How to stop 8 yr old sucking fingers?

[Doza]

Just that really, she's been doing it since she could get them in her mouth. She mostly does it when tired; but also watching TV, listening to stories etc. She won't try the anti-nail biting stuff and gets very upset if I try to get her to use it, but does acknowledge that she has to stop as it will damage her teeth. Any ideas?

None I'm afraid, they have to want to. When dc2 gave up sucking her thumb after strong words from the orthodontist we taped socks onto her hands at night. Very tricky for her as she also used to rub/stroke her cuddly to get to sleep.

I gave my finger sucker a dummy as a baby - she finally gave up her dummies when she turned 8 I think only because they become too small to give much comfort around that age - the same way that dc can't breastfeed forever they loose part of the ability to do it.

I would tell her when she is doing it and make her take them out, give her something to fiddle with.

I gave up sucking my thumb age 7 when the dentist told me I had to.

You can pay to have a mouth guard fitted by an orthodontist - that was what got my dh on board - he didn't want to have to pay £200!

The good news is that dd went from the orthodontist saying she would need a brace for her cross bite to it improving massively to the extent there is so little work to be done it would only be because she chose to have it done. I think she stopped sucking her thumb around 9.

I agree with those that say they have to want to. All three of mine have been thumb suckers. DD gave up at 6 when her adult front teeth started coming through because the dentist told her if she didn't stop they'd stick out like Spongebob's!

She used the nail paint stuff and was very determined. Both DSs didn't give up until age 7 and it seemed harder for them to get to the point where the wanted to. One of them tried a couple of times before he actually got there, just got too upset at bedtime and we had to give up and wait a while. For them the appearance thing was less relevant but they responded well to bribery and the feeling that it had become 'babyish' and didn't want their friends to know they did it.

They didn't use the nail varnish, instead we got some foul tasting cohesive bandage that we could wrap around their thumbs (it's meant for dogs so they don't lick their dressings). That was good because they felt in control - if they couldn't cope they could remove it themselves and wash the taste off easily. Their teeth did stick out badly and now a few months later it is hardly noticeable.

It is a hard thing to stop as it gives so much comfort and soothing. I think the sucking is why all of mine were such good sleepers. I didn't want to try to force them to stop - would have felt a bit of a hypocrite as I sucked my thumb until the age of 14.

So summing up I suppose clear understanding of why it isn't good, what the consequences are likely to be for her later. Empathy and encouragement because it is so hard. Practical help with not sucking when she's tired and forgets. Reward when she has stopped for a set amount of time (we did 3 months).

Thanks everyone for your replies. I actually agree with all of you who have said she needs to do it herself: I don't nag her about it but unfortunately her nanna is constantly asking hr to take them out of her mouth. I'll have a wee chat and ask her to come and chat to me when she is ready to ask for help. Cheers

Personally I would restrict it to bedtime as best you can by reminding her she's sucking her fingers when watching TV etc. Does she ever suck her fingers at school or in front of her friends?

if you find a method of reminding the child they are doing it when they do suck let me know.
DS has been " giving up" since he was 6. now aged 8. He has mostly stopped at night. Elastoplast on thumbs over night worked for that. But day time sucking has proved MUCH harder to kick.
Currently on loss of a mini figure when caught sucking whilst trying to earn a mini fig for x number of days with out sucking. His idea for a motivator.

I just meant literally saying "fingers out" when you see them. I take it you've tried;

a) something tactile to fiddle with (not his willy
b) elastic band around his wrist that you twang

With both of these it would still have to be with their agreement that they want to give up and be told.

My almost 9 year old sucked two of her fingers regularly until fairly recently. She just stopped herself, in stages. Obviously when she started school she didn't do at all while at school and then the more stuff she did like homework, reading, playing on a tablet etc, it was awkward to put her fingers in her mouth. She was still sucking them to get to sleep but about 6 months ago I realised she wasn't doing it any more & I have now realised that I actually haven't seen her to it in ages.

I saw this recently. If dd doesn't stop soon by herself I will be trying it.

UNlike wiggles dd, my ds sucked more when he started school. No one telling him not too i guess. he would suck and listen to the teacher ( and then zone out).

DH used to do this until he was 6. He was taken to the dentist and the dentist had a chat with him and told him why it was important he stopped and he said it worked. He made an effort not to because of what the dentist had said to him. My DD is 2 and sucks her two fingers. We are just going to leave it for now and see if she grows out of it herself.