what is the best way to stop thumb sucking at age 5?

Answer 1

First and foremost, you can't stop a child from sucking their thumb before they're ready to quit. Believe it or not, they'll quit when it's time. I've had many talks with the pediatrician over this and was told the same thing each time. Our daughter is 8 and still sucks hers to fall asleep or when she's really nervous or tired. She doesn't do it often at all now. She cut way down when she went to school because she didn't want to be embarrassed and it always worked for her, so now, those couple of times are all that she does it. I know you got alot of suggestions to put things on the thumb, but it's basically ineffective if the child wants to suck it. Our daughter licked anything spicy off and that over the counter nail polish type stuff, she'd just wrinkle her nose and then go wash her thumb or dip it in a glass of water or something. Just be patient and let nature take it's course. The only time you should worry is if it starts to effect their teeth and that usually doesn't happen. Our dentist kept a close eye on her and there were no side effects. So, just be patient. All in due time. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Al Damia's idea is pretty much how things have worked in my family. If you explain to a child who is as old as five that he's now kind of old to be sucking his thumb in public (because people who aren't babies just don't do that in public) tell him 1) it is important he not do it in school at all or the other kids will start to tease him, 2) he should try to not do it until bedtime, but if that's not possible then at least keep it inside the house. Other than that, if he sucks his thumb til he's 40 it doesn't really matter. The thing about teeth is kind of overblown. My kids have beautiful teeth, and they all sucked their thumbs for a time (some longer than others).

Just a note: I was an "offender" as a child. I have a "thing" about people trying too hard to stop a child from sucking his own thumb because as a child my reasoning was this: "It is my thumb. I am a good girl and a nice girl. Why are they acting as if I'm doing something so horrible? Why don't they leave me alone? Why do they keep acting like there's something wrong with me just because of this?" I'd be watching tv, sucking the thumb, and trying to hide what I was doing because every time my father saw me doing it he's say "Thumb". I didn't think it was his business. I thought he was stupid for making a big deal out of nothing. I resented that I had been "driven underground" because I just couldn't relax and watch tv and not worry about who was coming.
In spite of all my father's efforts (if my mother cared about it she never said said much), I stopped somewhere along the way just because I must have grown out of the phase. I hoped everyone was happy that I was finally now "perfect" because for all the time I'd been sucking the thumb I was made to feel guilty about it and made me feel like I was doing something that was a Big, Giant, Problem.

If you got the statistics on the numbers of children who suck their thumbs for a period of time you would see how common it is and what a big deal it isn't.

It is their thumb. Leave them alone. I can tell you if you start putting pepper on it and harrassing them about it they are going to think you are butting in to what isn't your business, and they are going to remember you're poor handling of the issue for the rest of time!!! (Just a note: My teeth are fine. My thumb grew as big as the other one did. )

As a former "offender" and the parent of more than one former "offender", my kids and I all wonder, "What the hell is the big deal?!!"

Finally, one question to all you "tobasco thinkers": Do you ever overeat? Overdrink? Smoke? Lose your temper? Let your house get messier than it should get? Procrastinate? Etc. Why don't work on your own bugaboos and leave your child alone. It is his thumb, and children know quite young what is theirs and not yours. If you didn't suck your thumb when you were a kid, well, bully for you..... but that's why you just don't get it...

Answer 3

This is a good Idea that my mother used for my sister to stop sucking her thumb as the age of 5:
-put something that doesn't taste good (meaning that it's still edible)like something sour,vinegar,fish oil,or something that he doesn't like to eat. The substance HAS to be invisible so when he is asleep, you sneak in his room and when he wakes up and puts his thumb in his mouth, he will see that something doesn't take right.Keep on doing this process until he stops.Also tell him that if he keeps on doing that, his thumb will fade away and dissapear forever.I guarante you that he will stop. Good Luck on your mission!

Answer 4

My daughter is 6 and sucks the middle and ring finger of her right hand only. She used to suck 24/7, but it has gotten better. She has been doing this since I was pregnant with her, and we have tried to break her from the habit since day one. We tried everything from holsters to icky stuff on the finger nails to putting glitter on her hands to show her "the germs" and how they spread. Nothing worked for us. But when she started kindergarten, we did see a lot of less of her sucking her fingers. The teacher was great about working with us, and at home we told our daughter that she could suck her fingers, but we didn't want to hear it. We told her that if she was going to suck her fingers she would have to go to bed. She doesn't like this idea, so she just doesn't do it, unless she is really tired or sick. My suggestion, ignore it if you can. It will soon go away.

Answer 5

You can try everything from lemon juice on his thumb to the specail nail polish they make to deter thumb sucking.. but chances are nothing will work... my brother still does it at age 32 when he is in his own privacy.. my mother tried eveything to break him.. although she didn't have all the info we have now.. check the links I provided.. hope I helped!

Answer 6

Whnever they ar doing it gently pull there hand from their mouth.
Make a silly code word up like " alien spaceship" ( let them choose)
say it when you move their hand down.

Talk to them prior of course and let them know that thumb sucking is kind of yucky now that they are growing up, and you dont want all those germs in their mouth.
Dont do pepper and stuff like others suggested.
Tell them you are going to help them .make a game out of it.
Soon you can just say the code word and they will respond.
Its just a habit they have gotten into.
Maybe a reward when they stop.

Answer 7

i used to be a thumb-sucker and my mom tried everything from rewards to putting hot sauce on my thumb....the hot sauce only made me run to water and start drinking...she even took me to the doctor and asked him to explain the consequences of sucking my thumb to me....he said that my thumb callous would grow real huge and he would have to chop it off...even though it sounded scary to me, i wouldn't stop sucking my thumb....you can try those methods....but if your child is like me and won't stop here's what made me stop....my mom got fed up and told her good friend about it....my mom's good friend took me to stay with her...and in 4 days, i stopped sucking my thumb...my mom's good friend (aunty Jackie) is a big disciplinarian who wants people to change for the better....everytime i sucked my thumb, she would either yell at me to stop or take it out of my mouth and hit my thumb....within 4 days, i stopped and never sucked my thumb again...you could try that if you want to....

Answer 8

One way is coating the thumb in something that doesnt taste very nice to children, such as garlic or vinegar. I think there are also various medicines you can get from the pharmacy.
Another is to get your child to wear mittens at night so they cant suck their thumb whilst they sleep.

Answer 9

Try putting something spicy or bitter on the child's thumb. In some cases, you can get your dentist to fit the child's mouth with a "poky" appliance that jabs the thumb every time it's put in the mouth. But that's kind of extreme, and slightly barbaric.

Answer 10

Have you tried just talking with your 5yr? Ask him/her, to try and not suck on their fingers until after school or wait until bedtime. If you start doing this as a routine everyday, your child will eventually stop sucking on his/her fingers. It is a very slow process, but it will work. My son (who is now 9yr.) would suck on his middle and ring fingers all the time. every once in awhile he may suck on them still yet, but some adults still suck on their fingers as well. I wouldn't go as far as sticking something spicy or hot on their fingers. This could cause your child to have sinus problems to as far as them stop breathing especially if it is hot sauce and could emotionally upset your child.