dd2 has a sore thumb what can I put on it?

[Linnet]

Dd2 is a thumbsucker, she's sucked her thumb since she found it at 9 weeks.

she's now 21 months and in the past week her thumb has become really sore and red and the skin is peeling a little. She's too little to be bribed not to suck her thumb although we are trying to distract her when we catch her with her thumb in her mouth during the day and it's looking really painful today and all dried out.

Does anyone have any ideas of a cream or something I can put on it to help it get better?

I thought about vaseline but won't that taste nasty when she next puts her thumb in her mouth? I also thought about savlon but again probably not a good idea if she puts her thumb in her mouth with that on it.

Has anybody elses child suffered like this and what did you find helped?

I would think vaseline is the least harmful thing to put on it. Would she let you lather it in vaseline and where a glove for a couple of hours a day to give it a chance to heal?
Can you encourage her to suck the other one?

thanks Hattie, she doesn't seem to have any interest in her other thumb unfortunately. And she hates gloves, well she only has mittens at the moment but she just pulls them off as soon as they're put on, which of course just adds to the problem if we're going outside.

I wonder if I could put that stuff on it that you can use on cracked nipples when your breastfeeding, can't remember what it's called begins with a K I think. Might nip over to the chemist in the supermarket tomorrow and ask them about that one.

That sounds like a good idea.

I guess the other way to look at it, is its obviously not painful for her because she woudn't continue to suck it. But still not nice for her.

good luck x

I sucked my thumb till I was 11 ,my sister still does. If your determined aint nothing going to stop it.
I would consider a large well fitted fabric plaster as a temporary detterrant.Totally ruins the experience for the sucker.
good luck!