How do i get my 4yr old(boy) and 2 yr old(girl) to stop sucking there thumbs? HELP!?

Question

they've been doing it since they were able to (1 or 2 months old)

Answer 1

Some children need more comforting than others. When you see them sucking their thumbs, gently give them something else, like a toy, to comfort them instead. And don't yell. That just scares them into sucking their thumbs.
And while the two year old is too young to understand why she can't suck her thumb, the four-year-old is old enough to understand that big boys really don't do that...and that there might be something really cool waiting for him if he quits...hint, hint.
And as for the hot sauce? It seems pretty cruel to me to burn a child's mouth over something like thumb sucking. And most experts say it really doesn't work anyway.
And...just think how it would feel if your baby had hot sauce or vinegar on its fingers and began crying over the taste..and then wiped his eyes with those hot fingers. Not such a pretty thought, is it?

Answer 2

I agree with Aslan, it's not really that big of a deal. Why do you feel the need to stop them? The whole "it will damage your teeth" thing is a myth. Let kids be kids and don't scar them for life by making a big issue out of it. Allow them to be able to comfort themselves and get themselves to sleep at night. I don't understand all the scare tactics people use to scare moms about babies and kids thumbsucking. Me, my sister, my nephew, my 2 girls and many others in my family did it, some needed braces, some didn't. None of us were bucktoothed and probably would had to have braces anyway, most kids do these days. Quit stressing and STOP listening to what other people say about it. And anyone who would put hot sauce, or anything like that on their child's thumb is an idiot. Not to mention it's very painful, what if the child got it in his eye? or got stomach problems? My mom tried the bad tasting nail polish thingy to get me to stop biting my fingernails as a kid, but it never worked.

Answer 3

I was 4 when I stopped sucking my thumb, and I still remember having a sticker chart. I picked out the stickers (butterflies) and got to put a sticker on the calendar for each day I went without sucking my thumb. I don't remember this, but my dentist actually had me call and tell him how I was doing, also. I know most dentists wouldn't do this for you but maybe a grandparent would or something? Explain to your kids that it is bad for their teeth, on a simple level they can understand. Also, you may have an advantage in them both "competing" to stop first, since you have 2 kids with this problem.

Answer 4

Avon Nail Experts Biting Solver (a clear polish that tastes awful) helps stop bitting nails and sucking thumbs... worked on my two nieces... 2 and 4 (thumb sucking) and my 22 year old sister (nail bitter)
try to stop this asap, gives overbites... wish I had that stuff... I got an overbite and speech impediment from thumb sucking till I was 7... braces helped... but not much

Answer 5

My son had been sucking his thumb since he was born. We tried everything from foul tasting paint, taping the end of his thumb and nagging but to no avail.Then finally I found Thumbguard (I purchased it from Thumbguard Malaysia - link below) It works wonders! He stop thumb sucking in just 2 1/2 weeks! They do deliver anywhere in the world.

Answer 6

My mother used to put really hot chili sauce on my thumb so that when I sucked it, I cried like a maniac and never sucked my thumb ever again. Sometimes scaring a child is teaching a child. Remember that sucking thumbs are very bad for your child's jaws. They may need braces in the future because of the pressure they put on their teeth. I suggest you get them to stop immediately.

Answer 7

As a mother of a 3yr old girl whom is still sucking her thumb.. I do not reccomend putting hot sauce on their thumbs. That may cause gastro. problmes ( diarreah) and as for the T.H.U.M.B. stuff that u can get at like any pharmacy or wally world it dosent work. Sure it tastes like crud when its wet but once it drys its actually tollerable... my daughter kept sucking any how when I tried it plus its expensive. And as for vinegar I dunno if that will work or not for you, if she/he likes pickles then they will not be bothered by it and suck any how... I dunno what else to tell ya except dont use anything with hot peppers in it cuz it will make them sick ( my friend did it to her kid after I advised her not to and she paid for it with in a few hours with his diapers) any how good luck .. Im still working on my lil girl.. but shes down to only doing it when shes sleepy which is a plus... but she was doing it in womb (we seen it on a sonagram) so shes gonna be hard LOL~

Answer 8

I agree with putting something bad tasting on the thumbs. Also, maybe consider giving them an outlet for this obvious sensory need. Chewy bagels at lunch, using straws in their cups you know?

Answer 9

When I was a nanny, the mother of the little boy I cared for weened him off his thumb by putting vinegar on it. It worked as far as I could tell.

Answer 10

why is stopping them so important?

my brother and i were veteran thumb suckers right up till senior school and we have turned out alright. my grandmother was a thumb sucker too.

i would let them be - although giving them plenty of things to do (arts and crafts) to distract them for periods at a time.

don't nag them about it - that causes them stress and under stress kids tend to resort to their comforter (the good ole thumb) - and they will stop when they are good and ready to without damaging your relationship with them