My daughter has been sucking her thumb since she was 2 months. Now that she is fully-potty trained (during the day) I want to start getting her to stop sucking her thumb. She usually does it when she is watching TV, in the car, or going to sleep. So far I have just been telling her to take her thumb out of her mouth, and she does, until I am not looking again. I know she is still a little girl so I hate to do anything harsh like put nasty-tasting stuff on her thumb, or is that okay? I have figured that it would be easier to get her to stop as a 2 year old rather than when she is 5 or 6. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thank you.
She is only 2 and maybe that is what she does to soothe herself, but at the same time it can affect her down the line. I would suggest if it's really a big deal for you to make her stop to put something on her thumb (they have stuff in stores) that has a not so good taste to it and I guarantee that she will stop sucking her thumg... Good Luck
T.
My take on this is why bother? My first son was a MAJOR thumb sucker, but like your daughter, he only did it when he was tired/not feeling well, etc. At age 2, comfort objects still mean a whole lot, so why would you want to take that from her? My son stopped without being forced when he was 5. His motivation was not wanting to spend the night at a friend's house and be called a baby. Then again, in order to suck his thumb, he needed to have a sticker in his hand (to feel the stickiness) - in order to stop, he cut out the stickers cold turkey (wouldn't even take one from the Wal-Mart greeter anymore!).
If I were you, I'd wait until age 4 or 5. Remember, she's not going to go off to college still doing it - just b/c it seems really important right now, keep the really big picture in mind.
My son sucked his thumb until he was around 3 or 4. I found that if anyone teased him or berated him for it, it only got worse. We calmly explained to him that it was going to ruin his big boy teeth if he continued, that the germs on his thumb were yucky and that he was just getting too big to do that anymore. He actually did try to stop on his own but we needed to remind him sometimes. I found it was best to just tell him "Don't forget what we talked about with your thumb, you have to try to keep it out of your mouth." Believe it or not, talking to him like it was his decision and making him feel that we were supporting him actually worked. Also, when he was in public and did it I would very quietly and calmly pull it out so that it didn't embarass him, usually I would whisper a reminder. Every once in awhile while he slept he would put it in his mouth and I would just pull it out. I am sure this won't work for everyone but treating him like he was part of the decision made it so much easier. It took some patience mostly because of relatives that thought if they teased him he would stop. I can tell you from experience that this does NOT work. It always made it worse. It was like starting over. Good luck.
She is still young but the sooner you get it the sooner it will end. If you let it go too long, she will never stop (I sucked my thumb until I was 12!!). The thing that worked for me was to get a pair of gloves (not mittens) that are a little bit to small (so they don't come off easily) and I wore those at night. The taste of fuzz in my mouth made that stop quick!! As for during the day, maybe you should put hot sauce on her thumb each time she tries to suck it. I know it is hot but it won't hurt her with just a little and if she doesn't like it, she may think twice about putting it in. Just some ideas. Hope it helps
T. :)
I HAVE A TWO YR OLD WHO SUCKS HER TUMB, LET IT GO ,EVENTLY YOUR DAUGHTER WILL SUCK HER THUMB TO ITS RAW AND WONT DO IT, LIKE MINE .. I NO IT SOUNDS MEAN, BUT THEIR ONLY YOUNG ONCE... D.
My eight year old is a tumb sucker. She did it a lot as a baby and toddler. I never said anything and asked my family o please keep their opinions to themselves. Once she started preschool, I told her that she was not allowed to suck it at school. After school she would come home, wash her hands and could then suck it. It helped that this was a rule at her preschool. So she did it less and less over time.
As she has grown older, she has come to realize that it is not socially acceptable to suck her thumb in public and only does it as night in her bed. I have receive mixed opinions from her ped and different dentists about the subject so I just went with what felt right, letting her do it. She is a great child who is happy and well adjusted so if she needs a little extra comfort, it was fine with me.
I would suggest not making an issue over it. Just stress the importance of her washing her hands before sucking her thumb. As she gets older, she will start to realize that she doesn't need that thumb as much.
-Barbara
I don't really have any advice, but I am reading the responses myself because I have the same issue with my 32 month old daughter. We never really cared that she sucked her thumb at night and when she was having 'quiet time' but now both her thumbs are red and raw and so is the area just below her lip on both sides, where she rests her hand on face face as she sucks her thumb.
I tried putting vaseline on her face and thumbs but so far they are still irritated. Becasue the skin is so irritated, I don't want to apply anything that would hurt either.
I don't think you should stress over it. In due time she will stop. Let her enjoy the pleasure of sucking her thumb.
my daughter is 2 and does the same thing. I talked to her doctor about it and he agreed to let it run it's course. The ONLY time that it becomes a problem (or ruins straight teeth) is after the age of 5. And the majority of kids stop by then without any encouragement from their parents. I worried about the same thing (with nipping it in the bud) but my doctor AND my mother said that if you make an issue out of it they'll only do it more and it will be harder to get them to stop. So the only advice I can give to you is the advice that was given to me. I haven't made an issue out of it and I've noticed that even in the past month or two she sucks her thumb less and less all on her own.
DO NOT pressure her, the more you do the more she will suck it. My 5yr old used to suck hers when she was sleepy or bored & her Dr. said she will stop when she's ready. As long as she doesn't do it all day long and it isn't effecting her teeth don't worry about. She definitely shouldn't be sucking it passed the age of 5(it can really start to mess up her teeth), but she should stop by then. My daughter stopped after she was completely potty trained, just remind her every once in a while that it isn't for big girl's to do & it isn't good for her teeth. She will stop soon enough.
My child is the same, she will be 3 in Feb. I don't push her or bother with it. I figure whn she is older she will stop. If she only does it in the car or when she is sleepy Its not a problem so I let it go.
hello, my five year old daughter still sucks her thumb from time to time, and i have tried everything under the sun to help her stop. when i spoke to her dr about it she said that it is a security measure for her. it is soothing and not to worry, i still ask her to take it out if i see it in her mouth , but at night she does it , her dr told me that it would not hurt her teeth. i ask her not to do it. and she listens , but if she does it at night to feel safe and to calm herself off to sleep than i say let them. plus at your daughters age the more of a fuss you make over it the more she will prob do it.
talk to your pd about it.
