8 year old can't get to sleep any more after stopping thumb sucking

[wafflesandcream]

My 8year old DD cannot get to sleep in the evenings after she stopped sucking her thumb about 8 months ago. She used to fall asleep within a minute or two of going to bed at around 7.30pm but since she stopped sucking her thumb she cannot get to sleep until 9.30, sometimes she is still awake at almost 11pm! For the first few months we didn't make a big deal of it as we thought she'd adjust and we've since tried relaxing CDs in her room, massage, etc. She is very tired and irritable all the time as she still wakes at 7am or earlier. Has anyone got any ideas/tips please?

Dd1 (6) is supposed to have given up her thumb, but it is really hard. Apparently the last thing DS does each night when he has finished reading, goes for a wee, (washes hands?) pulls DDs thumb out of her mouth.

I only found out recently he has been doing this for months.

I finally av up my thumb when I got braces as the airway tracks hurt m thumb. My DSis (48) has never given hers up!

Good luck.

Railway tracks not airway!

I finally gave up my thumb when I stopped biting my nails and the long nail made it unconfortable - about 10/11. But it still popped back in there sometimes. And I still had my pickies - soft toys I picked the fluff off.

It must be hard for your dd. Was it her choice to stop? Did she stop gradually or slowly? Did she just suck her thumb or did she stroke her nose as well?

Has she got something soft to hold near her face, or to stroke? Sorry if you've gone down this route already.

Thaks Mikkii and DownyEmerald - stopping sucking the thumb was the easy bit, it's just getting to sleep now that's the problem. She used to stroke her nose with her finger while sucking her thumb and used a blanket which she still has. I'm not sure what else to do though.

Go back a step? Suck thumb again while doing something else as well - stroking her blanket or something. Then stop thumb again?

It's a tricky one - sorry I'm no expert - just an ex thumb-sucker!

Yes might try the thumb again (if she'll suck it still!) and see if we can work on a substitute before dropping the thumb.

I have this problem at the minute with my 8 year old daughter. I could have written your question exactly to the letter. Wondering if you ever got a solution. We have been battling this since she stopped in the summer.

Tagging onto this old post also! Shook1989, I see you have battled with this recently and we are going through the same thing since Christmas with DS, 6yo.
It was his choice to stop sucking his fingers (although we had suggested he should many times over the years!), but now I wish he'd go back! Just like the OP he'd be out in a blink before at 7.30 and now he's up for hours saying he can't get to sleep.

Have any of you found anything that works for your little ones? How I miss the evenings, instead of endless reading stories and relaxation methods in the most boring monotone voice, the only one feeling sleepy is me!
TIA