My five year old son won't stop sucking his thumb. He does it all the time. I feel like all I am doing is telling him to take his thumb out of his mouth. I don't even think he realizes he is doing it. I've praised him when he is not, but five minutes later it's back in his mouth. Do the chemicals work? Does anyone have any other suggestions? This is already having a negative impact on his speech intelligibility and his teeth. Thanks in advance!
A glove on his hand, thumb taped up, nail bitter stuff you can also rub on it. Good luck. It is a hard habit to break!
Take him to an EFT practitioner and the habit will go away within minutes. For good! www.emofree.com for directions if you're a do-it-yourselfer or are looking for a practitioner in your area. Some will work over the phone if you don't have one locally.
Sucking fingers is a sign on insecurity. ..like needing a binky or a blanky.
None of my children sucked their fingers, but I sucked my finger until I was 8. I have a bent finger and messed up front teeth because of it. My mom tried the nail polish and other means to get me to stop. Nothing worked until I entered the 3rd grade. I saw that no one else did it and I was made fun of. I just stopped.
Good luck,
Nanc
Hi R.,
Maybe try taking your child to the dentist and having him/her explain the negative effects of thumbsucking on speech and teeth...that might put a "scare" into him to stop sucking. Just a thought. Good luck!
Lynsey
I copied and pasted this from a prior request:
I taught preschool in Manhattan for 15 years. Your daughter is younger than were my students, but we had a method which worked every time - at least with our 3-5 year olds: Whenever we noticed a child with their thumb in her/his mouth we would discreetly ask them to go and wash their hands - with soap. It's actually good if this interrupts an activity they are enjoying. We would explain why once - simply and clearly, "If you put your fingers in your mouth, you can catch germs and spread them and we don't want you or your friends/family to get sick". We would be friendly and matter of fact and were careful to avoid embarassment or a punative tone. "Oh, honey, you need to go wash your hands now." Usually within a few days - never more than a week, the habit and the comfort of it were interrupted so many times that consciously and unconsciously, the child found no "upside" to continuing with the behavior. This works for chronic nose picking, finger licking and other oral habits.
Good Luck!
Hi momma,
Turn off the tv, and have do more playing outside.
when inside give him puzzles, crayons, paints, games.playdough,blocks, cars anything to keep his hands occupied and busy.
Cover his thumb with a large bandaid. so that when he does suck he notices right away and is aware of what he is doing..
And offer him a lollipop if he doesn't do it,
he still gets the benefit of sucking so its easier to pacify his need.
and its not his thumb,
eventually he won't use the thumb during the day because you've distracted him.
after say 2 weeks give him a little ice pop,
still pacifies the oral fixation, but NOT the sucking.
( Flavor Ice is great because you can cut it in half, its cheap, and they come in a large box , not that messy,
http://mybrands.com/BrandsHome.aspx?bid=175&B=true)
and then eventually you can simply offer him fruits and things that are slightly more healthy LOL.
At night it will be more difficult because they learn to suck thru gloves, and the bitter tastes.
and can wake up thru the night upset about not being able to suck.
so be prepared.
after he falls asleep, wrap his hand with his thum gently tucked into the palm, with a wide strip of Ace Bandage
ON both hands
you can cut it to size aslong as its wrapped twice around.
NOT TIGHT just enough to hold the thumb in position to keep it from getting the L SHAPE
IF he manages to get it off suring the night
have him wear a long sleeved shirt, and then DUCT tape the bandage to his sleeve so he can't push it off.
Don't be too critical about it.
Just be vigilant.
Its like potty training. you basically have to train your self to remind them constantly,
watch for the signs, of when he does it most such as when watching TV, or SLEEPING, nap time. tired.
Its hard because you have 3 other children, but in some ways it will be easier, you can ask you OLDER children to be watch dogs and tell you when he is doing it, and remind him to stop. they can play games with him, and keep him and his hands occupied.
Good luck momma
M
PS here is agreat link
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/how-to-stop-thumb-sucking
