How can I stop my 10 year old daughter from sucking her finger?

Question

We have tried everything from tapeing it up to put all sought of thing on it. She take off tapes and/ or washes off anything that may be it.

Answer 1

Just stick her finger in fingernail polish remover, because that doesn't come off very easily, even with soap. Otherwise there are some types of things that you put on their finger (like a cast) that don't come off so easily like tape would.

Answer 2

You don't say if there is a problem with her sucking her finger like making her finger bleed or something like that, I know 10 years old is not quite the normal age for sucking a thumb or finger, but if there is no damage to her being done, just ignore it as hard as that will be and she will quit. At her age, what her peers think will mean a lot more to her than what you think and if they see her doing it, it will only take her being made fun of once before she sees she needs to control herself. Something may be bothering her and she needs the comfort. If I were you, I would talk to her and find out what's going on before I waged all out war on making her stop.

Just my thoughts.

Answer 3

Rather than restrict it. Reward her for not doing it. Something like a piggy bank dont use a full day but rather a small time frame for everh 15 min that she does not do it,she gets 15 cents in to the jar, if the she does not make the full 15 she gets nothing. half hour 45 cents, 45 min 75 cents, 1hour a dollar. She makes it all day and she gets a bonus.

Little rewards are sometimes better to show the child quick results. usually just a couple of weeks will do the trick.

Answer 4

I used to do the same thing for years when I was young. My
fingers would hurt so bad until I would soak them in water. The
reason was it was something I just liked to do. Not nervous or
anything. Then one day I went to the beauty shop and got a
manicure and done this a few times, nails grew and my hands
was pretty and so with polish on them there was no need to do this anymore. Who wants to suck polish? It become toxie and
cause other problems. Get a manicure.

Answer 5

I use to bite my nails constantly, and my father decided to put garlic on them. Honestly, you can try and wash it off but it never really comes off, and the taste will be there for a while. Give it a shot, two things might happen, either your daughter stops sucking her thumb or she becomes a big fan of garlic. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Make up a rewards chart. Put a sticker on the chart for every day she doesn't suck her finger and make up prizes, like after 2 days in a row she gets to pick whats for dinner, after 5 days she gets a new toy, after 10 days she gets a trip to somewhere like the park or grandma's etc. Be strict about it though, and she can't go two days for the prize, suck her finger then go two days for another prize. Be consistant and supportive

Answer 7

Maybe instead of stopping her you could reward her for not doing it. Have a chart and every day she doesn't get's her closer to an agreed upon treat.

Try giving her something else to do in it's place that's more constructive. A chunk of modeling clay, or something that she can use to relieve stress which is probably behind the habbit.

Answer 8

You should probably talk with her to find out the root of the problem. She sucks her finger because she gets something out of doing it. It may be a habit that she developed to relieve anxiety, etc. Eliminate the cause, and you'll eliminate the problem.

Answer 9

This worked to help my daughter stop chewing her nails...stop the biting and when your nails get to the end of your fingers, I'll take you to a spa to get a professional manicure. I also told her to sit on her hands whenever she had an urge to put her fingers in her mouth.

It worked. She now has awesome beautiful nails...and girls in 5th grade were envious of her beautiful manicure! (and still are now that she's 16)

Answer 10

Maybe just let her suck her finger, it is her finger and she probably just needs something to make her feel secure. If she is shy maybe she needs hobbies or quiet friends? Figure out why she needs the security then work on that.