How to stop 6 year old fingersucking

[tiramisualwaystiramisu]

Just that really, my 6 year old has sucked their two middle fingers since about 5 months old. Much less now, but usually when they are bored or tired (they do it to get themselves to sleep). It makes a horrible noise, makes the skin on those fingers and hand sore and drives DH and I batty, as it's usually accompanied by using the other hand to pick their nose .

I know they don't do it at school anymore - it got mentioned at parents evening in Reception, but never since and they don't do it in front of other people unless TV is on or they are really tired.

We've tried, giving something to hold, explanations about effect on teeth, trying to get them to come up with ways to stop, but nothing. I (mostly) ask them to take their fingers out calmly, but DH often ends up shouting "fingers!" which is not ideal. I will mention it when we're driving in the car (common trigger), fingers go out and a minute later, they are back in again.

Apart from it being gross, I do worry it might affect teeth - we've currently got one wobbly tooth so I know adult teeth are on the way. Every so often we try to crack down on it, but it never sticks. Possibly because they do it every night to fall asleep and I've no idea how to break that association.

Any tips?

Really not sure on this one sorry. My DN did it from quite early abs was advised to swap for a dummy straightaway by their dentist on the assumption that a dummy can be thrown away when they get older.

That won't spork now though. Have you thought about asking their Dentist?

We did try a dummy as a baby but they kept trying to wedge it in sideways, I worried about choking and it never worked to calm them anyway.

There was a comment from the dentist appointment at about 3 years old - visit was not going well so fingers went in mouth - but all the dentist said was that it wasn't a good thing, but then admitted her 4 year old still sucked her thumb! I will raise it at our next appointment though, thank you

My DD does this. Dentist said it's fine as they slowly grow out of it as your DC seems to be doing (not doing it at school any more etc). I would stop making it a thing immediately to be honest, and they will eventually stop doing it altogether.

I did this as a kid....although my other hand fiddled with my ear not my nose. I stopped naturally and my teeth are fine.

oh and shouting and explanations are pointless ....I just grew out of it naturally

Thank you @linerforlife and @redfernstation - that does make me feel better. The angle that the fingers go in mean at some point they won't physically be able to do it (I've tried and my fingers don't fit that way in my mouth!). Just need to overcome the fact it makes a horrible sound which sets DH and I on edge. I will have a word with him and suggest we just ignore it

My Dd did this , we painted stuff on her fingers which stops you biting your nails ! She stopped straight away but maybe that she was ready to stop any way.

Just ignore it.

I did this (ring and middle fingers).

I grew out of it and my teeth are fine.

I did have a gap between my front teeth which I later pushed together.

Just leave the child alone. Nothing you can do to stop it anyway.

My dc did this a lot until age 4. We told her that it if she carried on it would affect her teeth and the dentist would be upset. That provided the motivation. We then used an unpleasant tasting nail polish (with her permission as she then wanted to stop). After about a week it was all over.

I did this as a child for years - index and middle finger.. Then one day I got my finger shut in the car door and hospital bandaged it together with my middle finger.

So I couldn't any more.

Google: thumbsie
They have one for fingers aswell.

Google "scratchsleeves" . Might help to break it at bedtime.
Breaking his fingers seems a little extreme 😉 (joke!)