8 (nearly 9) and still thumb sucking!

[brandnewstepmum]

I've seen some previous discussions on this so now I know I'm not alone with this problem! My step-dd will be 9 in Jan & I would really like to help her stop sucking her thumb, otherwise, according to the dentist, she will be wearing a brace in a few years time. The thumb mostly goes along with an old toy bear (had it since she was 5 months old) which she likes to carry around and hold up to her mouth while she sucks. If we put the bear away she sucks less, but then tends to chew on things instead or put objects into her mouth - it's as if she hasn't gone through the normal process of learning about choking! Her birth mum left when she was 3 and rarely sees her, & I reckon that's why she has formed such an attachment to the bear. I guess worst case is that she gets the brace then won't be able to suck her thumb anyway, but I think that will be really upsetting for her. Most of the advice out there is directed at parents of toddlers & says that they will grow out of it when ready but I see from the post on here that isn't always the case The worst thing about this sort of problem at this age is that she has all the arguing skills of an 8 year old and so trying to reason with her about it ends up in a big upset with tears, which just want to make her suck more, of course Any ideas?

[SlartyBartFast]

i did give up, admits bravely, at 15, when on a school residential.

[exthumbsucker]

I was a thumb sucker till three years ago when i saw adult dummys on ebay they are made for people who have had strokes to help with there speach. Any way out of cuiosity I bought one it cured thumb sucking but now I am addicted to the dummy these are not for fancy dress they are the real thing but I am told they are better for the teeth being the orthodontic type.
I am thirty five.
I only use it around the house and in bed my husband did not like it to start with but don't mind so much now infact he bought me two new dummys last week. sorry if you think I am a weirdo but it takes all sorts.

[exthumbsucker]

I was a thumb sucker till three years ago when i saw adult dummys on ebay they are made for people who have had strokes to help with there speach. Any way out of cuiosity I bought one it cured thumb sucking but now I am addicted to the dummy these are not for fancy dress they are the real thing but I am told they are better for the teeth being the orthodontic type.
I am thirty five.
I only use it around the house and in bed my husband did not like it to start with but don't mind so much now infact he bought me two new dummys last week. sorry if you think I am a weirdo but it takes all sorts.

[lazurm]

OK, I probably have the record here. I'm 58 and am a thumb lover!

[Berrie]

[brandnewstepmum]

Yes, sorry, I've completely lost it! I'm off to boil the bear now , spent far too much time on here! Thanks for the laughs

[bella29]

Take it out of your mouth.

It can't grow in the dark

[Berrie]

I can't grow a fingernail very long on my sucking thumb.

[bella29]

Thumb, stepmum!!!!

Have you forgotten what we were talking about?

[brandnewstepmum]

Your right what is smaller?

[bella29]

Mmmm....my right is smaller but I am left handed....

Discuss...

[bella29]

I could type better if I took my fingers out my omuth....

[bella29]

[Phoenix]

One of my mums thumbs is weirdly slightly smaller that the other due to thumb sucking.

[bella29]

Who said that? [grin}

[brandnewstepmum]

Thanks you lot. Now I think it's hopeless

[bella29]

lol Berrie!

Have picture of you thumb sucking in front of class, and also chunglimum turning down booze & fags in favour of her thumb!

Right, will stop hijacking your thread now, stepmum. Best of luck!

[Berrie]

I'm a teacher though...have to watch myself sometimes!

[bella29]

You've got the record so far, Berrie - most impressive

Any advances on 37?

I would still do it but it just feels weird, ever since I had that plate thing. Have constantly got my fingers in my mouth, though, and I'm 41

[Berrie]

Me too and I'm 37.

[brandnewstepmum]

loupiots good point about taking the pressure off, I certainly don't want to pressure her, but if she was left to it, she would spend all her non-school time with the bear in her face & her thumb in her mouth, laying on the sofa! Her brothers want her to play with them & at 8 we have homework etc. to do as well as a couple of after school clubs that she has chosen, so it has to be stopped sometimes just to have a normal life! I guess the bear makes it a lot worse, but there's no chance she will ever give that up...

[brandnewstepmum]

bella29 - not preaching - that's fine, you're right, she has been through a lot in some ways, although she's got a lovely dad & fantastic grandparents & has had the best possible time without her mum around. She's surprisingly confident - the sucking behaviour would make more sense if she wasn't. I am thinking, as she's nearly 9, we should restrict it to bedtime & before breakfast. I really think it would help her general development to stop sucking & carrying the bear around during the daytime. Rewards maybe? I don't know!!!

[chunglimum]

I sucked my thumb until I was 25... I do believe that it is something to do with comfort and confidence - I was a very unconfident child and adolescent. My parents constantly nagged me but there was just nothing like the instant comfort/relaxation that it brought. Better than booze or fags for a teenager too!

I don't want to preach either but I wonder if it is worth trying to boost her self-esteem in some other way. I wish that someone had done that with me.

By the way, I did wear braces but then so did all the other girls in my family - we just have wonky teeth! Can't stay to chat now but I couldn't resist sticking my tuppence worth in! Good luck.

[bella29]

Have read that back to myself and it's shocking - I really didn't mean it come out like that. Sorry

All I meant was it's obviously a comfort thing and she is probably getting more benefit than harm from it, at the mo.

[loupiots]

I sucked two fingers until I was 11 and went to big school. Peer pressure was the only thing that worked on me. No problems with my teeth either - luck or genetics, I don't know, but they are straight as they can be....

My mother hated it, though, and it was so stressful constantly being told to take my fingers out of my mouth. I used to hide so I could do it in secret. It was just a comfort thing. Maybe just leave the subject alone and take the pressure off?

My ds does it (he's still a toddler, though) and I just leave him to it. His cousin also sucked his two fingers until he 4.5, then stopped after a visit to the dentist. Clearly something in the loupiot genes.