How best to discourage thumb sucking?

Motherof1

Hi all,

I have just taken my 3year old to the dentist for a check up. He said she had very pretty teeth but I must stop the thumb sucking now!!!!!!!!!

He said that her front top teeth were growing normally but the bottow row's growth was being stunted because she sucks her thumb.

She started sucking it when I took her dummy away when she was 2y 4 months.

Even before today I have tried talking to her about it. So you know I have also tried bribery but that didn't work either!

Would be grateful for any tips that could put this habit to an end.

Thanks and have a great day.

inkie

My daughter who is now 7 gave up about 6 months ago - must admit that we let her grow out of it herself. Get some of that stuff to stop nailbtiing and paint it on the thumb, or dip her thumb in mustard.

davsidipp

i sucked my thumb right up to i was 16years of age and can remember doing it in secondary school in the afternoon when i was tired . i dont think no matter what my mum and dad would say i would still carry it on it only stopped when i started work in an office as i dont think it would have gone down well. when i was 21 i went to a dentist who suggested i have a brace which i wore for 6months which pulled the front teeth back in line which cost a few bob so the downside to thumbsucking is teeth that will stick out so your dentist is right .on another note i do think children look sweet sucking their thumbs as they look so contented .

Toothsmith

I would say at 3 it wasn't too serious yet, but obviously, I've not seen her teeth.

I wouldn't get tooooo heavy with a kid until he/she reaches 5-6.

Some sort of reward system may work best, but the thing with bribary/reward systems is that you have to be consistant, and some days, the kid won't get the reward!!!

The bad tasting stuff for stopping biting nails can be a good help, but it's important not to put it on as a punishment. If you can get into the habit of putting a bit on at the beginning of the day, and mid day, then she will just be reminded not to put her thumb in her mouth by the taste.

If you only remember to put it on when you see her thumb-sucking, she will associate having it put on with punishment, and then she will feel she is being punished whenever it is put on. - This can be OK for an older kid, but a bit hard on a 3 yr old.

If you see her thumb sucking because you've forgotton to put it on, wait a while before putting it on.

WestonDave

Tricky one as its a comfort thing and the hardest time to break it is when they are tired or asleep as they will probably do it subconciously.

The nail stuff has already been mentioned (didn't work on me as I quickly learned how to scrape it off - but it did taste foul!), the other suggestion is to try putting a plaster on that thumb as that doesn't make for pleasant sucking either.

I'm probably the last person to ask as I steadfastly avoided any attempt to stop me until I was literally frightened out of it - had a tooth removed due to cramped teeth, and unfortunately the gum tore which resulted in bleeding and the gum having to be packed. I was told not under any circumstance to suck my thumb or it would reopen. Managed for the rest of the day - mainly as my mouth was still numb, but asleep in bed old habits crept in and I woke up with a mouth full of blood and my pillow covered in it. (To be fair a bit of blood mixed with saliva goes a long way to making a spectacular mess). From that moment on, other than a few abortive sucks before I realised and pulled it out quick I never sucked it again. Sadly none of the tricks worked on me so good luck!

LITTLEMISSFLOWER

im 27 and still suckmy thumb my mum tried everything when i was young. my teeth are fine must be the way i suck.i do it most when im upset and tired i dont think i will ever stop now.

Mrs_pbradley936

Sorry to say this but mine only stopped when he started smoking. I took his dummy away too soon as well and he had to have braces from age 14 to 17. I tried everything but gave up in the end - about the only thing they take notice of is other kids taking the mick when the get to about 9 or 10. Then they stop doing it in front of anyone but do it in bed!

Horasio

Mine sucked his till he was 9, then he just stopped.

His teeth did stick out and had a brace, they are fine now

linzibean

I also didn't stop until I was about 9, and forcibly then, as I had to wear a brace It's quite common I think. I think the only way to stop is either the stuff they use to stop people chewing their nails, or force the wearing of gloves

jaws77

Tried mustard?

Raksha

My 9 year old sucks his thumb when he's tired, he wants to stop, so we try to gently remind him by saying 'thumb' when we see him doing it. The other thing we're trying is to put a plaster on his thumb, which feels different and so reminds him.......