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Parenting

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Original poster

Thumb Sucking

21 replies

happystressedmum · 13/12/2010 15:01

My three year old is always sucking her thumb(s). I have recently taken her to dentist and they have advised that she needs to stop sucking her thumb because it is beginning to affect growth of teeth (teeth sticking out).

I would be grateful for any advice which will work!

Thank you

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Poogles · 13/12/2010 15:14

My 4.8 DS is a thumb sucker. It has become virtually permanent since he started school. Not sure why this is, probably tiredness which has become habit. he can't even walk down the road without sticking his thumb in. We are at a loss as to how to stop this so will be watching this thread with interest!!!

PositiveAttitude · 13/12/2010 15:27

When DD was younger I used the "Nail bite" stuff. I dipped her thumbs in during the day, just so that when she put her thumb in her mouth out of habit the taste made her aware and she took it out again. She was allowed to suck at night, but soon stopped that of her own accord after stopping the habit during the day.

I was surprised when it actually worked as I am a very old thumbsucker and assumed she would do it for life!

Poogles · 13/12/2010 15:35

Sounds like something I need to get - any ideas where to get it from?

Will then need to pin him down encourage him to let me put it on!!

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itsatiggerday · 13/12/2010 15:38

If you're really struggling, some friends of mine bought some moulded soft plastic wrap things to put over the thumbs when their son was told similar by the dentist and they couldn't get him to stop. It prevented him getting a seal on his thumb when he tried to suck - and I guess it tasted a bit funny - and really quickly he stopped bothering. They were expensive iirc though. Not sure what they're called but I guess your dentist should know!

Original poster

happystressedmum · 13/12/2010 16:41

Thank you for above suggestions. We will try nail bite initially although have to say I was a bit sceptical about it (and logistically how to get it on her thumbs as she is very head strong).

OP posts:

PositiveAttitude · 13/12/2010 18:34

You can buy it in Boots or superdrug. I used the one that is like a sponge, that you only need to dunk the thumb in really quickly. Don't get the one that has to be painted on like nail varnish, it just gets peeled of if youo can ever get them to have it on anyway.

Good luck!!

mumof2terrors · 13/12/2010 20:09

I used the nail biting solution from superdrug it tastes absolutely vile but my ds stopped sucking his thumb after just 2 days its brilliant!

NewDKmum · 13/12/2010 20:35

I used the nail varnish solution successfully with my DD1 (then 3) as well.

I have to admit that as my DD1 was very interested in fairies, I told her that it was probably the tooth fairy who had made her thumb taste vile to help her from getting sticky out teeth .

Good luck with it!

RatherBeOnTheMulledWine · 13/12/2010 20:43

We did It ALL and DD still sucks her thumb at night and she is 13. Hasn't affected her teeth although she has a brace because she had overcrowding.

goodmanners · 13/12/2010 20:45

we did the nail stuff back when my dd was 4, we have started again this week as her thumb sucking is gettign ridiculous - she is 8 - we have told her it is poison so she is a bit less reluctant to suck!

GruesomeShellChillingTortoise · 13/12/2010 20:50

My 6 Yr old DD2 drives me mad with her constant thumb sucking. Have tried the brush on Nail stuff which works for a little while but doesn't last all day while at school so she comes out of school with thumb in. I haven't seen one that is like a sponge. Is it the same stuff?
You can buy plastic thumb guards (google thumb guard) which look good but are expensive. Wouldn't work with my DD because she is at school and i don't want to single her out.
Her teeth are starting to stick out.

Original poster

happystressedmum · 14/12/2010 12:01

Thank you for all the above. I am going to go to superdrugs to see if I can get the sponge variety. As I said earlier I had thought re nail varnish that there is no way she would let me put varnish on as she is not a girly girl (she has long curly hair which she wont even let me put a clip in it and is constantly in her eyes but thats a battle for another day) so the sponge may be the solution. Her teeth are already sticking out (before dentist even raised it) but obviously are concerned.

We thought we were doing the right thing but not introducing dummies but I guess you can take dummies away but not a thumb. My DS used to suck a cellular blanket and only at night time so that was not a problem.

OP posts:

sparkleshine · 14/12/2010 15:15

My 12 month old sucks his thumb, has done since he was 3 mths and found it better than his dummy.
He's only got 6 teeth so far but obviously don't want them to grow funny. The problem is you just can't tell them at this age. Just have to hope he grows out of it

good luck with your DD.

jazzandh · 14/12/2010 16:46

My DS was quite keen to stop sucking his thumb at that age (except at night). So we promised him a treat if he could stop, and to help him remember put a plaster around his thumb during the day.(Micropore tape)

Teachers at school/nursery were told and assisted with helping him to remember/chaging plaster etc.

SkyBluePearl · 14/12/2010 22:36

only need to stop once the adult teeth come through - according to my dentist.

Poogles · 16/12/2010 13:49

Any luck with finding wehre the sponge one comes from? Think I might wrap it up with a special note from Santa...

LoveBeingADaddysGirl · 16/12/2010 14:07

Marking my place for when I decide to help dd stop.

marriednotmulled · 16/12/2010 15:02

My DS sucked his thumb until he was 7 or 8, the dentist talked him into stopping before his adult teeth came through (he only had 4 at that point).

He's almost 14 now and currently wearing a torturous looking brace with blocks in, as the thumb sucking inhibited his lower jaw, leaving him with a large overbite to correct. The brace is so bulky it restricts his speech and he has a bit of a lisp whilst wearing it

This is before the operation to remove the tooth growing diagonally above the rest and the fixed brace to straighten out the wonky teeth.

I wish I had known earlier how damaging that cute look was.

Gogopops · 16/12/2010 19:05

My DD is 14 and now has a brace which has stopped her being able to suck her thumb.

Please try to stop the habit with as much determination as you can. I thought my DD would somehow 'grow out of it' but it never happened. The older she got the more difficult it was for her to stop. I'm sure if she didn't have the brace she'd still be doing it.

By the way, I passed a woman driving a car the other day and she was sucking her thumb!! She must have been in her 30's. .

bessie26 · 16/12/2010 21:57

marking my place!

Someone on MN previously recommended this book, which I'm going to try when DD is a bit older.

PositiveAttitude · 17/12/2010 11:45

Poogles, I have bought it from superdrug.

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