how can i get my 19 month old daughter to stop sucking her thumb?

Answer 1

Sorry this is long

Children have control of their own thumbs when you are not looking. Pressure applied against thumb sucking can turn a natural developmental phase into an ingrained habit.

Instead, you want to create an environment where she chooses to stop on her own. You can weaken the thumb-sucking habit by distracting her when you notice her thumb in her mouth. Engage her in a way that she uses both hands.

Painting something that tastes yucky on the thumbs can make sucking them less satisfying. Commercial products are available for this purpose. Other parents have had success with pickle juice or a drop of vinegar. You might have to switch flavors periodically because people can develop a taste for almost anything (I remember my first cup of coffee – yechhh!).

If she decides she wants to stop, yet the habit continues, then helping her notice when she is doing it can help her. Otherwise, pointing it out will only seem like nagging.

Comments from other people, though, can be helpful. Her pediatrician and dentist can be important allies, helping her to feel that she wants to stop because she is growing up!

Having children she respects (and who don’t suck their thumbs) over for sleepovers can also help. If they comment on her thumb sucking, it can be a powerful motivation. If she doesn’t suck during the sleepover, it further weakens the habit.

Without nagging or battles, almost all children will stop before age 4 or 5. For the very few that don’t, their dentists can help with sleepy-time appliances and other techniques.

One way or another, soon her cuddly habit of thumb sucking will be a flickering memory of those precious days when she was so young.

Answer 2

Basically you wont be able to make her stop. Putting nasty tasting things on it weakens it...but when no one is looking she'll pop it back in. It is a comfort thing..it makes her feel safe and comfortable...alot of kids do it while asleep. I did it when I was a kid and didn't stop until I was 20! Trust me it was a BAD habit! I would wake up with it in my mouth! One thing I did learn though that if you tell people close to her and if they confront her then it will be embarassing. Yes, it sounds mean but that works somewhat. If she does it when it's time for school....she'll more than most likely do it at school too. Kids will make fun of her...ect. So when she is old enough to understand... like 3 (if she still does it) then you should explain that to her too. This kind of thing can turn into a bad habit! Trust me when I was a kid I wanted to be ignored so I could do it. Don't ignore her because she will think it's okay. Hopefully this helped some.

Answer 3

I say you should let her keep sucking her thumb, my brother still sucks his thumb, and he's much older than 19 months.. but he only sucks his thumb at home and not in public. It used to bother me, but I realized it's just part of who he is, and he will quit when he feels it's right, and I totally respect that, and you should too. She will stop eventually, and this will help her to prepare to make bigger choices later in life, and you shouldn't have to stop it for her.

However, if you seriously want her to stop, buy some of that disgusting tasting nail polish at the drug store and paint her nails, she will be off it...if that's what you really want..

Answer 4

I think most babies outgrow this on their own. Rather than fight the thumb sucking...just reinforce her good behavior when she refrains from sucking her thumb. For example, if you're watchng cartoons together and you notice she is NOT sucking, reinforce the GOOD behavior with lots of praise.

"Oh my goodness! What a smart/big/pretty girl! You don't need to suck your thumb any more! Mommy is so proud of you!"

You get the idea.

Answer 5

you've got your man or woman perspectives on thumb sucking of direction, yet a 19 12 months who does is probable one in 6.5 billion to be superb suited. each and every toddler sucks on issues. A seven 12 months previous is probable one in one hundred million.

Answer 6

She'll stop when she's ready. My five year old still sucks her thumb. I've talked to her dentist about it. He said it's not too big of a deal until their permanent teeth come in. There are appliances that make it impossible to do, but he said that unless the child wants to stop, there's no point in using one.

Answer 7

She's only 19 months old, she'll grow out of it when she gets older. Although I did have a roommate when I was in my first year of university, she's still sucking her thumb at 19.. so you don't have to worry about her, she'll grow out of it eventually.

Answer 8

Most children stop on their own when they are ready. Why rush it if it gives her comfort? She probably sucked on her thumb in your womb! Otherwise, try asking your Pediatrician for the best advice. I am sure lots of posters will have an opinion of their own but that does not make them good. Including me. lol

Answer 9

ok this my sound gross but does your baby understand the word bo-bo? if so this will work: put some peanut butter on her thumb while she is not looking and tell her it is bo-bo. she may cry a second but trust me she won't put that thumb in her mouth! Lil (my mother did this to me at the age of two and it worked!)

Answer 10

Dip her thumb in something that she will not like. Like juices from jalapeno peppers or vineghar or something else bad tasting. I used the same technique to stop biting my nails.