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How to stop a toddler thumb sucking?

1 reply

Givemestrengthwtaf · 14/08/2018 16:46

Hi I was hoping if anyone had any tips to stop a toddler sucking their thumb? My DD is 2.5 and I'm forever telling her to stop sucking her thumb! Does anyone have any successful stories on how to stop a child sucking their thumb?

TIA

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
nbee84 · 14/08/2018 16:56

As a nanny I've looked after a few thumb suckers over the years. Do lots of things to keep their hands busy, one to one doing puzzles, reading books etc and when the thumb goes in gently remove it without saying snything and carry on with the activity (you'll end up doing it a lot Grin) Get them used to doing some activities where they don't need their thumb. I've introduced rules - no thumb at the breakfast table, no thumbs in the garden and if caught with a thumb in their mouth laugh about catching them, whilst reminding them of the rule - try not to make it a negative thing. For one child plasters on his thumbs that we drew faces on worked. For another the only thing that worked was a thumb guard (fingers in his case) worn day and night for 6 weeks did the trick - a few tears and tricky bed times but we didn't give in and it broke the habit.

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