How can I get my 11 year old to stop sucking his thumb?

Question

Over the years, we have tried hot sauce, hot pepper, ceyenne pepper, tape, socks and gloves, vinegar, and many other things. Even trying to stay on top of it is impossible because we can't watch him 24/7! I don't know what to do. His teeth are somewhat messed up and he especially sucks it at night. When he was in school he did not do it at school. (He's schooled at home through a virtual academy now) Anyway, can anyone help? I am desperate to wean him of this probolem. I love my son and don't want him to end up ashamed of his habit or become embarassed in public should he do it outside the home one day. I don't want to see his teeth completely ruined either. Please, serious answers only...I am a concerned mommy who needs your honest help. Thanks

Answer 1

Hey there mama I have a grl frd that is over 30 yrs old and she still sucks her thumb and I just ran across a 12 yr old boy that still sucks his thumb unfortunatlly there is nothing that you can really do and all that focusing on it and tryin to get him to stop will only make it worse. As he gets older he the only thing that he will really learn is when not to do it like school or in public. The people that I knw that do it seem like they do for comfort reasons to help them get to sleep and stuff like that, to help themself get peaceful in there comfort zone.
Sorry bout the teeth issue.

Answer 2

well i took psych class, and in class they say that people with oral fixations do this due to the lack of being able to do it as a child. If you put him back in school, and actually let him do it. He will eventually stop. He needs to be embarassed and realize that this isnt a normal thing for an eleven year old. You also need to ask if it is a security thing or if something is hurting. you may also want to take him to a counselor if it is a security thing. Counselors can associate the problem normally to a child hood experience or issue, and clear that problem.

Answer 3

Make him understand, the way he genuinely understand to know your desperation to wean him of this problem, fully imbibing that you love him and don't want him to end up ashamed of his habit or become embarrassed in public. No other way please. It's after he who should understand the graveness and stop it. You can only make him understand the negativity's vis-a-vis his liking duly explaining the matter time and again till he stops.

Answer 4

i replaced into in simple terms like her. i did not give up till i replaced into 13 once I have been given braces. My tooth have been in basic terms slightly crooked at that factor and that i were doing all of it my existence. she can out advance it. I in basic terms did it at night however, if she does it in the process the day you need to inspire her to in basic terms do it at night. that's a convenience factor, thumb sucking.

Answer 5

ummm... maybe you should, whenever you catch him sucking put soap on his thumb. then the tase od the soap should make him stop and you do it all the time for the first couple of days then when u see him do it less frequently, do it only when you see him do it.

Answer 6

if there is anyway, i'll wish to know.

my brother do this since he was a baby till teenage. i think he still do that now, sometimes, when he sleeps.

we tried everything. but hope he can get rid of this habbit if he felt ashame of himself.

Answer 7

Dip it in caster oil/exlax, that will make him stop because he'll be on the toilet all the time. Or coat it with mud, grease, or glue.

Answer 8

Sounds like some deeper issues. He may need therapy or has some deficiency.http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/tp23120/tp23144;_ylt=At_QZQEnLinBWDJ7km43j4LogrMF

Answer 9

cut his thumbs off

Answer 10

KICK HIS - A S S - HE WILL STOP IF NOT USE A STICK! OR CUT IT OFF.