Thumbsucker in pain, can I put cream on it?

[chirpygirl]

My DD (13 months) sucks her thumb, not a lot, but normally when she is sleepy or upset. Lately she must have been sucking very hard as it is bright red and the skin is almost raw. If this was anywhere else on her body I might put Bepanthen or Savlon on but am worried about her just eating it off....any suggestions?

She will not accept a dummy or anything other than her thumb either.

My son had this problem a while ago and we took him to the Dr and he said to keep it clean - we had to bandage it up.

Luckily he took to sucking the other thumb.

Sorry not much help really.

hmm, might point it out to HV tomorrow when we go and see her in that case.
I wasn't sure if it was a normal thumbsucking thing but it looks lke it really hurts her, poor little thing!

Is it swollen at all? Is there any yellow or greeness at all? If so I would suggest a trip to GP as could be infected and skin infections can be quite nasty.

Our GP advised vasoline to try and stop it drying out and getting quite so raw.

i put some germoline on ds, and told him to stop sucking it. He did... for 2 weeks, now it's gone back in!

DD1 had this when she was about 2 and a bit. I explained to her that all the sucking was making it sore, maybe more difficult with a 13 mo. I got a cotton glove (chemists or orthopedic shop) and cut the thumb off (made two so one could be washed and drying while other was on)leaving two long strips hanging down, then i covered her thumb with it and tied it round her wrist. It gave it time to get better...You might be able to find ready made finger shields.

It's not swollen and I don't think the skin is broken, but it looks like it is only a matter of time before it cracks. Is vaseline ok if she ingest it?!

Tigi, she is only 13 months, I tried saying no to her today when she tried to suck it but she just got really confused and started crying!

oh. Mine is 5 now! His skin had gone paper thin though. He kept on crying! It's ok now - I think it's the cold weather though. What about cream, and then 'stop n grow' to stop her putting it in?

Malaleche, that's a really good idea! Shall point it out to HV tomorrow to check I'm not overreasting but might do that during the day just to put her off sucking it for a bit...

According to my GP vaseline is fine...didn't use it for long tho as wekept forgetting to put it on and eventually gave up.

lansinoh (and presumable kamlinosan or any other nipple cream) is a v good idea & obviously safe for consumption...I shall have to remember that one...

Lansinoh, that's genius thinking! Of course it is safe[duh emoticon]...shall have a hunt around for some, need to buy some more anyway!

thanks!

Okay, so update on this, I have antibiotic cream for her thumb as it is so cracked and borken it is getting gross, and the dr said, keep it open to the air and don't let her suck on it!!!!
WTF!!!
How am I supposed to do that?!

Bought her a dummy, distracts her but not really as she's never had one before, tried putting a plaster on it, no luck, she veeeeery carefully peeled it off and stuck it to the telly can't find and cotton gloves anywhere to try malaleche's idea (tried 3 chemists, boots and tesco!) so am stuck to following her around and pullig it out of her mouth...Oh the joys!

Do they make straight jackets in 12-18m?????

I suppose I could always rig one up out of DH's shirts....but how would she eat? She's BLWed, dammit!!