Help! Thumbsuckers.

I sucked my thumb PROUDLY until I was 12. I would make an announcement at sleepovers and even as the new kid at school. My mom tried lots of things but I didn't stop until i got braces and another nasty contraption to move my tongue back. I didn't stop until it was physically impossible to put my thumb in my mouth. FYI I am 32 and I still have my blanket and stuffed animal from childhood in my bed every night. DH hates them!

First, I wouldn't do ANYTHING now. She is too new in your home. Second, best advice I was given was to wait til school started (kiddo got here in April; teacher discouraged it gently also). This is good because it gives kiddo a few months in the home to get a bit more comfortable as well as to learn some healthier self-soothing skills. Additionally, being better regulated in general is helpful to the process.Third, we did the "in private" thing (sent her to room). I don't know that I would do that again as I really don't like sending kids to their rooms when they have a history of neglect. We were using that for another self-soothing behavior though, soooooooooo......One thing we do for nail biting, picking lips <grrr>, etc is have the child sit on the hand(s) (well, put the hand under their thigh) which makes it impossible to do most things. That is what I would do myself so seems more reasonable than most. Anyway, then there are [url=http://tguard.com/]Stop thumb sucking in 30 days, with TGuard.[/url] which seems like it would be good overnight as long as they wouldn't just rip it off.My left front tooth is significantly further "out" than my other one. I have argued that it is because all my teeth are crazy (which is true); but in reality, that ONE is probably so much worse because of long term thumb sucking. I have never known anything taste wise to work. It doesn't even work for my puppy (it did at first, but then she got used to it enough to put up with it when she really wanted to chew something). I don't want children sucking their thumb (or fingers), but we have to be reasonable also (like it sounds like you are).

I sucked two fingers on my right hand until I was 17yrs old. The only reason I stopped was because I was pregnant and fixing to get married. I NEVER done it in public and no one knew except my family. My twin sister sucked her thumb till at least 17 if not older. There was NOTHING my mom could do to stop us.

I have seen nail polish that is made for thumb suckers. It has something in it that makes it bitter so they don't like the taste when they suck their thumb. I have also heard of mixing black pepper and dish soap with clear nail polish and putting that on the fingernail. My son sucked his thumb too-- I don't think it's that big a deal personally

I agree with a PP- the kids of the original OP are too new and I would not address the thumb-sucking. It is, IMO, an appropriate self-soothing behavior. My AS is a thumb-sucker, as is my new FB. I do not have a problem with my son sucking his thumb at bedtime. It is a self-soothing behavior he developed at 5 weeks of age. It works for him. He will stop eventually. As far as my FB is concerned, this baby has been through so much cr*p in his short-life. If he needs to suck his thumb to soothe himself, I am all for it!

Okay- I have a confession to make. I was a closet thumb sucker until I got braces at age 14. Yep. You heard that right! I was a TEENAGED thumb sucker. I was embarrassed by it so I only did it at home or at night after going to school. And I did need braces- but I would have needed them anyway. I quit cold turkey when the metal mouth went into effect. :) And I didn't miss it because it was just DIFFERENT then. And I turned out to be a very well adjusted young woman. My mom told me she hated it and always begged the Dr. for advice. His words? "Eh- you can try things...but my bet is she will stop sometime before college". :) He was right. I think limiting it to bedtime/naptime and encouraging a lot of hand washing is a start.

Sucked my thumb until I was 12. My mom tried everything to get me to stop but nothing worked. My DH also sucked his until he was older. I think you just need to ride this wave at least until the child wants to stop. Rewards might work but they didn't work with me. I don't remember struggling to stop- I just stopped one night.I'd say that this is a very normal coping mechanism and would leave her alone. There are more anti-social behaviors that she could be doing right now instead.

Sigh. Well looks like I will have some teen thumbsuckers then ;) lol I do appreciate that they can self soothe, especially with all of the change. I'm just thinking long term and trying to gain insight on it. But it sounds like I just have to let it be for now. I think I will stick with the thumbsucking at bedtime/naptime only and washing hands any other time it goes in their mouth. Of course when they are upset I let them do it as well-I'm not trying to traumatize them more :( The problem really with the TS is that they do it ALL the time. Everytime they watch tv, just sitting coloring, and even if we are all running around playing outside. So its not as if they ONLY do it to self soothe when upset, etc. They can be running and laughing their little tushes off and the STILL do it. I think in part its just a bad habit. But yes I'll take TS over kicking/hysterical screaming/other strange behaviors, any day :rolleyes: Thanks for all the advice! :)

I'm reminded of the poem by Shel Silverstein: "Oh the thumb-sucker's thumb May look wrinkled and wet And withered, and white as the snow, But the taste of a thumb Is the sweetest taste yet (as only we thumb suckers know)" Personally, this is one thing I would just let go. My guess is the more stable and secure the children feel, the less they will need to self-comfort, but it may take a long time for them to actually drop the habit (if ever!). No need to add the stress of trying to make them stop directly. If you feel like you really have to do something, I would focus on providing lots of comforting, predictable routines as well as lots of other ways to relax and recharge (special cuddle toys, blanket, physical affection, water play and other sensory activities). Providing activities that naturally require using two hands like playing with play dough, painting, helping with cooking, building with legos etc. may help to positively redirect the behavior at least some of the time.

Don't use the nail polish stuff! I tried it on our daughter one time and the bottle spilled, it took the finish off of her dresser! Since then I felt so bad that I couldn't care less if she continues to or not. My husband sucked his thumb til he was ten and his parents tried everything.

Redirection! During the day if the thumb sucking starts - redirect. Offer a coloring book, ask them to pick something up, anything that will get the thumb out without saying "stop sucking your thumb". Infact, don't even say anything about the thumb. The redirection will break the sucking for a moment and sometimes that moment is all that is needed to go another hour without sucking. I was also a thumbsucker in to my teens. My grandmother promised me a "boom box" if I stopped. I wanted that boom box so bad, and I wanted to quit sucking my thumb, but it was still so hard. I started redirecting myself whenever I felt the need coming on. It worked for me at least.

I replaced thumbsucking with biting my fingernails. :eek:

FYI, the TGuard doesn't work. It's a glove that goes over the thumb and Velcro's around the wrist; step daughter used it at bedtime and all it did was frustrate her until she removed it. She's 16 and still sucks her thumb but oddly enough she didn't harm her teeth.

We have addressed this in every way possible. After discussing this in deep length for YEARS, the various therapists, and finally we have the answer!We invest in braces when it is apparent that the teeth need attention. The emotional health, peace and lack of additional stress in their lives is so worth it. I would rather work on behaviors that really mater in the long run. IMHOIt has been 3 thumb suckers, 2 pacifier babies, and 5 sets of braces later. They are well adjusted, intelligent HS graduates. Some on their way to college. Its just not that important to our family.

Me too! And then picking my lips. Sigh. I once told my mom that I'd better never try a cigarette because I wouldn't be able to stop (not to flame- just an observation of a child)