Seeking Moms`

My mother put socks on my hands, but then that was 50 some years ago, they might have better things out now!!!

To S.,

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. My son even begs me not to paint them now. So we have a deal. If he doesn't bite his nails then I don't paint them. But all it takes is one. So this might work n the thumb sucking too. It doesn't hurt them and I even checked with his doctor first. Not sure if this info helps, but good luck. You are in my prayers.

Blessings,

L.

Hi S.!

Your daughter is almost 2, right? Can I gently ask why do you want her to stop sucking her thumb so early? She's still so young to let go of her thumb. I think she's ok, and VERY normal.

I think it's even normal for kids to be sucking their thumb in Kindergarten! I've seen it!

Did you read yesterdays' request from a mom who's 8 year old was still sucking his thumb after school?

Thumb sucking is so normal to last for awhile, not necessarily until after Kindergarten, but a long while.

Your daughter has a new member of your family coming around who will need ALOT of attention from you. Your daughter will be needing her thumb ALOT in order to adjust to "waiting patiently" for you to give HER attention after your new baby comes. I suggest that you don't ask her to stop yet. It's a major security in her life that would be "torture" to let go of.

But, when she's ready, I have a few good suggfestions for you :o)

N.

Thumb sucking is an easy way for a 2-yr old to self-soothe, I'm convinced my daughters Terrible Two-ness was easier because she could soothe this way when frustrated. At three her dentist brought it up and suggested we make stopping a goal by her 4th birthday -- she's old enough to reason with now (more or less), and I think it will be a lot easier than with a 2-year old. With one on the way you may appreciate her having a way to calm herself down!

Good luck!

Sounds normal, why do you want her to stop? Let her comfort herself. If you want a big battle on your hands, make an issue of this. My son just gradually stopped on his own. Not sure when, but I know he was still doing it at 4. He's fine. Had braces, but so did my kids who didn't suck their thumb.

Mine is 27 months and very attached to her thumb. Her doc said to not wean her this early and that it won't be a problem until she's older. They said many kids wean themselves at 4 or 5yrs old. If not, then I can do it, but at 2 yrs old they don't understand how.

Have you tried the nail coating they have at walmart and other stores? I had a really bad nail biting problem and put the coating on my nails. It has a TERRIBLE taste. My friend used it on her daughter and it stopped her thumb sucking. I dont remember the name, I think 'Stop bite' or something like that. Hope this helps.

Hi S.,

I have spoken to my dentist about this and she said that you really don't need to be concerned about thumb sucking until she gets to be around 3 1/2 or 4 years old. There are different ways to approach it at that time. Ask you dentist to be sure and you can also ask them for advice on how to deal with it. Some moms in this moms group that I am a part of have given their children a specific date as to when they have to stop sucking there thumb or give up a blankie, etc. Each day they remind them saying, "oh, look today is such and such date..." and let the child tell you out loud how many months or days are left before they have to stop doing whatever it is that you want them to stop doing. I have also heard of classes you can take your child to geared toward stopping thumb sucking behavior given by pediatric dentists.

Good luck,

T.

Dear S.,

I was a thumb sucker until past third grade (mostly at home once I was in school) and so was my cousin. Both our mom's tried everything under the sun to get us to stop and all it did was make us more discreet and more determined.

When it was my turn to parent, I was in the middle of a psych degree program and I made the choice to ignore the issue and let my son determine for himself when he would give up his thumb and his blankie. He held on longer than lots of kids, but eventually gave it up on his own. I think the peer pressure was a stronger determinant than anything else. :)

My son is now almost 15 and perfectly fine. If your older one is still thumb sucking publicly in 5th or 6th grade, then maybe it will be time to worry; until then... don't sweat the small stuff. :)

F.

hi S. W. I'm S. C. and i'm 43 years old and somewhat ashamed to say, but I still suck my thumb. Mom lost my pacifier when i was 5 months old and in went the thumb. Not to mention almost everyone in my family were ( and a couple still are), thumb suckers. I've been doomed. Good thing I have caps on my front teeth because I did have somewhat of an over bite. My mother tried a bit to late to try and get me to stop sucking my thumb by puting a product called "stopz it" for thumb suckers and nail biters on my thumb. I was 5 or 6 years old when this occured, and I knew I could go to the bathroom, turn the water on real low, and start scrubbing the stuff off of my thumb. It also became something that soothed me from everything. ADVICE: put the product "stopz it" on her thumb now, and she will never remember having had a thumbsucking problem, and she won't be a 43 year old woman, with grand kids sucking her thumb. :)

I have a 2 year old who still sucks on 2 fingers, though it has gotten much less often lately. I don't think you can really make them stop, everything I have read says that if you tell them to stop and make a big deal out of it, they will do it more... I believe they will stop in their own time. When they are 2, we must choose our battles, and if thumb sucking is the worst thing they do, then we have it easy.
good luck

She won't stop until she's ready. When you notice it, find out if she's tired, bored, hungry, thirsty, whatever. Try to help her solve the problem and make sure she has a lovey. Thumb sucking is a self-soothing habit, and it isn't really a problem until their permenant teeth come in. My son is almost 5 and still sucks his thumb. I've noticed it is primarily when he's tired or bored. I will have him lie down for 10 minutes to recharge or give him something to do with his hands (play dough, coloring, finger painting, etc). Good luck!

Hi S.,
My name is B., I'm actually an orthodontist. I have two girls (4 1/2 and 23 mo). My older one did not stop thumbsucking until about 2 months ago - and she's got me to deal with everyday! It's not easy for a parent to ignore, and I would always encourage her to take it out, but ultimately she can only really stop when she's ready. Starting at about 3 yrs, we used some barrier techniques (like socks on the hands), we did that for almost a year along with positive reinforcement/bribery, etc. In the end, after many discussions, one day she just decided that she was ready to stop - from that day on she's never sucked her thumb once. I find that it's a universal thing with my patients too (I see a lot of thumbsucking patients!), when they are ready, they will quit, or at least they will be willing to have you help them quit.
In the meantime, you could try to switch her to a pacifier or give her something to hold in her hand. I would stay away from negative reinforcements or taste-bad stuff at this age because she really isn't old enough to understand all that yet.
If you want to talk about it more - let me know!

B. Keller

Hi S.! I also have a daughter who is 3 that sucks her thumb. She actually just went to the dentist today, and he said they usually don't want to do anything about it until the child can understand why they shouldn't suck their thumbs. Like 4 1/2 to 5 years old. He said the emotional effect it has on a child to break them of the habit early, is worse than just fixing the teeth later down the road.

I would not worry about it. I know from experience.. that the harder you try to get her to stop.. the more important it becomes. As a child I too was a thumb sucker.. actually into my adult life and night time. If you ignore it.. she will too after some time.. she is still just a young child after all. You have more important areas to place your energy.. keeping her happy.. safe.. well fed and full of self confidence.. Keep up the good work Mom.. remember to choose your little battles wisely. Good luck :-)