8 Year Old STILL Sucking Thumb!

My daughter now is 9yrs old. I was having trouble with her sucking her thumb, only in the car, sleeping in bed & in the house. I tried everything, hot sauce etc. Finally took her to the orthodonist and had to put in *retainer* this solved the problem. Hopefully this may work for you.

I too tried all the "tried and true" ways to stop my son from sucking his thumb. All to no avail. He didn't suck it at school, but always in front of the TV or before going to bed. He didn't care if anyone knew either. I finally left him alone and it stopped when he was ready which was around 11 or 12 years old. Once he stopped, he never did it again. I guess he needed it for comfort. My best advice would be to stop commenting on it and let him be. He will stop when he's ready and you won't waste precious time upset about it. I always worried that he wouldn't ever stop, but he did just like everyone told me he would.

I have to admit I sucked my thumb until I was 12. It was a soothing thing for me. My family also tried everything, but I didn't stop until I was ready. Good luck! ~S.

My friends had an effective and clever solution for their daughter's thumb-sucking: whenever she wanted to suck her thumb, she had to go to her room. Not as a punishment, but they explained that if she needed to suck her thumb, she was probably tired and needed a little rest. After a couple of months, she stopped, because it was pretty boring in her room. They made it clear that it was NOT A PUNISHMENT (thumb sucking is not a negative behaviour) but rather that it was something to do alone for self-comfort. It's kind of like my 2 1/2 year old who's a toenail biter. I told her that's only for in the bathtub when her toes are clean, but since the bath is so much fun, she doesn't even bother to do it. For your son, it might be so dull and boring in his room (if you and his sibling leave him alone) that he'll get what he needs from a moment or two of downtime/thumbsucking by himself in his room, and then come out and join you again.
Good luck.
K. in EC

My niece did the same thing up til 7 or 8. The two items that worked best for her were putting a sock/mitten on her hand during the times that were appropriate (sleeping, watching TV) and getting a "bitenator" (I think that's what it's called), a retainer with spikes in the top to detour them from sucking their thumb. You can get them at an orthodotist's office. Hope this is helpful.

I remember my brother being a thumb sucker until 8 years old. My mom too tried everything, but to no avail. My brother would suck his thumb until it was raw, cracked & bleeding. When it healed, it was back in his mouth! The only thing that cured it was a trip to the orthodontist where he received a palet expander. Basically it is a metal contraption that went across the roof of the mouth. It was there to correct the problem of his protruding teeth & caved roof (the first step in his years of braces), but also, it didn't allow him to get any suction if he tried to suck his thumb. By the time the palet expander came out, he was over the thumb sucking. My advice - go see a dentist.

Thumb sucking is a self soothing act that children sometimes do to comfort themselves. In order to change the behavior it is important not focus on the thumbs sucking as much as working on finding new ways to help him feel more secure and help to re-channel his anxious energy. Placing a device on his thumb or in his mouth will only make his anxiety worsen and he may develop a different behavior to try and self sooth that in the end may actually be more maladaptive.
My suggestion to you is to give himself something else he can do with his hands such as putting him in an after school art class, allowing him to play an age appropriate video game for while after school,having him use his hands in the kitchen helping you make dinner,anything that will help him re-channel his energy and build confidence. As for bedtime,help him re-create a ritual that he enjoys before going to sleep (reading a great book series or comic collection he might enjoy for example) listening to some of his CD's before bed while drawing, things like that.
Also with every transition in behavior, patience is needed and him knowing that you will continue to love him just the way he is.
Hope you find this helpful,
-M. R

I had the same problem with my daughter, so when I took her to the doctor one day regarding a cold, I said to the doctor, "oh, doctor, I've been telling my daughter that if she doesn't stop sucking her thumb, that you will need to perform an operation on her thumb from all the sucking" (as I said all this, I winked at the doctor, and she caught on and replied "yes, that is true. "You shouldn't suck your thumb anymore or you will get an operation, so don't suck your thumb anymore." My daughter, 6 years old at the time, looked at the doctor and she nodded and said "o.k." From that day forward, she never sucked her thumb again! Not even once! She was afraid of an operation and the blood thing, that she quit cold turkey. I know it was a fib, but It scared her enough to stop. This worked!! Good luck.

An orthodontist could probably help you with this. Thumb-sucking is a habit that has to be treated when a kid gets braces, so they are used to dealing with it. One of the kids I babysat as a teen went to my orthodontist to help him with thumb-sucking, and he was about eight or nine. The doctor talked to him about what it could do to his teeth, helped him understand that it was a nervous habit, and set up an incentive program to retrain him. It worked in about a month--I think because the parents weren't even really involved, it was the kid taking care of the problem on his own.

Dear C.,

Regarding your child sucking their thumb. I have had 4 children. 2 of my children had sucked their thumb until they were out of High School... Yes, you heard right till after their senior year. I had tried to do everything that I knew how to stop it. Nothing worked. When they are ready to stop. They will do it on their own when they were older. I just gave up because I felt like it wasn't to big of an issue to cause fighting between us. I would much rather having them to suck their thumb then causing pain in the family. In due time when they are to embarrassed and look silly in front of their fiends, Believe me they won't do it any longer. After all... Wouldn't they look silly sucking their thumb on their wedding night???? You just need to be patient, and give them comfort. Someday you will wish they would still be home and doing their old habits. The Best to You and your Family always,
PS. You had better save up for braces someday...D. W.

My mom put hot sauce on my thumbs, and that worked.

M. *~

Does he use a blanket or toy while sucking his thumb? My daughter is 7 and she uses a blanket while sucking her thumb. I keep it from her during the day, but give it to her at night. I know I shouldn't give it to her at night either, but she won't go to sleep without it. Maybe they'll grow out of it??? I finally did - I sucked my thumb until I was 9!!

Have you tried the book "David Decides about Thumbsucking?" My dentist recommended it for our 3 year old.....we're not pushing it yet, but the book seems to be a great motivator to help the kid decide for themselves. Also, has some great tips in the back of the book for parents. We got ours at our local library. Hang in there....I can easily see my kid doing it for a long time too...he seems addicted to it! I just spoke with a friend who told me she sucked her thumb until the 6th grade and it was a gradual process of giving it up. Even though that seems really old, when I look at her now, she's a great person and you would never know. :)

I also sucked my thumb until I was 8. I decided to stop on my own, after having sleepovers, although I'm not sure I was all that embarassed. And I did need braces (although I would have needed them anyway). So...I'm not sure what to tell you, other than I did decide to stop on my own, and I'm not sure what my parents could have done to make me stop sooner...
I distinctly remember discovering that I could fall asleep without my thumb if I kept my hand under my pillow where I couldn't get at it...

Hi C.!

Awwwww....poor thing. He still loves to suck! I've heard about this "need" lasting a long time in some children. My son loved his pacifier until he was 4!!! My sister sucked her thumb until the end of 3rd grade! Some kids just need that security that only the sucking provides.

What my mom started, and I used for my son, was to only allow it in their bedroom. When you see your son sucking his thumb, just tell him to please go into his room if he needs to do that, because it's a sign of needing to "rest". It will taper off soon enough, especially because of his age. He will have more important things to do eventually, and he won't want to take the time to go to his room.

By doing it this way, you can feel like your "allowing it", and not taking it away entirely. He will stop himself, and you won't feel "guilty" about making him stop, even if you could stop it :o) But, you have to make sure you tell him to go to his room each and every time he does it. Even when he gets in the car after school. Tell him "honey, we're almost home, you need to wait until you get into your bedroom".....if he has self-control all day at school, then he can wait 5 more minutes. This is a "baby step" way to success.

I wouldn't make him feel ashamed of it, because he already does, I guarantee it! He just feels secure enough (as he should) in front of his family, and THAT should tell you what kind of enivronment you've create in your home...a very "safe" and loving one for your children.

Be patient, it will pass :o)

N.

My nephew had the same problem...The only solution for him(after trying everything else) ended up being.....Little spikes glued to the interior of the upper teeth by a dentist/orthodontist. He had them in for about 6 months, then when the habit was gone...taken out and no more sucking the thumb.

Hi C.,

My 10 year old had the same problem. He just, over the coarse of the last year stopped. I have to think it is due to the stuff I paint on his nails to help him stop bitting them. He hates the taste and doesn't put his fingers anywhere near his mouth. It is called "Bite No More", it is for nail biters but since the nail is on the main part of the finger/thumb where they do tend to suck, it might help. It also makes the nail shinny! So he may not want to answer any questions as to why his nails are shinny to friends. Not sure if this info helps, but good luck. You are in my prayers.

Blessings,

L.

I just have to say that I sucked my thumb until I was 12 years old. I was a popular, but insecure kid. I was also pushed by my family to excel and perform (piano). I also hid it from people and at school. The reason I quit was that a callus formed from my bottom teeth resting on top of my thumb. The kids noticed and started asking what it was. I remember clearly the huge decision to stop the thumb. I'm not sure what it all means but I know it was comforting. My teeth turned out fine, by the way.

hi there- SO i sucked my thumb until i was 10 years old! my parents tried everything and i stopped on my own the day i got my first retainer. i think my parents expected i'd need full orthodontics, but in the end i only had a jaw widener in the back for a few months and a retainer before and after and it did the job. i know that now invisiline retainers are really common and much less expensive than other othodontics, so maybe you could have one made for him and he'd stop. I think once my thumb didnt feel the same in my mouth because of the retainer, i didn't want it any more. i already knew i was too old so it was raelly a physical instinct.

good luck.

ilana

I sucked my thumb at least till 6th grade. I loved it. It felt sooooo good! I stopped when I broke my thumb in a ski accident and had a cast on it for 6 weeks. I guess that broke the habit because I tried it after the cast was off, and it just never was the same. I have four kids now and had always told my self that if my kids wanted to, I wouldn't stop them from sucking their own thumbs. None of them ever wanted to though. Anyway - I don't have any teeth problems, never needed braces. The only down side to thumb sucking, was the shaming my family used to try to get me to stop.

Hi C.,

I use to be a pediatric dental assistant for a number of years. I would recommend going to a pediatric dentist (general dentist may have info on this, but a pediatric dentist sees cases like yours on a more regular basis). There is an appliance they can make that goes into your sons mouth and it will prevent him from sucking. The habit needs to stop if its messing up the front teeth. Someday when he's ready for braces they won't put them on him if he still has the thumb habit (won't make since to try and correct something if the habit is present).
I'm sorry I don't remember the appliance name, but the dentist will.
Good luck!

A little about me:

39 year old stay at home mom with a 6 and 9 year old boys.

Others have commented on the orthodontist's treatment, but another issue is the need for oral sensory stimulation either to calm himself, to alert himself (i.e., when he's bored) or to help him focus. Kids will substitute other oral stimulation activities if this is the case. When my son doesn't suck his thumb at school, he chews on his pencil or the corner of his jacket. If your son is substituting, it may be oral stimulation he is seeking. Chewing gum stops my 7 year old at school and at home. The teacher was fine with the gum because she knew he needed it. The other thing is a vibrating stick which is much better than sucking his thumb. Your occupational therapist at school can tell you where to get one. She got one for us for school and for home.

Try sending him to bed no books no TV no toys everytime you see it in his mouth "opps you must be tired its nap time" it worked for my sister

My son was exactly the same. His dentist put a device in his mouth that has "rollers", that do not enable him to get suction. It put a stop to the thumb sucking, and I opted to leave it in there for about eight months just to be sure! The other option, if they find a way around the roller, is one that has a pin on it, and gives them a jab in the thumb. I was thankful we didn't have to go that far, but I think I would have done it if need be. He is in braces now, and the orthodontist said it would be a waste of time and money to put the braces on if he was still sucking his thumb.
Good luck.

I didn't suck my thumb, but my finger. I didn't stop with braces, but when I had headgear, there was no more room for my finger to fit. I think I was in jr. high. I wouldn't stress about it too much, but one of the appliances that limits the amount of room in his mouth might be a good idea.

My son will be five, the dentist said we HAVE to stop this now. There is a device on One Step Ahead that cost $80.00, we have opted for a thumb gaurd that I found on the internet that was $15.00 including shipping. It should be here this week. It comes in 3 colors. I am hoping for the best, it is called Thumbbusters. You can google them for their site. I hope everything works out for both of us.
H.

One Step Ahead has a thumb guard. Here is the website. I have not tried it.

www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=5894&a...

Maybe it will work : ). Both of my girls suck their thumbs but they are still little. I may be in the same situation some day. Hope this is helpful.

Although my son does not suck his thumb, I sucked my own thumb until I was about eight years old ... only at home, much like your son. What finally ended up working for me was when my parents started talking about arranging sleepovers (which sounded so fun!) with my friends but then explaining to me how my friends might make fun of me if they saw me sucking my thumb (not fun!). So that strategy, combined with a bribe for a toy I really wanted, worked and I had my first sleepover complete with no thumb sucking. Good luck!

Dear C.,
My daughter NEVER liked a pacifier until I took her bottle away. My daughter NEVER sucked her thumb until I took her binky away. I didn't do anything too early for her....always at the age appropriate times. But, I think it is a comfort thing. She sucked her thumb until she was 12 years old. She would have her left thumb in her mouth and then rub her left elbow with her right hand. It was her way of comforting herself. She did not do it openly or in front of anyone in public. And I knew that when she was tired and pulled her blankets up over her head exactly what she was doing. My husband and I had many arguments about it and he threatened to do all kinds of things to her if she wouldn't stop. As a result, she just needed to comfort herself even more. It's documented that babies suck their thumbs even in the womb. I think that if you are too harsh about it, they will grow up and comfort themselves in way less healthy ways. Drugs or God only knows what. If it's just their own little personal thing that they do for comfort and it doesn't affect anything or anybody else, I say....leave it alone. Don't encourage it...but don't punish for self-comforting. Think about everything adults do to self-comfort and how that is somehow acceptable. Your son will give up sucking his thumb on his terms and when he just doesn't need it anymore. He won't be sucking his thumb at 20 years old, so don't worry about it so much. Praise him for not doing it at school. Praise him for the control that he does exhibit. Don't focus so much on when he actually DOES suck his thumb. Don't worry so much about his teeth because they can be straightened if need be. The whole drama around him sucking his thumb will eventually be a far harder thing to straighten out. Emotionally...for him. He will give it up. My daughter is 21, gorgeous, a full time student, very sociable and intelligent.....sucking her thumb did not ruin her life.

Ok, I can totally relate to this. I sucked my thumb until I was 9 years old. I can remember everyone trying to get me to quit with bribs, painting yucky stuff on my thumb, etc. Everyone would always bother me by trying to get me to stop. But then one day, I went fishing with my grandfather's friend and while we sat there in the early morning, we chatted about stuff. He then proceded to "talk" to me about my thumb sucking. This is what he said. "Now E., you are such a beautiful child, can you tell me why you always want to hide behind your thumb? I feel so bad for you... You are going to have a really difficult time in life. You are so pretty but with all that thumb sucking, your teeth are going to start pushing out and all the kids will end up making fun of you. Wish there was something I could do for you but it's your choice to stop." I swear, after that conversation I thought twice about sticking my thumb in my mouth. He was so sincere and worried about me and my future. I didn't want to be ugly and made fun of so I just stopped.
Sometimes just a normal heartfelt conversation will go a long way without having to brib or pester a child. I know it worked for me but then again all children are different. Hope this helped! E.

I know what you mean my friends daughter is 13 yrs and now only does it at bed time in her sleep. But she tried everything hot sauce. sour stuff it worked for like a min even tellin her if she didn't stop it would fall off also it would grow and get really heavy nothing worked tell she started therpy now every once in a while you will catch it in her mouth after she fell asleep other then that she stoped. You might want to try that they found out that she was only doing it out of bordom and she wanted attenion .hope this may help.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he won't stop until HE wants to. Just like adults whith habits. My younger brother didn't stop sucking his thumb until he broke it during basketball practice at the age of 12! I am sure your son knows how you feel about his thumb sucking and it sounds like you have tried all the usual methods. Unfortunatly, putting too much emphasis and pressure on him will not make him stop and could have negative consequences. Just be patient and remind him once in a while about how h8is thumb sucking makes you feel/effects his teeth etc. . . Good luck!

An orthodontist can place a habit reminder (it's a fixed appliance glued to the upper teeth) that won't leave much room in there for a thumb. It has little wires that he would feel with his thumb is the thumb were to go in. At the same time, since his protrusion was caused by the thumb sucking, the orthodontist can start to bring his front teeth back into alignment so there isn't as much protrusion to reduce the risk of fracture (since at his age he is probably pretty active). Good luck!

Hi C.!
I was your son as a child. I sucked my thumb until I was 8 (almost 9). It was very soothing and comforting to me to suck my thumb and play with my blanket. And I remember my older brothers and sister giving me a hard time about it, as well as my dad trying to get me to stop. My mom however, just let it be. And guess what? I stopped when I felt like I no longer needed it. I am pretty sure my mom came up with some options, but mostly, I just remember deciding that I was done. Maybe a special stuffed animal could help, but really, it's just his way of relaxing and he's doing it at home becuase he's safe to be him at home. But, I will tell you this: the more people tried to make me feel bad for it, the more I felt like I couldn't stop. (I actually remember trying once...) Also, my teeth were never affected- it is an old wives tale. If your son's teeth are starting to protrude, maybe it's just because his teeth are wired to protrude. I wish you the best of luck in helping your son.

Hi C.-
I sucked my thumb until I was 10. I was headed off for summer camp & I didn't want to suck my thumb there, so I decided to stop. I had a blanket too & decided to cut it up into small pieces, so at I could take that with me. But I chose when to stop all on my own. I don't remember my parents offering any bribes or anything- I was just ready when I was ready & that was 10.

HTH & Good luck!

Hi C., I read 32 responses and none of them suggested this. Ask him if he is ready to quit? Explained to him most 8 year olds do not do this and all the reasons why. If he is ready he will be intrested in the ideas of how to stop. Read him all the scary things people have suggested. Then offer him his own will power. If he is willing put socks on his hands at night and keep a pair in the car. Gloves or mittens work too. With my daughter at age 5 she was willing. She even asked me to take her silky blanket. After one week we were done. Good Luck and make sure it is a positive time to grow up experience.

Hi sorry to hear about your concern. Maybe the child is worried about something. I know when my children are nervous they stick their fingers in their mouth. Even at age 7 yrs. Just a thought.
Good Luck!:)

Hi C.,
My daugher's thumb was in her mouth in one of the sonogram images we rcvd. I was amazed. When she was born this behavior was of no great surprise to us. What did surprise us was how advanced in age this behavior can go and how compelling a habit it can be. Like you stated, nothing we tried to deter this behavior seemed to work until...We told her that she could get a pet hamster or a pet bird if she stopped. It worked. She had to stop before the acquisition however, we would make trips to view potential pets. She chose a bird, named it Digit, lol, and Digi is a thriving member of our family today. Today my daughter is 12 yrs. old and this took place approx. 4 yrs. ago. I wish I could remember how long she had to stop before buying Digi, 2-4 weeks maybe. In that time when it was evident that she was making progress we acquired the needed supplies. I don't know if you have tried this yet or if it would fit into your lifestyle. Digit ended up being a nipper despite numerous attempts to work with her/him, I would recommend finding a hand-raised bird if going the bird route. I hope this is of some help. Best-of-luck to you. BTW-being told that she wouldn't be a teenager sucking her thumb was not of much comfort to us and it was commonly said.

Our daughter sucked her thumb (though not in public) till she passed away at the young age of 25. We tried almost everything that has been recommended on all the replies, including the retainer device with prongs, but nothing helped. Actually she was managed to break the device.
She had braces but managed to push her teeth back a bit after the braces came off.

Her 2 1/2 year old son is still very dependent on his pacifier. I am trying to break him from that but so far he is not ready to let go. At this point I am not worried about it. He will let go when he is ready.

I also have a niece who is nearing her 40's, has three kids of her own and still sucks her thumb. Again, not in public.

My advice is don't stress about it. He will stop when he is ready. If he is like my niece or my daughter, don't worry, they are not going to suck their thumb in public. Just be glad he is healthy and you can enjoy him.

J.

I sucked my thumb until I was 9 (I'm nearly 50 now). I could wash off the bad tasting stuff when I was 4. I didn't suck it at school either (I think. I don't remember getting teased) but at home I didn't care about my older brother and sister teasing me. They'd say "Does that thumb taste good?" and I'd say "Yes, it does." I stopped because my oldest brother was coming home from the Air Force after having been gone for 4 years and my mother told me that I wouldn't want him to see me still sucking my thumb. So I stopped. I guess what I'm saying is that at some point your son will stop too.

I personally sucked my thumb until I was about 12 or 13 while I was at home. I have an over bite but nothing too bad. My parents and grandparents tried everything to get me (and my brother and my cousins) to stop sucking our fingers. When he is ready he will stop. I am not sure how to stop it. He needs the comfort I would assume.

I had a student last year (7 year old) who sucked his fingers... his parents used the stuff you use to keep dogs and cats from scratching the furniture and it worked like a charm.

What finally broke my daughter of the habit while awake was someone she sat next to on a plane ride explaining that all the germs from everything she touched were going in her mouth, stomach, etc. She had lots of stomach aches too so this got her attention. The lady talked of the grossness of all this and it made her think. Still did it in her sleep but that lessened over time. (I'd pull from her mouth at night and remind her if she woke up.) Incentive too was sleep overs - not to get caught. Good luck.

Cayenne pepper on the thumb, let it sit for a bit and it will not suck off immediately.

You may have already heard this a number of times, but I just wanted to share a personal insight with you.
I myself sucked my thumb until I was about 8 years old. My parents, mostly my dad, tried all the typical anti-thumb sucking tricks :) which made me feel horrible and like I was being a "bad child." I look back and think, wow, that really messed with me. None of it worked anyhow. I did not give up sucking my thumb until I was ready. I only sucked it at night to fall asleep and every once in a while in front of the tv, etc, and I did have to replace the behavior with another one. To fall asleep I started playing my favorite cd (my mom thought of that) and also having a glass of water by the bed. Eventually I started being able to fall asleep without my thumb.
I know you must feel obligated to "break" him of it (I sympathize because I'm currently thinking about weaning my 2 year old off the paci) but I also am thinking 'why do we pressure our kids so much?" Is it because of what others think? That it makes us feel inadequate??
I guess my thought for you and myself and all the other moms out there dealing with this is, if our kiddos still need it because they need the comfort, as long as it's in private shouldn't we go ahead and let THEM outgrow it?
I hope this helps you feel less pressure and better about the natural course of things. (Wish I had a magic cure for ya :)

Good luck with whatever you do!
God bless,
K.

My sister used tabasco sauce, bandaids, another layer of tabasco sauce, and then gloves to stop sucking her thumb. But by that time she only sucked at night and wanted to quit. She just needed a little help controlling the erg when she was not fully in control.