Any advice on stopping thumb sucking

[Matronic6]

Have a 3 year old who is an avid thumb sucker. The problem is it is starting to affect her teeth and jaw. A dentist has advised we get her to stop and have been attempting to do it gently and distracting her from it.

We tried the nail polish to stop nail biting to no avail. We have tried rewards and encouraged her to be a big girl. We put a plaster on to remind her not too but she just pulls them off.

DH wants to get a thumb guard but I worry that is too harsh or that she might just pull it off! Has anyone had success with them?

Any advice welcome!

Following as my 2yo is very attached to his thumb!

I was a thumb sucker into my 20s. I don't think you can "make" a child stop. I don't think kids carry on just out of habit. It is because they are using it to meet a need.

Thumb sucking serves a purpose. It is incredibly calming and soothing. I would work on thinking of other ways to soothe her and teach her to soothe herself. If she is getting that need met in other ways, the thumb sucking will die away naturally.

You can't. I was a thumb sucker which is why I gave my baby a dummy the second he seemed inclined to want to suck to soothe.

He gave it up himself just before he turned 3 with no input from us.

Best you can do is keep her distracted with lots of activities and clubs. If she's inclined to do it when she's relaxing, like watching telly, try to have less telly and get her involved in something with you. If she sucks her thumb to sleep, take her thumb out of her mouth once she's drifted off.

That's all you can do.