ds is a prolific thumb sucker) is only a possible problem when adult teeth come in.... And fwis both dh and siblings were thumb suckers and we all have lovely stright teeth with no interventions. When ds was about 5 months he got cracked thumbs and the HV said we had to stop him sukcing them...... Bloody waste of time, he didn't want the dummy (which now I am so so glad about as lots of friends have had dummy issues) and gloves/mits drove him wild. I ended up putting some lanisho (you know the stuff for cracked nipples) on his thumbs as I knew it was safe to suck and good at healing things- worked a treat and cleared it up in 4-5 days. Good luck

Thumb sucking is a problem for teeth, no question, for milk teeth as well as adult teeth. So is constant dummy use. But I would much rather my child have a dummy. All dentists agree that thumbs and dummies are not good for teeth.

Oh and no dummy issues here, the three of my four children who had one gave them up at two and gave them to FC, only one asked once for a dummy and was not upset when reminded FC had taken them.

But sucking a thumn is not the end of the world and a baby sleeping through with the aid of a thumb is a godsend, good for their development to get all that sleep too and good for Mummy.....