Help - thumb sucking damage...

[MichaelaS]

My 15mo son sucks his thumb a lot. I noticed this morning that his thumb was red and had two little patches of broken skin which were whiteish. I suspect he accidentally bit himself and has been sucking and made it worse.

I need your advice....

• do I need to take him to the doctor? I'm worried it might be infected, but it's hard to tell unless he stops sucking it for long enough for it to dry off.
• should I cover it in antiseptic cream or is this just a waste of time if he'll lick it off?
• any tips for discouraging him from sucking it whilst it heals?

Thanks mumsnetters!

I thnk most determined thumb suckers have a callous/blister between their first and second joint on the outside of the thumb. Put your own thumb in your mouth and you'll immediately see why - it rubs on bottom teeth as they suck.

Keep his hands as clean as you normally would. Whitish skin is probably dead skin that will come off in time as with any blister.

Keep an eye on it but otherwise I wouldn't worry.

I have a thumb-sucking DS (now 3.8) and has had this a few times - usually when younger.

I took him to pharmacist. Their advice was to clean hands & possibly use cream. See doctor if area becomes red and hot and it is spreading towards wrist etc (we've never got to that stage)

Have had no success in stopping sucking. He does it a bit less since he started talking (chatterbox), but it's still thumb in when tired,worried or asleep.

thanks for your replies

i've been to boots and got some antiseptic cream and some sticky plaster to cover his thumb with - hopefully that will discourage sucking until it's healed up a bit. i'll wash it more frequently than normal too.

Best advice from mumsnet as ever!