How Do I Get My 3 1/2 Year Old to Stop Sucking Her Thumb?

I was a thumb sucker until I was in elementary school, and even then, I sucked my thumb at night until I was 12 years old! Don't worry, I am a very healthy, happy adult these days. I would suggest getting her a special stuffed animal that she can hug for comfort. Also, wrapping it with band-aids is something my Mom did. I think it is one of those things that you have to just keep positively encouraging her not to do, but you can't force. It's a security thing...

Hi C.!
My daughter sucked her thumb until she was 5. We tried everything too. I talked to the doctor and she told me Katie would stop when she was ready. And that's what happened. Once in a blue moon, if she's really super tired, she might suck it; but typically not.
A co-worker of mine has a daughter who's 9 and she just stopped sucking her thumb last month. Her mom told her if she quit sucking her thumb, she could try out for basketball. Every day since the teacher has reported to her that her daughter has not sucked her thumb.
I know you can reason with a 3 1/2 yr old like that, and since your daughter is actually cutting herself as she does--try the stuff for nail biters. It comes in a liquid or a cream form and has an awful taste. And the taste lasts thru several hand washings. Or make her wear gloves/mittens/socks, whatever you can find on her hands 24/7. Since she won't want to suck on that stuff, she may just quit sucking all together.

Good Luck!

well you might not like my opinon, but i sucked mine until i was about 6 and my dad would put cheyanne pepper juice on my fingure tips and thumb. it was hot and i stopped not long after that.
so that is what was done for me. J.

I am sure that all of those "hot pepper on the thumb" theories work - but have you thought about what to do with the emotional part of thumb sucking??? Beleive it or not - I have a 6' 200 lb almost 16 year old that still sucks his thumb. He has learning disabilities (nothing major any more - he is doing amazing and is pretty much all caught up to his peers academically) but out of 4 children - Noah is the only one who can "self-soothe" He knows that he cannot do it in public - but it serves him well - when he feels stress. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had something that we could do - to releive our stress. I guess what I am trying to say is......in the realm of it all - is thumb sucking really a major problem that we need to burn our children's tongues to stop - or should we just let it run its course - some longer than others - as there are bigger battles ahead of all you moms !! Just to let you know - my thumb sucker is an amazing human being - friendly - popular - handsome - and generally stress free !!

My son sucked his thumb until he was 4 .Finally I took the advice of my step-dad at the time and started rubbing a hot pepper on thumbs during the day and he quit.Then I noticed he was doing it in his sleep also,but he soon grew out of that.You will be surprised that he never did put it in his eyes the way kids are always touching their eyes but he didn't.That was the only thing that worked with him.GOOD LUCK