Thumb Sucking - Ashburn,VA

I'm not exactly sure what you've tried so far, but by 5 yr old starting biting her nails. I found this polish that was made for thumb sucking and nail biting. It's called Thum (found it at Walgreens in the baby aisle). You paint it on like polish. It has a very bitter taste to it, so it's supposed to help deter them from putting their fingers in their mouth.

Try going to the store with her and finding something soft, somewhat small and portable that can give her that comfort feeling...ex. my son has a tigger (he picked it out)
Then don't say anything about her thumb sucking when you see it and give her the special comfort toy once you see her starting to suck her thumb or even better... if you can tell that she's gonna get frustrated or nervous about something give it to her before the thumb sucking even starts

T., I am here to tell you, there is nothing you can do about her sucking her thumb, it is a comfort thing. My 21 year old son, my 11 year old niece, and my 40 year old brother and his kids all suck their thumbs. We all found that the more you try to stop the child, the more they do it. If at one time you are still worried about it once she starts getting her adult teeth, (my son, and brother never needed braces), they do have a plate that they can put in her mouth that causes them to not be able to suck on their fingers.

Hopes this helps.

T.,

My 3 1/2 still does that. It's more of a comfort thing for her and I just don't encourage or discourage it. I haven't stopped her from doing it because she only does it when she's tired. If by age 5 she's still doing it, I might stop it, but usually it is supposed to go away just like the comfort toy does. When children are ready, they'll give it up on their own. The one reason I believe this is because my daughter is autistic and forcing her to do anything only causes it to get worse. If I don't encourage her, she'll grow on her own. Some things I have to sit down with her and do or I have to encourage her to do, but by doing what I do consistently, she'll catch on. Don't worry about your little one, she'll be fine.
I also encourage the pacifier as it is easier to take away, but keep in mind that some children don't like the texture of the pacifier as mine do. The thumb isn't as bad, but if you're really thinking it should stop, find a comfort routine and also find what makes her feel safe. That is the reason behind the sucking motion.

Take a good look around your life, and see what has happened in your life that may have been dramatic or life changing right before she started the thumb sucking. New House, new job, different schedual, new nanny, new pet, old pet died...etc.

If you can change anything back to the way it was try.
If nothing happened, then try and get her ready for her sleepy time by easing into a healthy alternative routine.

The very best thing that you can do for her is to develop a bedtime routine. Be sure to always bathe her at night almost right after dinner. Then take her to her bed if you can lay down on it, or your bed if it's too little and read to her.
Allow her to pick a book, and you can pick a book too (this is a great time to get in some real classics, especially if you cultivate this habit until she's about 9 or 10) snuggle in together with your arm around her and read the books. Afterward, take her to her room, and start a routine of saying a goodnight to her favorite stuffed animals, and saying a prayer over her. Say the same prayer every night and teach her to pray for others as you include them in your prayer. Use your daily life as things for God to bless, and this will giver her great comfort, and trust that everything will be alright.

This will give her such a sense of security that if you do this every night you will be amazed how well she will do when you are not able to be there. She will lose any separation anxiety, and by being able to count on this routine will give her the soothing she is looking for.

I know that most may think she is too old to be needing to fullfill the sucking sensation but if the cuddling and routine doesn't stop it shortly go get a pacifier (orthodontic) and offer her that when she is looking for that comfort. Give it to her when it's bedtime or nap time. Don't allow her to talk with it in her mouth or go outside with it. But you can take away a pacifier you can't take away a thumb.
Everyone is different, but I think that in looking into the way that different societies raise their children, I believe we take away the breast way too early for our children. Because really it's not just about the sucking, it is just impossible to breastfeed a child without cuddling it. So since she is obviously past the bottle and the breast she is certainly not past the cuddling, and through her actions not past the sucking either.

It is far better to allow a child to learn to soothe by using the sucking reflex than have the lost the opportunity when they are young and have the need manifest itself into a more undesireable habit when they are older.

Children who don't get enough comfort often exhibit signs of this later on by overeating, nail biting, rocking and acting out in all sorts of ways that bring negative attention to them instead of positive.

So double up on the affection and physical contact. Keep up with discipline, don't spoil her but give her lots of love affection boundaries with predictable routines.

The 30 minutes you spend every evening will bring you and your child years of happiness and closeness that no amount of money will ever be able to buy.

Best of Luck and Happiness,
S.

PS, As I read the other responses to your question, it is quite clear that the need still exists even though society says it shouldn't. My youngest still used his pacifier at night until he was in kindergarten. It's OK. Now he is the most self assured, self reliant, low maintenance kids we know.
And other mother tell me this. Give her a pacifier!

Hi T.. My daughter is 3 1/2 and started sucking her thumb after I took her pacifier away at 15 months. Her teeth have shifted some also. She mostly does it when she's tired or bored.

We've talked to her pediatrician and to her dentist about it. They have both said not to worry about it unless it starts to really affect her mouth. They also said that if she hasn't quit by the time she goes to school, that the peer-pressure of the other kids usually makes them quit.

Hopefully this eases your mind some. I try not to be too bothered by it. When we're out though I do try to re-direct her and distract her.

Have a great day.

She needs the comfort. But get her on a pacifier. You can take a pacifier away but not her thumb. It is hard to kick a comfort thats with you all the time. Good Luck!