My 3-1/2 year-old granddaughther will be starting pre-school in the fall. I'm concerned that her thumb sucking behavior will both disfigure her teeth and get her teased. Any thoughtful suggestions?
2006-07-01 03:38:17 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
it is a slow process. In the day just distract her. Read her a book and make her turn the pages. at nap time when she falls asleep just gently pull it out of her mouth and same with bed time. In public ask her to hold your hand or something. In pre school don't worry about being teased most kids will suck her thumbs or fingers.
2006-07-01 05:59:22 · answer #1 · answered by kcsakany 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 4 year old son sucks his thumb but only while falling asleep or when he is tired. I'm not concerned about it at all. I sucked my thumb until I was 14 (yes, fourteen) and never wore braces and my teeth are very straight. On the other hand, my husband sucked his thumb til he was 6 and needed braces. So it can go either way.
2006-07-01 09:37:31 · answer #2 · answered by missleyden 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well my younger sister used to suck her thumb..I think it was until second grade, (so there is nothing to be concerned about yet) but as she grew older and we told her her teeth would end up in a bad position she just gradually stopped. But I also have heard of putting a sock on the child's thumbs at night to help prevent it...
2006-07-01 03:45:23 · answer #3 · answered by gdfreak172 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest going to your dentist and discussing this problem.
A friend of mine had the same problem with her little girl. The dentist created an appliance to be worn as a partial plate would be worn on the front teeth. This appliance would detour the child from "thumb sucking" because it is placed as barrier behind the front teeth and a semi-sharp edge that is uncomfortable when the child tries to suck their thumb.The appliance will not cut your child's thumb, fingers, or tongue.
2006-07-01 04:07:22 · answer #4 · answered by Eagleman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People make to big of an issue of thumb sucking. Children suck their thumbs for comfort and reassurance; punishing them just makes that issue worse.
She will stop when she wants to, and often being around other kids is a major motivator to stop. (However, quite a few older kids and even adults suck their thumbs on occassion (I have seen quite a few people doing it while driving cars!) so do not be alarmed by occassional relapses.)
It's pretty much a myth that it disfigures the mouth.
2006-07-01 04:20:46 · answer #5 · answered by P. M 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well id say its kinda up to the child when they are ready they will stop.
besides they still have baby teeth at 3 and a half. it shouldnt be a worry about damaging there teeth unless they are permanat teeth.
but then agian I havent had to worry cuz ive been lucky my son never took to a pasifier and sucked his thome for maybe a month and hasnt sence then.
2006-07-01 10:33:44 · answer #6 · answered by toyota_ch1ck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to Freud's psychosexual theories, a child of 0-18 mos explores the world by using the mouth so during this stage thumbsucking should not be discouraged. in the case of your 3 1/2 grandchild, she could have some forms of developmental delay because during these yrs of life (3-7 yrs old) a child should have awareness of sexual identity - fondling the genitals are normaly the areas of exploration.
2006-07-01 03:58:17 · answer #7 · answered by queeng 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my friend who is younger than me is in the 7th grade and sucks his thumb all day that is why his 1 thumb is shribbly and smaller than the other so i would stop her thumb sucking soon put tobasco sauce on it or tell her the boogy monster loves to eat kids who suck there thumb!!!
2006-07-05 03:11:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's a specific product for this. It's kind of like a nailpolish, but it makes your nails taste extremely bitter.
2006-07-01 03:42:51 · answer #9 · answered by Crys H. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put yucky tasting stuff on her thumb - like tabasco or worchestershire
2006-07-01 03:41:39 · answer #10 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋