Thumbsucking - East Rochester,NY

Hi J.
I have a 4 1/2 yr old thumb sucker. Our family dentist said that if my son is going to have braces he will have them, thumb sucking will not necessarily ruin his teeth. When does your son suck his thumb. My son usually sucks in the evening when he is tired. My husband and I have agreed not to make a big deal out of it. But we have told him there are times for thumb sucking. If I find that he is doing it more during the day, I engage him in an activity or suggest that he may need to go rest on his bed. Or sometimes I just ask him if he needs a big hug. It is complicated because when they are babies we so want them to sooth themselves and now we are trying to take it away from them. I am pretty confident that my son will out grow this. I honestly am not willing to deal with tears or the struggle of taking his thumb away right now. Sounds like there is a lot going on with your son right now. Alot of change where he may need some extra comfort. Good luck! :)

I have a 4 year old thumb sucker so I understand you concerns. When she turned 4 we made a big deal out of the fact that now she is a big girl and there is no thumb sucking during the day. Right now she only allowed to do it when going to sleep. We won't punish her if she starts during the day but we will say something and she pulls it right out. I think it is more a reflex for her to put it in and by pointing it out she doesn't do it as much. My mom said I was a thumb sucker until 5 or 6 and I just stopped doing it. I am hoping the same will be true with my daughter.

have you tried that THUM stuff? they sell it in drug stores , it goes on the thumb to deter them from sucking, or how about trying to give a comfort item like a blankie or favorite toy to comfort with?

My daughter habitually sucked her thumb at night. She wouldn't do it on purpose but rather in her sleep. We tried the stuff to put on the thumb, that didn't work. Socks and mittens on her hands, she would just take them off without realizing it. Someone recommended that I take an ace bandage and wrap her elbow so that when she would try to put her arm up there's resistance and it would just go right back down. And wouldn't you know...it worked like a charm!

I don't know that this would work during the day but constant reminders eventually will break the habit.

Good luck.

Hi Jen,
I got my new One step ahead baby magazine today and I found something that may help with the thumbsucking but I'm not sure if you would spend this kind of money coz I won't but if it helps then it will be a best investment for you and your baby.
Here's the site you could click and it would take you rigth to the actual product
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/117/984/117.html good luck and hope it helps.

Hi Im new here but this subject is something I can relate to...I have an 8 yr old soon to be 9 n he sucks his thumb still with a blanket,If we take the blanket away he just attatches himself to something else his teeth are fine and health I don't see where it's a problem but then my husband picks on him about it and makes a huge deal outta it so my son calls himself a baby but he also tells me he can't stop from doing it...

ok really the only thing that will happend is somone get a little embarresed. not that i know every thing but,your son will be fine it wont ruine his teeth at all if you had bad teeth in your family then hell have bad teeth but if you dont he wont . i sucked my thum all my life im a little old but my teeth are straight and perfect. thats my input