Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Has anyone used a thumbguard? Need to stop my 2.5yr old DD from sucking her thumb

12 replies

Missymoomum · 05/05/2011 09:52

The title says it all really. My DD is 2.5 and when we took her to the dentist recently as soon as she walked in, he immediately asked me if she sucked her thumb as her front teeth are being pushed forward. He has told me she must stop which is easier said than done!!! She sucks it in the day when tired at at night to go to sleep and she really sucks on it too, you can hear her making a sucky noise as she does it. The trouble is too is that she is starting to suck it more and more so i need to break the habit asap.

I've looked at the stuff you paint on nails but it says it's not suitable for under 7's and plasters don't work. As well as the cost, i'm just worried about what other people will think of her having to wear the thing out and about, does it affect their ability to do activities and play etc? Not sure how she'll get on at preschool either.

Would love to hear people's views.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

southpacificfish · 05/05/2011 10:14

The most important thing to know is that thumb sucking with milk teeth is not permanently detrimental. So long as she has stopped sucking her thumb before her big teeth come in there shouldn't be too much of a problem - or at least the effect is minimal and anything that needs doing to her teeth as she grows up is more likely to be because of the size and shape of her jaw which is not affected by thumb sucking with milk teeth. Indeed, thumb sucking (as well as breast feeding is actually very helpful as it helps develop the depth and shape of the upper soft palate).

I am not a dentist, however, I am in the middle of a very long dental treatment with an amazing holistic dentist and have had children during my treatment (one is the same age as yours and also sucks her thumb) and he offers much advice and reassurance. The trouble is that many very competent dentists are actually still behind the times and are still just looking at teeth on their own rather than the teeth, jaw and relationship to the rest of the body.

I don't know about thumb guards as I haven't crossed that bridge yet with my own child but I am thinking I will address the issue in another year (at 3.5) when she is more able to understand what is going on and busier with other things and less likely to need daytime sleep and the comfort of her thumb.

Hope some of the above helps.

maxpower · 05/05/2011 10:18

I'd just like to add that I sucked my thumb until I was at least 7 or 8 (so some of my adult teeth had come through) and I don't have sticky out teeth. My DD is amost 5 and sucks her thumb and her teeth are fine as well.

elphabadefiesgravity · 05/05/2011 10:19

Yes, I used one last year with dd. She was 8 years old and stopped sucking her thumb within 2 weeks.

I looked into them when she was 6 and still had her milk teeth but thought they were too expensive. We tried yukky nail polish, incentives, everything. Every year at school at the start of the year the new teachr said they would manage to break the habit, by the end of the year they admitted defeat.

Unfortunately we left it too late as her 2nd teeth had come through and the dentist has said she will need a brace.

How I wish we had tried earlier.

I would send you dd's old one but they come in different sizes and it would be too big for a 2 year old.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

lukewarmmama · 05/05/2011 15:13

I don't know the answer to your question, but watching with interest as my dds both suck their thumbs, and you can definitely see dd1s teeth have been pushed out and in.

They are only 3.5 and 2 though, so I wasn't thinking it was something to think about just yet? At 2.5 I would still think they need the comfort?

WillbeanChariot · 05/05/2011 15:15

My mum used to be told this about me. I sucked my thumb for years. My teeth are fine. But I do have a weak thumbnail. Weird

Bramshott · 05/05/2011 15:30

My friend's DD has one and it doesn't seem to impede her doing anything else, and none of the other DC have even mentioned it (they're just 4). She has however, started sucking her fingers ! I think you might be on a hiding to nothing trying to get them to stop before they are old enough to understand WHY they need to stop TBH. I am working on it with DD1, aged 8, but luckily her teeth are fine - just the luck of the draw I guess.

Original poster

Missymoomum · 10/05/2011 13:42

Thank you for all your replies. Sorry i haven't replied to you all sooner. I must admit my overwhelming feeling is that it's too soon for her to stop as it is such a comfort to her and it makes me feel really sad to take this away from her. DH on the other hand is adamant that she must stop and i'm struggling to make him see my point of view. His main concern is her teeth so southpacificfish it was interesting to read what you wrote and i also do wonder if part of the 'sticky-out-ness' is due to the shape of her jaw as i think she make have inherited my jaw shape. Interestingly enough maxpower and WillbeanChariot my 4yr old DS sucks his thumb and his teeth don't appear to be affected but he also has a weak thumb nail!!

OP posts:

Seona1973 · 10/05/2011 19:58

Is this helpful at all?

lukewarmmama · 11/05/2011 08:58

Thanks Seona - that's a really helpful article

crystalglasses · 11/05/2011 09:15

I sucked my thumb until I was about six and didn't need a brace when my adult teeth came in. I think I stopped because of peer pressure. However I think your dc should be allowed to suck her thumb for the time being as it's a comforter to her, but just start telling her, without nagging, that she won't need to do it 'when she's a big girl' so that it's instilled in her that it is not a lifelong habit.

As far as sticky out teeth are concerned, most of my dds friends had braces when they were in their early teens, and unlike my day, it is perfecxtly acceptable to them to have a row of metal for a few years.

If your dh is adamant that she stop you could try introducing a comfort blanket, although I remember that nothing was more comforting than my own thumb. Maybe you could distract her from doing it during the daytime and take it out of her mouth once she's asleep at night. Be prepared for lots of tears and tantrums.

Original poster

Missymoomum · 11/05/2011 09:59

Yes i agree, that is a helpful article, thanks Seona. I will show it to my DH.

Thanks crystalglasses, i've tried the comfort blanket already as she pulls her sleeve up around her hand to rub against her lip while she sucks her thumb and i was trying to get her to stop doing that as she's pulling all her clothes out of shape! Your advice and suggesting she'll have to stop when she gets bigger is a good idea. Just have to convince my DH now............

OP posts:

amyboo · 11/05/2011 13:03

I sucked my thumb till I was 13. I had a brace to correct the damage to my teeth when I was 15 (it was on for under 12 months), and now I have better teeth than most of my friends who didn't suck their thumbs!

Seriously, I know that you want your DD to have lovely teeth, but I would have been so upset if my parents tried to stop me sucking my thumb. It was my comfort for so many years, and in the end it really didn't cause many problems. Why not leave her to it for a while? She'll soon stop when she starts getting teased for it - that's what stopped me....

Flip