Sucking thumb?

Question

My daughter is almost 4. We put her into pre-school a few weeks ago. She has started to suck her thumb the past 2 weeks. I have check with her teach to make sure she has adjusted. My daughter acts happy to be there. Any idea why she started sucking her thumb?

Answer 1

My daughter did this too! Whe was 4 and started pre-K. Never sucked her thumb before, and turns out one of her little friends did all the time, so she started too.

We had an interesting conversation about peer pressure and being a leader not a follower (yes, it is a little early for that), but it really did work and she has stopped it completely even though her little friend still does it and is about to start Kindergarten sucking her thumb.

Good luck!

Answer 2

My nephew did this when he saw another kid doing it. he was 3 and had never done it before. My sis-in-law ignored it and now he is 5 and still doing it. She's trying to break the habit now but wishes she had never let it become a habit.

I advise you to do whatever it takes to stop it now so it isn't a perpetual habit. One of my nieces who did this from infancy is has to have a mouth piece inserted by a dentist to make her stop.

Here's a couple of tips:

First explain why you don't want her to do it. It's nasty, your hands are dirty - this got my 4 yr old girl to stop biting her nails. It's only for babies. It will make your teeth look funny. Anything you can think of.

If this doesn't work:

You want to create an environment where she chooses to stop on her own. That way it isn't a power struggle... you know - the more frobidden the more tempting. You can weaken the thumb-sucking habit by distracting her when you notice her thumb in her mouth. Give her something to do with both hands. Play dough, cooking, painting, art, ect.

Putting something that tastes yucky on the thumbs can make sucking them less satisfying. You can buy products designed specially for this or just use pickle juice or a drop of vinegar. You might have to switch flavors occasionally because people can develop a taste for almost anything. This is especially helpful for night-time thumb sucking. You don't have to put anything spicy on her finger, I know a lot of people will suggest that, but really just anything she doesn't like. If my kids had the habit mustard would probably do the trick, LOL.

Well good luck to you.

Answer 3

the fact that she just started sucking her thumb when you put her into pre-school means that she's regressing. regression is a defense mechanism to hide, compensate for, or fight anxiety. your child may be having a separation anxiety, and unconsciously she's regressing to an earlier stage of her life when she felt that thumbsucking gives her a sense of security. it is a normal reaction but you should do something to lessen her anxiety about not being with you.

Answer 4

It could be a security thing. She is in a new place and that makes her feel comfortable. She probably will stop in time. You can try to make her but I feel like she will on her own.

Answer 5

Sercurity or seeing another child that she is comfortable with sucking his or her thumb also.

Answer 6

maybe it is a habit all of a sudden my friend still sucks her thumb

Answer 7

My neice went through this before too. It was because another child was doing it also.

Answer 8

She needs help relaxing, don't worry about it she will stop. The more you emphasis it the more she will do it.

Answer 9

She may have seen another child doing it......Explain to her she is a big girl now......reward her if she stops